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June 30, 2021

CT seeks applications for marijuana industry’s social equity council 

Mark Pazniokas | CT Mirror House Speaker Matt Ritter.
By Sean Teehan

Connecticut's House Speaker and Majority Leader announced they're accepting applications for appointments to the Social Equity Council, a body that will oversee social equity measures baked into the state's new legal cannabis regime.

Under the legalization law -- which goes into effect tomorrow -- House Speaker Matt Ritter and Democratic Majority Leader Jason Rojas will each appoint one member to the 15-person Social Equity Council. Once formed, the body will develop programs to encourage people from areas most negatively affected by cannabis criminalization to participate in the newly-legal market. 

"The Council will help mold the cannabis industry in Connecticut into an equitable market that begins the work of righting decades of damage sanctioned by state policy enacted during the failed war on drugs," Ritter and Rojas said in a joint statement soliciting applications.

Members of the council will hold substantial sway over the licensing process of social equity applicants applying for cannabis business licenses. In order to qualify as a social equity applicant, individuals must earn household incomes below 300% of the state median; have been residents of a disproportionately impacted area for at least five years before applying for a license or nine years prior to turning 18 years old.

The council member appointed by the House Speaker must have worked in social justice or civil rights for at least five years, and the Majority Leader's appointment must have at least five years of professional experience in economic development focused on aiding minority-owned businesses.
 
Under the law, no council members may have any management or financial interest in the cultivation, manufacture, sale, transportation, delivery or testing of cannabis in Connecticut. They must not profit in any way from sales or purchases.
 
Individuals can complete an application for Speaker Ritter and House Majority Leader Rojas' appointments to the Social Equity Council by clicking here. Applications must be submitted before July 9. Interested residents can email CannabisSocialEquityCouncil@cga.ct.gov for further details.

Under the law, the Social Equity Council's membership will be formed as follows:

(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who has a professional background of not less than five years working in the field of either social justice or civil rights.

(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who has a professional background of not less than five years working in the field of either social justice or civil rights.

(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who has a professional background of not less than five years working in the field of economic development to help minority owned businesses.

(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who has a professional background of not less than five years in providing access to capital to minorities.

(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who is from a community that has been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement.

(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who has a professional background of not less than five years in providing access to capital to minorities.

(7) One appointed by the chairperson of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus of the General Assembly.

(8) Four appointed by the Governor, one who is from a community that has been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement, one who has a professional background of not less than five years working in the field of economic development and one who is an executive branch official focused on workforce development.

(9) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or the commissioner's designee.

(10) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or the commissioner's designee.

(11) The State Treasurer, or the State Treasurer's designee.

(12) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee.
 

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