Marijuana Regulatory Agency Announces December Social Equity Program Educational Sessions

Media Contact: LARA Communications 517-335-LARA (52727)
Email: mediainfo@michigan.gov

The Marijuana Regulatory Agency’s (MRA) social equity team has announced December dates, times, and locations for its education and outreach sessions to promote and encourage participation in the licensed Adult-Use marijuana market:

Date: Monday, December 2, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Place: Saginaw Hoyt Main Library, 505 Janes Ave, Saginaw

Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Place: Booker T. Dozier Recreation Center, 2025 Middlebelt Rd, Inkster

Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Place: The Township Meeting Hall, 7275 W Main St, Kalamazoo

Date: Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 4:30 PM
Place: Ypsilanti Senior Center, 1015 N Congress St, Ypsilanti

Date: Monday, December 9, 2019 at 11:00 AM
Place: West Campus Community Center, 1414 Family Dr, Big Rapids

Date: Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Place: Coldwater Branch District Library, 10 E Chicago St, Coldwater

Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Place: Ruth Peterson Community Center, 990 Joslyn Rd, Pontiac

Date: Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Place: Berston Fieldhouse, 3300 N Saginaw St, Flint (Mt. Morris)

Date: Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 11:00 AM
Place: Ismon House, 300 S Clinton St, Albion

Date: Monday, December 16, 2019 at 11:00 AM
Place: Chase Library, 17731 W 7 Mile Rd, Detroit

Date: Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Place: Mt Pleasant City Hall, 320 W Broadway St, Mt. Pleasant

Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Place: Watervliet Township Hall, 4959 M140, Watervliet

Date: Thursday, December 19, 2019 at 11:00 AM
Place: Hackley Library, 316 W Webster Ave, Muskegon (Heights)

Date: Monday, December 30, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Place: East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Rd, East Lansing

While attendance is free, space is limited. Interested participants need to register at the following website: http://bit.ly/MRA-SE-Events

During the social equity education and outreach sessions, attendees will receive information about qualifying for and participating in the social equity program and the adult-use licensing process. There will be several state agencies available to provide information applicable to the licensing process, and other marijuana industry resources providing information important to a licensed marijuana business.

Participating in the Social Equity Program allows qualifying applicants to benefit from a reduction of up to 60% off the application fee, the initial license fee, and future renewal fees, which will be calculated as follows for qualifying applicants:

• 25% reduction for those who have been a resident of one of the disproportionally impacted communities for the past five years AND whose marijuana establishments will be located in disproportionately impacted communities.
• An additional 25% reduction if the individual(s) holding majority ownership have been a resident of one of the disproportionally impacted communities for the past five years AND have a marijuana-related conviction.
• An additional 10% reduction if the individual(s) holding majority ownership have been a resident of one of the disproportionally impacted communities for the past five years AND were registered as primary caregivers for at least two years between 2008 and 2017.

Social Equity Representatives will confirm eligibility for participation in this program through acceptance of several form of documentation.

On November 1, 2019 the online Adult-Use application was made available to the public to complete and submit to the MRA. During the social equity education and outreach sessions we will continue to provide assistance with the online Adult-Use application to social equity participants that sign up prior to the education session. The Adult-use application assistance will be available at the following locations: Kalamazoo, Coldwater, and Muskegon. You can sign up by selecting the event labeled ‘MRA Adult-Use Application Assistance: (Location)’. The social equity team will continue providing one-on-one assistance with the Social equity application at all education and outreach session locations. Also, in the month of December you will find an array of resources joining us such as State Agencies, Medical Marijuana Facility Licensees, CPAs, and Attorneys. These resources will be here to help you learn how to start and operate a successful Marijuana Business.

More education and outreach sessions for the MRA’s Social Equity Program will be added for the month of January. Check the MRA website for more information.