Division of Social Equity Overview
The Office of Cannabis Management’s Division of Social Equity works to promote development, stability, and safety in communities disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and usage (Minnesota Statutes, section 342.02, subd. 8). Through reinvestment grants, licensing support, and community-informed policy design, we are committed to turning cannabis legalization into a tool for justice, reinvestment, and opportunity.
Division staff promote economic development, improve social determinants of health, provide services to prevent violence, support early intervention programs for youth and families, and promote community stability and safety.
The Division of Social Equity will be responsible for the review of petitions for variance by license applicants with a disqualifying offense in their background and the review and approval of change requests for social equity classified licenses.
Why social equity matters
- The impact of cannabis prohibition persists through deep racial, social, and economic disparities in Minnesota.
- Disparate arrest rates have impacted some communities at a higher rate than others. For example, Black Minnesotans have been nearly 5.3 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession, despite similar use rates to white Minnesotans (ACLU, 2020).
- Past convictions created long-term barriers to housing, employment, education, and financial security.
- Communities that were over-policed, veterans, and small farmers continue to face systemic challenges.
Our framework: social equity in motion
The Social Equity in Motion plan is our roadmap for ensuring equity is embedded in Minnesota’s cannabis industry. It is built on three pillars:
- Development – Inclusive policymaking and community engagement ensure those most harmed by prohibition help shape Minnesota’s cannabis future.
- Stability – Long-term investments like CanGrow and CanRenew grants provide financial and regulatory support for businesses and communities. Social equity networking provide access to social and professional resources. Decriminalization and expungement remove barriers caused by cannabis prohibition and usage.
- Safety – Transparent, accountable regulation prioritizes public health, product quality, and fair compliance.
Who qualifies for social equity?
Under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 342.17, individuals may qualify if they are:
- Justice-impacted (personal or family member convictions before May 1, 2023)
- Veterans or service members impacted by cannabis-related offenses
- Long-term residents of communities disproportionately affected by prohibition
- Emerging or early-stage farmers
- Find additional details on qualifications for social equity.
Programs
The Division of Social Equity oversees the two grant programs established in statute.
- CanRenew awards grants to eligible organizations for investments in communities where long-term residents are eligible to be social equity applicants. The request for proposals is open until Jan. 12 at 4:30 p.m. CST. Grant materials and the application form are available on the CanRenew webpage.
- CanGrow awards grants to eligible organizations to help farmers navigate the regulatory structure of the legal cannabis industry, and nonprofit corporations to fund loans to farmers for entry and expansion into the legal cannabis industry.
- The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) manages three additional cannabis-related grant programs: CanStartUp, CanNavigate, and CanTrain. Learn more about these programs on our Grants Overview webpage.
The Division also houses the ombudsperson, who serves as an impartial resource for addressing and resolving concerns related to equity in the cannabis industry.
- Ombudsperson: Learn how to escalate a complaint by contacting the ombudsperson.
In addition, the Division will host Social Equity Mixers support social equity verified individuals learn, launch and sustain compliant businesses that strengthen community wellness. Find more details about these events below.