State Initiatives to Promote Cannabis Industry Entrepreneurship Among Disproportionately Impacted Communities: A Multi-State Analysis

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-9-2026

Journal

Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP

DOI

10.1097/PHH.0000000000002317

Keywords

cannabis; drug policy; health policy; marijuana; social equity

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Given the historic cannabis-related injustices in the US, several states with legalized nonmedical cannabis have initiatives to promote industry participation among disproportionately impacted communities and areas (DICAs). This study assessed these initiatives and relevant outcomes across states. DESIGN: This was a mixed-methods study using publicly available data. SETTING: Evaluation was attempted among 17 states with non-medical cannabis retail (as of May 2025) and state-level social equity (SE) entrepreneurship initiatives. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data were collected regarding: (1) characteristics of state SE entrepreneurship initiatives, including: (a) licenses available and/or reserved, (b) selection process, (c) eligibility criteria, and (d) training and financial support; and (2) relevant outcomes, including: (a) number of SE applications and SE licenses issued; and (b) percent of: SE applications licensed, total licenses issued to SE entrepreneurs, and total licenses held by each sex, race, and ethnicity. RESULTS: Eleven states reserved a number/percentage of licenses, and certain states reserved specific licenses (n = 2) or specified licenses available (n = 3) for SE entrepreneurs. Each state required majority ownership, and most considered DICA as possible (n = 12) or required criteria (n = 3), required state residency (n = 2) or included other criteria (eg, DICA, farming-related) integrating residency (n = 13), and considered cannabis-related convictions as possible (n = 12) or required criteria (n = 2). Most provided support (training n = 14, financial n = 12, reduced fees n = 10). Percentages ranged for SE applications licensed (Arizona: 2.0% to Massachusetts/Michigan: 100%), licenses issued to SE entrepreneurs (Washington: 2.4% to Maryland: 100%), female-held licenses (Illinois: 22.0% to New Jersey: 44.0%), and minority-held licenses (Vermont: 11.3% to New Jersey: 60.3%). CONCLUSIONS: This multistate assessment marks a key step in evaluating SE entrepreneurship initiatives. However, outcomes (eg, licenses issued to SE entrepreneurs or DICA subgroups) were not clearly associated with characteristics of these initiatives, suggesting the need to consider different outcomes or allow greater time for SE initiatives to mature and have an impact.

Department

Prevention and Community Health

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