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Social Equity Resources

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Cannabis Social Equity Opportunities Conference - Public Resources Google Folder

On November 5, 2022, the Marijuana Enforcement Division, the Cannabis Business Office, and the City of Denver's Office of Marijuana Policy hosted a social equity opportunities conference. More than 200 potential social equity applicants and social equity licensees attended the event. Handouts, resources, and other materials from the event are available in the Cannabis Social Equity Opportunities Conference - Public Resources Google Folder.

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Banking

Compliance Tools

Demographic Information

Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Cannabis Business Office 

Town Hall: Understanding Colorado's Social Equity Program

 

 

Social Equity Program Enabling Legislation

  • HB 20-1424: Social Equity Licenses in Regulated Marijuana 

    • Social Equity Program: Established a "Social Equity License", expanded on the Accelerator Program and provided rulemaking authority for the Department of Revenue to create and implement a social equity program administered by the MED. Also provided the Governor with expedited pardon authority for marijuana possession offenses.
       

  • SB 19-224: Sunset Regulated Marijuana 

    • ​Criminal History Prohibitions:
      Amended felony disqualifiers by reducing the original 5 and 10-year prohibition (5 years for any felony not involving a drug crime; 10 years for any drug-related felony) to a flat 3 years for any felony or while currently subject to a deferred judgment or sentence for a felony.
       

    • Accelerator Program: Established new license types as part of an "Accelerator Program" to permit existing businesses to obtain an "endorsement" to host and provide capital and technical support to "accelerator" licensees.

 

MED Rulemaking Information Specific to Social Equity

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Offers for Social Equity Licensees

Please note: The Marijuana Enforcement Division does not endorse specific licensed businesses for any purpose. The below directory is provided as a tool to assist licensees in their research and due diligence processes when considering working with other vendors or businesses. Please contact Casey Hilton (contact information below) if you think this directory is incomplete or inaccurate in any way.

  • Banking:
  • Legal Advice:
    • Colorado Bar Association Cannabis Law Section Social Equity Pro Bono Program. Social equity licensees can speak with a cannabis attorney for free. Learn more on CBA's website.
  • Responsible Vendor Training:

    • "The team at Cannabis Trainers™ has been offering the Sell-SMaRT™ Responsible Vendor Training program since 2014. This training is ideal for Dispensary, Social Consumption and Delivery teams. They’re committed to assisting and creating a more equitable future for cannabis industry. They provide scholarship (free!) and significantly discounted training exclusively for social equity license holders and their employees. Reach out to inquire about the training opportunities available for your team: Info@CannabisTrainers.com."

    • "Konopé Compliance offers discounted Responsible Vendor Training for Social Equity Applicants and License Holders. In addition to Responsible Vendor Training, Konopé Compliance provides consulting services ranging from Standard Operating Procedures, Facility Compliance Audits, and management and strategy sessions utilizing considerable industry experience in the Colorado market."

    • Green CulturED™ is an approved "Responsible Vendor Training Provider (#RV-0034)" by Colorado's Marijuana Enforcement Division. Through their Social Equity Program, Green CulturED provides discounts for licensed owner-operators and their employees who are required to complete "Responsible Vendor Training" annually for compliance. In addition to the core-RVT, Green CulturED is also an approved training provider by the Division to provide the "Delivery Supplement" training (required for businesses that do delivery services of marijuana to private residences) and "Hospitality Supplement" training (required for businesses that allow social use of marijuana on-premise). 

Do you offer discounts for social equity licensees? Please email Shannon.Gray@state.co.us to be listed here!