Five US States Taking Different Approaches to Cannabis Social Equity, With Mixed Results
Analysis of cannabis social equity programs in Colorado, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Missouri found varied approaches to expungements, business assistance, and revenue allocation, with limited evidence of effectiveness.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Colorado, Washington, and Massachusetts implemented pardons while Connecticut and Missouri implemented expungement. All states reserved some licenses for social equity applicants and offered training programs, but eligibility criteria, financial support, and tax structures varied significantly. Revenue allocation across states funded program costs, general funds, and education/health initiatives differently.
Key Numbers
5 states analyzed: CO, WA, MA, CT, MO. 3 used pardons, 2 used expungement. All reserved some licenses for SE applicants. Varied tax structures (retail sales vs. excise). Revenue directed to program costs, general fund, health/education.
How They Did This
Case study analysis of 5 states using a drug policy framework. Two researchers dual-coded cannabis-related social equity policies on expungements/pardons, entrepreneurship assistance, and revenue allocation as of December 2024.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis legalization was partly justified by correcting racial disparities in enforcement. These case studies reveal that while states are making efforts, the varied approaches and lack of evaluation make it unclear whether social equity goals are being achieved.
The Bigger Picture
The variation across states provides a natural experiment for evaluating which social equity approaches are most effective, but the limited evidence base means policymakers are largely operating without proven models.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Policy analysis only, no outcome data on whether equity goals are being met. Policies documented as of December 2024 may have changed. Cannot assess implementation quality vs. policy on paper. Five states may not represent all approaches.
Questions This Raises
- ?Which social equity model produces the best outcomes for affected communities?
- ?How many social equity licensees have become financially successful businesses?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Systematic policy analysis with dual coding, but descriptive only without outcome evaluation limits to moderate.
- Study Age:
- Policies documented as of December 2024.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis Social Equity Initiatives Across 5 US States Case Studies of Colorado, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Missouri.
- Published In:
- Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP, 31(6), E315-E329 (2025)
- Authors:
- Speer, Morgan(10), Chakraborty, Rishika(11), Yang, Y Tony(12), LoParco, Cassidy R, Berg, Carla J
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07705
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What is cannabis social equity?
Programs designed to address the disproportionate impact of cannabis criminalization on communities of color, including criminal record clearing, business licensing assistance, and community investment from cannabis tax revenue.
Are these programs working?
The study documents what states are doing but notes that limited evidence exists on whether these programs are achieving their equity goals. Ongoing evaluation across states is needed.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07705APA
Speer, Morgan; Chakraborty, Rishika; Yang, Y Tony; LoParco, Cassidy R; Berg, Carla J. (2025). Cannabis Social Equity Initiatives Across 5 US States Case Studies of Colorado, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Missouri.. Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP, 31(6), E315-E329. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000002191
MLA
Speer, Morgan, et al. "Cannabis Social Equity Initiatives Across 5 US States Case Studies of Colorado, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Missouri.." Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000002191
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis Social Equity Initiatives Across 5 US States Case S..." RTHC-07705. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/speer-2025-cannabis-social-equity-initiatives
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.