{"breadcrumb":"Social Equity Ownership - About","title":"About","content":"\n<script>\n\tleftNavHandler('show');\n<\/script>\n\n  <br \/>\n  <h5>Social Equity Ownership Program<\/h5>\n  <p>The Social Equity Ownership Program was designed to promote the ownership and operation of licensed Marijuana Establishments by individuals from communities disproportionately impacted by the enforcement of previous marijuana laws.<\/p>\n  <p>Social equity license holders are required to comply with all statutes and rules that govern Adult-Use Marijuana Establishment licenses, including obtaining approval to operate before opening their retail location.<\/p>\n  <p>Additionally, social equity license holders are required to develop and implement policies to ensure that the Marijuana Establishment will provide a benefit to one or more communities disproportionately affected by the enforcement of Arizona\u2019s previous marijuana laws.<\/p>\n\n  <h5 class=\"top-buffer\">Social Equity Rulemaking<\/h5>\n  <p>The Department adopted rules that include eligibility requirements for social equity applicants on June 1, 2021. Please note that some changes may be made to these rules between now and when applications are accepted. Please visit the <a href=\"\/licensing\/marijuana\/adult-use-marijuana\/index.php\">Adult-Use Marijuana Rulemaking<\/a> page for more information. A copy of our current rules is available on our <a href=\"\/licensing\/marijuana\/adult-use-marijuana\/index.php#rules\">Statutes & Rules<\/a> page.<\/p>\n  <h5 class=\"top-buffer\">Social Equity Licenses<\/h5>\n  <p>Twenty-six adult-use Marijuana Establishment licenses will be issued to applicants who qualify under the social equity ownership program. The Department  accepted applications for these licenses in December 2021.<\/p>\n  <p>All applications received were reviewed for administrative and substantive completeness. Applications deemed substantively complete will be entered into a random selection which will be used to issue the 26 available licenses. The random selection will take place April 8, 2022. For more information, visit <href=\"https:\/\/www.azdhs.gov\/director\/public-information-office\/index.php#news-release-032422\">the announcement here<\/a>.<\/p>\n  <h5 class=\"top-buffer\">General Application Information<\/h5>\n  <p>In order to be deemed substantively complete and eligible for the random selection, an application was required to meet all of the requirements outlined in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azdhs.gov\/documents\/director\/administrative-counsel-rules\/rules\/rulemaking\/adult-use-marijuana\/draft-articles-1-3-2020-12-10-for-posting.pdf\">A.A.C. R9-18-303<\/a>. <\/p>\n  <p>Below are a few key points about the general application requirements:<\/p>\n  <ul>\n      <li>The application must list each individual who is a principal officer or board member of the applying entity, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azdhs.gov\/documents\/director\/administrative-counsel-rules\/rules\/rulemaking\/adult-use-marijuana\/draft-articles-1-3-2020-12-10-for-posting.pdf\">A.A.C. R9-18-301<\/a>.<\/li>\n      <li>No one can be a principal officer or board member on more than two applications.<\/li>\n      <li>Each principal officer or board member must attest that they do not have an excluded felony offense, as defined in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azleg.gov\/ars\/36\/02862.htm\">A.R.S. \u00a736-2801<\/a>.<\/li>\n      <li>At least 51% ownership of the applying entity must belong to principal officer(s) or board member(s) who have documentation of completing the required Department-provided training course and meet at least three (3) out of the four (4) social equity eligibility requirements.\n          <ul>\n              <li>Attestations must be provided confirming that these individuals cannot be removed from their positions without their written consent or a court order.<\/li>\n          <\/ul>\n      <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n\t<h5 class=\"top-buffer\">Social Equity Training Course<\/h5>\n  <p>All principal officers and board members (PO\/BMs) of the applying entity must create a facility licensing portal account and access the training by November 17, 2021, and complete each module of the ADHS provided training by November 24, 2021, regardless of who will submit the application. Details regarding training options can be found under <a href=\"#training\">Training Opportunities<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n"}