Social Equity Policies

Purpose and Scope

On August 11, 2022, Governor Charlie Baker signed S. 3096, An Act Relative to Equity in the Cannabis Industry, into law. The new law requires host municipalities to establish initial policies to promote Equity in the cannabis industry no later than July 1, 2023, or be subject to monetary penalties. On June 29, 2023, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (“CCC”) issued guidance on how to create a model a Social Equity policy that encourages cities and towns in Massachusetts to consider incentives for increased participation by Social Equity applicants in their local cannabis ecosystem.

Based on cannabis Social Equity best practices, guidance from the CCC, and lessons learned from the Town of Maynard’s current cannabis business permitting program, the Town of Maynard adopts a set of policies to further promote Equity for new Social Equity applicants seeking to establish businesses in Maynard. 

Applicability

The CCC’s Social Equity programs provide training and technical assistance to applicants who have been disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, marijuana prohibition, arrests, and incarceration and who meet certain income and residency requirements. The Town of Maynard defines qualifying Social Equity applicants under Maynard’s Cannabis Social Equity Policies as those that have been certified as eligible to participate in the CCC Social Equity Program or are Certified Economic Empowerment Priority Applicants according to the CCC.  

The Town of Maynard Cannabis Social Equity Policies

To encourage greater participation by Social Equity applicants in Maynard’s cannabis industry, when reviewing an application for a Host Community Agreement (HCA), an evaluation form will be made available that scores components of an application. The evaluation form will include consideration of equity in the overall evaluation score, which will comprise not less than 25 percent of the total evaluation score. This equity component will include: (i) whether a License Applicant is pre-verified as a Social Equity Business by the Commission; (ii) whether the License Applicant is a Social Equity Program Participant; (iii) whether the License Applicant is an Economic Empowerment Priority Applicant; (iv) whether the License Applicant has a prior Marijuana related criminal conviction; (v) whether the License Applicant is part of an Area of Disproportionate Impact, as identified by the Commission; or (vi) a majority of the License Applicant entity is comprised of individuals from Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino, or Native American or indigenous descent. 

1. The Town of Maynard will enhance marketing and outreach to potential Social Equity applicants by promoting available HCAs to the Cannabis Control Commissions’ Social Equity program, promoting on the Town’s website and Social media, and enhanced business outreach as part of the Town’s Economic Development program. 
2. The Town of Maynard will provide permitting technical assistance for Social Equity and Economic Empowerment applicants navigating the Town of Maynard’s cannabis permitting process. The Planning and Development Department will create a website with guidance and resources for applicants and a list of all required permits, including necessary forms. A municipal contact will be listed on the Town website and will work closely with Social Equity applicants in the permitting process from initial inquiry through the special permit and building permit process. 
3. The Town of Maynard will continue to allow cannabis delivery operator and courier uses by right with no cap on the number allowed, which helps to open up availability of these business types to Social Equity applicants. Under the state program, Social Equity and Economic Empowerment applicants are eligible for exclusive access to Delivery Licenses, including Marijuana Courier Marijuana and Delivery Operator licenses, for at least a three-year period from April 1, 2022, to April 1, 2025.   
4. Wherever possible, the Town of Maynard will reduce financial barriers and expedite the permitting for Social Equity and Economic Empowerment applicants. Throughout the Town of Maynard’s special permit process, the Planning and Development Department will endeavor to streamline permitting for these applicants. 
5. The Town of Maynard has updated its municipal website pages regarding its adult retail and medical cannabis approval process and centralized all information on one page, including a list of all documentation required by a Host Community’s local approval process in downloadable form, in order to be user friendly and transparent.
6. The Town of Maynard will offer a 10% reduction of the Special Permit Fee for Social Equity Program or Certified Economic Empowerment priority applications to reduce barriers to entry.  

Further, to comply with the requirement under 935 CMR 500.181(3)(a) and 501.181(3)(a), the Town has adopted a Local Approval Process for equity applicants that is administered on a 1:1 basis, where a General Applicant may be approved only after a Social Equity Business has commenced operations. The Town will administer a 1:1 Local Approval Process until such time as 50% of the Licensees operating in the Host Community are Social Equity Businesses.

Click here to download this policy as a PDF.