Marijuana Regulatory Agency Announces Eleven Social Equity Program Educational Sessions Across the State

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.”