News & Analysis as of

Social Equity Programs

Harris Beach Murtha PLLC

Federal Court Rules NY Cannabis Licensing Preference for In-State Convictions is Unconstitutional

On August 12, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that New York’s adult-use cannabis licensing scheme, which gives “Extra Priority” to applicants (or certain relatives) with New York State marijuana...more

Cozen O'Connor

The State AG Report – 07.24.2025

Cozen O'Connor on

Here are curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US: • Latest Texas AG Food Probe Puts Mars in a Sticky...more

Vicente LLP

How to Buy or Sell a Cannabis License in Minnesota’s Adult-Use Market: M&A Guide (2025)

Vicente LLP on

More than two years after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed legislation legalizing adult-use cannabis, and eleven years after the establishment of the state’s medical cannabis program, adult-use cannabis businesses are...more

Fox Rothschild LLP

Minnesota to Hold Cannabis Retail License Lottery For Social Equity and General Applicants on July 22

Fox Rothschild LLP on

The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management is set to conduct its second lottery for Minnesota Cannabis Retail Licenses. On June 5, 2025, the OCM held its first round of lotteries, conducting social equity applicant lotteries...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

OCM Guidance Regarding Ownership Transfers Provides Pathway for Funding Social Equity Licensees

Husch Blackwell LLP on

The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (“OCM”) conducted its license lottery for social equity applicants on June 5, 2025. Lottery winners received preliminary approval and must secure a business location and, in many...more

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

President Trump Declares End of $2.75 Billion Digital Equity Act Programs

On May 8, 2025, President Donald Trump declared in a post on his Truth Social platform that the Digital Equity Act was unconstitutional and that he would be ending the "Digital Equity Program" immediately. The President...more

Harris Beach Murtha PLLC

Minnesota Finalizes Cannabis Rules and Orders Social Equity Lottery to Proceed

On April 7, 2025, the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) received final approval from an administrative law judge (ALJ) for its comprehensive adult-use cannabis regulations. The finalized rules, which take effect...more

Fox Rothschild LLP

Minnesota Adopts Final Cannabis Rules

Fox Rothschild LLP on

Today, Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management announced that Minnesota’s final set of adult-use cannabis rules have been approved, will be publish in the State Register, and will go into effect later this month. After the...more

Cozen O'Connor

Illinois Insights: An update from Cozen O'Connor (2/24)

Cozen O'Connor on

Pritzker proposes $500M to turn state properties into development-ready sites - “A $500 million proposal by Gov. JB Pritzker to turn state-owned properties into shovel-ready real estate projects is part of a proposed $55.2...more

Vicente LLP

Rhode Island Cannabis Update: Current Market, Proposed Rules and New Business Opportunities

Vicente LLP on

Cannabis policy reform in Rhode Island has spanned nearly two decades, starting with the legalization of medical marijuana in 2006. Then, after years of determined advocacy and legislative debate, the Rhode Island Cannabis...more

Foley Hoag LLP - Cannabis and the Law

Governor Shapiro and Legislators Revive Push for Adult-Use Cannabis in Pennsylvania

Is this the year that Pennsylvania finally legalizes adult-use cannabis? While some battle-scarred skeptics remain, there is fresh optimism in the Commonwealth with both the Governor and several key legislators pushing for...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

The Federal Funding Freeze and its Effect on Health Equity Programs

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

A string of executive orders and an OMB memorandum from the Trump Administration left the status of almost all federal funding in a state of limbo. In particular, funding from the National Institutes of Health and for Health...more

Foley Hoag LLP - Cannabis and the Law

Last Call for Minnesota Social Equity and General Applicants for Cannabis Business Licenses – Applications Go Live on February...

We are now less than one week away from the long-awaited commencement of Minnesota’s adult-use cannabis business licensing round and prospective applicants are earnestly preparing to file business license applications as...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

BREAKING NEWS: President Trump Revokes a Long List of Biden Executive Orders

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

In one of numerous Executive Orders signed on January 20, 2025, President Trump issued an order entitled, “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions.” The Executive Order revokes a long list of Executive...more

Vicente LLP

New Jersey Cannabis Dispensaries Can Now Apply for Consumption Lounge Licenses

Vicente LLP on

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) began accepting applications for cannabis consumption area endorsements on January 2, 2025. The Commissioners adopted the Notice of Application Acceptance for cannabis...more

Mandelbaum Barrett PC

New Jersey CRC to Open Applications for Cannabis Consumption Areas: Key Details You Need to Know

Mandelbaum Barrett PC on

Applications for cannabis consumption area endorsements are set to open on January 2, 2025, creating regulated spaces for adults aged 21 and older to consume cannabis products purchased at licensed dispensaries. The New...more

Foley Hoag LLP - Cannabis and the Law

New Jersey Opens Applications for Consumption Lounges

While the pace of adult-use applications in New Jersey has steadied from its initial peak between 2021-2023, a new wave of applications has just opened for consumption lounges in the Garden State. Who May Apply? Any...more

Fox Rothschild LLP

Maryland Office of Social Equity Regulatory Update

Fox Rothschild LLP on

The Maryland Office of Social Equity (OSE) is an office within the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA). Its purpose is to promote and encourage participation in the regulated cannabis industry by communities that have...more

Vicente LLP

Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Releases Draft Social Consumption Establishment Regulations for Informal Public Comment

Vicente LLP on

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (the “Commission”) voted on December 17, 2024 to release its initial draft amendments to the Social Consumption Establishment regulations and accept informal public comments on...more

Fox Rothschild LLP

Minnesota OCM Cancels Separate Social Equity Lottery

Fox Rothschild LLP on

As MinnPost reports, Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management cancelled its social equity lottery, which would have occurred separate from the general applicant lottery in 2025. A portion of the licenses remain allocated to...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management Issues Rejections to Majority of Social Equity Applicants

Husch Blackwell LLP on

The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (“OCM”) has begun issuing final denials to the overwhelming majority of previously qualified social equity applicants (“SEA”s) ahead of its first statewide cannabis lottery on...more

Fox Rothschild LLP

Update: Maryland Cannabis Administration

Fox Rothschild LLP on

Adult possession and use of cannabis has been legal in Maryland since Maryland’s Cannabis Reform Act (“CRA”) took effect in July 2023. The CRA established the Maryland Cannabis Administration (“MCA”) and tasked it with...more

Foley Hoag LLP - Cannabis and the Law

Last Call for Delaware Applications: Some tips for Applicants

License hunters may have whiplash with state application processes in Kentucky, Minnesota, and Ohio (10(b) licenses) barely in the rearview mirror, but Delaware’s new license application deadline is fast approaching....more

Vicente LLP

More Green in the Green Mountain State: Cannabis Statutory Changes and New Cultivator Licensing Opportunity in Vermont

Vicente LLP on

On June 10, 2024, H.612, An Act Relating to Miscellaneous Cannabis Amendments (the “Act”) became law, making a variety of changes to Vermont’s cannabis laws that will have significant implications for the state’s medical and...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

Minnesota Cannabis Update: What’s Next?

Husch Blackwell LLP on

As the 2024 Minnesota Legislative Session came to a chaotic close on May 20, numerous changes to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 342 were sent to the Governor’s desk to build on the already existing cannabis regulatory structure....more

91 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 4

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide