The Washington State Legislature established the Social Equity in Cannabis Task Force in an effort to reduce barriers to entry to the cannabis industry for individuals and communities most impacted by the war on drugs.
The Task Force will allow approximately 40 additional cannabis retail licenses to be issued for social equity purposes, according to a release. Those licenses will replace the approximately 40 licenses that were canceled, forfeited, revoked or never issued in specific jurisdictions across Washington.
Separately, the Washington Department of Commerce partnered with the state’s Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) and Make Green Go!, a cannabis business development consulting company, to create the Social Equity in Cannabis Technical Assistance Program.
The program includes one-on-one mentoring for social equity applicants seeking retail licenses, as well as an online learning module to help educate operators on a range of business development topics such as accounting, finance, market research, strategies and more.
“The Technical Assistance Mentorship Program will help bolster applicants’ preparations for the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s social equity licensing process and help ensure they are positioned for success,” said Alison Beason, a Commerce Department representative for the Social Equity Task Force. . “The program will provide applicants with industry-specific business education, direct mentorship, and assistance developing business and finance plans while offering valuable insight and guidance navigating the myriad of complexities in establishing a retail cannabis business.”
The Washington Department of Commerce is seeking mentors and a facilitator to provide support services to new cannabis entrepreneurs, particularly those most affected by cannabis prohibition. Mentors may be awarded up to $40,000, according to the release, depending on proposed support plans and budgets, and the selected facilitator may be awarded up to $150,000 for hosting three events in January, March and June 2023 to support program participants.
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Applicants can apply to the Request for Proposal here, with a deadline of Nov. 28, according to the Department of Commerce.
