Media Contact: LARA Communications 517-335-LARA (5272)
Email: mediainfo@michigan.gov
August 29, 2019 – The Marijuana Regulatory Agency’s (MRA) social equity team has announced additional dates, times, and locations for its education and outreach sessions to promote and encourage participation in the licensed marijuana market:
- Monday, September 9, 2019 at 10:00 AM in Detroit
Wayne Community College
801 W. Fort St., Detroit MI
Registration link: http://bit.ly/MRA-Detroit
- Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at 10:00 AM in East Lansing
East Lansing Public Library
950 Abbot Rd, East Lansing, MI
Registration link: http://bit.ly/MRA-EastLansing
- Thursday, September 12, 2019 at 10:00 AM in Inkster
Inkster Booker Dozier Recreation Complex
2025 Middlebelt, Inkster, MI
Registration link: http://bit.ly/MRA-Inkster
- Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at 10:00 AM in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Public Library 3rd Floor
10:00 AM | 315 S. Rose St., Kalamazoo
Registration link: http://bit.ly/MRA-Kalamazoo
- Thursday, September 19, 2019 at 10:00 AM in Benton Harbor
Benton Harbor Michigan Works The Anchor Rooms
499 W Main St., Benton Harbor, MI
Registration link: http://bit.ly/MRA-BentonHarbor
- Friday, September 20, 2019 at 10:00 AM in Flint/Mt. Morris
Flint Berston Fieldhouse
3300 N. Saginaw Street, Flint, MI
Registration link: http://bit.ly/MRA-Flint
- Monday, September 23, 2019 at 10:00 AM in Pontiac
Pontiac Public Library
60 East Pike Street, Pontiac, MI
Registration link: http://bit.ly/MRA-Pontiac
- Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 10:00 AM in Saginaw
Saginaw Main Library
Hoyt 505 Janes Avenue, Saginaw, MI
Registration link: http://bit.ly/MRA-Saginaw
- Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 10:00 AM in Niles
Niles District Library
620 E Main St, Niles, MI
Registration link: http://bit.ly/MRA-Niles
- Friday, September 27, 2019 at 10:00 AM in Muskegon/Muskegon Heights
Muskegon Community College
221 Quarterline Rd, Muskegon, MI
Registration link: http://bit.ly/MRA-Muskegon
- Monday, September 30, 2019 at 1:00 PM in Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti District Library
5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti, MI
Registration link: http://bit.ly/MRA-Ypsilanti
While attendance is free, space is limited, and interested participants need to register. More education and outreach sessions for the MRA’s Social Equity Program will be added soon; check the MRA website for more information.
During the visit, the MRA will provide educational sessions regarding the social equity program and the application and licensure process. The MRA’s social equity representatives will be available to assist individuals with completing the social equity application, which will allow the MRA to determine if the individual qualifies for participation in the program.
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 19 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 19 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 19 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 forms of documentation.
Section 8 of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act (2018) required the MRA to develop “a plan to promote and encourage participation in the marijuana industry by people from communities that have been disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition and enforcement and to positively impact those communities.”
