An Overview Social and Economic Equity (SEE)
On March 31, 2021, New York State legalized adult-use cannabis by passing the Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA). The legislation established a robust social and economic equity (SEE) program to incentivize participation in this new industry for individuals disproportionally impacted by cannabis prohibition through the implementation of the SEE Plan (PDF). The Cannabis Law automatically expunges past marijuana convictions and mandates the investment of 40% of all adult-use cannabis tax revenue toward rebuilding communities harmed by the War on Drugs.
The Cannabis Law establishes a goal of awarding fifty percent (50%) of all adult-use licenses to distinct SEE groups including:
- Individual or individuals from a community disproportionately impacted (CDI) by cannabis prohibition
- Minority-Owned Businesses
- Women-Owned Businesses
- Distressed Farmers
- Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business
Qualifying for SEE
To qualify for SEE status, sole control of the applicant must be held by an individual or individuals from a community disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition, a minority-owned business, a women-owned business, distressed farmers, or a service-disabled veterans. The person or persons having sole control must match the SEE group the applicant wishes to be qualified as. Please see the applicant overview or visit the SEE Certification section for further details.
Extra priority shall be given to applications that demonstrate that an applicant meets ALL of the following:
- Is a member of a community disproportionately impacted by the enforcement of cannabis prohibition;
- Has an income lower than eighty percent (80%) of the median income of the county in which the applicant resides; and
- Was convicted of a cannabis-related offense prior to the effective date of the MRTA, or had a parent, guardian, child, spouse, or dependent, or was a dependent of an individual who, prior to March 31, 2021, was convicted of a cannabis-related offense.
SEE Programs, Assistance, and Training Hub (PATH) Access training materials, webinar recordings, and support resources for SEE applicants & licensees through PATH
CAURD Grant Program CAURD Grant Applications Are Now Closed.
The funding for this CAURD (Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary) Grant has been fully exhausted. As a reminder, this grant opportunity was administered on a first come, first served basis. If you have not yet received an award status update from the grant administrator, please email [email protected]. Check back regularly for updates on future funding opportunities, procurements, and other important announcements.
learn more about Communities Disproportionately Impacted (CDI)
The Office has identified CDIs with the goal of elevating their participation in the adult-use market. A community disproportionately impacted (CDI) is a history of arrests, convictions, and other law enforcement practices in a certain geographic area, including, but not limited to, precincts, zip codes, neighborhoods, and political subdivisions, reflecting disparate enforcement of cannabis prohibition during a specific time period relative to the rest of the state. N.Y. CANBS § 87(5)(g)
The enforcement of cannabis prohibition has had devastating effects on numerous communities, which continue to endure the collateral consequences of the state’s legacy of harsh drug laws. Decades of excessive policing and systemic arrest and incarceration rates have disproportionately harmed the economic, social, psychological, and financial well-being of these communities and their families.