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Arizona regulators are seeking public input on social equity regulations for cannabis establishments

May 13, 2021

Arizona, Arizona Department of Health Services, AZ, cannabis businesses, cannabis establishments, cannabis legalization, communities disproportionately impacted, draft rules, eligibility criteria, enforcement, implementation, legalization, online survey, Prop 207, public comments, public input, regulators, social equity, social equity licensing program


Arizona regulators are seeking public input on social equity regulations for cannabis establishments

Submit your comments here — the deadline is this Sunday.

The Arizona Department of Health Services recently released a draft of rules that will guide implementation of the social equity licensing program for cannabis businesses, which was included as part of the voter-approved Prop 207 that legalized cannabis for adults last year. 

The department is accepting public comments through an online survey, which you can access here. Responses will be accepted through May 16. 

MPP will be submitting comments and encourages supporters of social equity to make their voice heard, too. We are concerned that the regulations do not define “communities disproportionately impacted by the enforcement of previous marijuana laws,” which is included in the social equity provisions of Prop 207. Furthermore, the eligibility criteria for the social equity licenses are excessively narrow and should be broadened to encourage more people who have been directly or indirectly harmed by cannabis prohibition to apply. 

If you would like to submit comments and have questions, you can contact me directly at jmoffat@mpp.org.