(The Center Square) — Another legislative hearing on recreational marijuana legalization focused on avoiding the mistakes of other states.
Legislators want to focus on equity, but economic considerations can make it difficult.
“Due to lack of funding, many companies who are equity (license holders) are controlled by really large, multi-state operators,” said Laury Lucien, CEO of Cami Flower, a marijuana business in Massachusetts. “The people who are controlling the company don’t look like the equity applicants.”
Massachusetts has a social equity program in its marijuana sector to help minority or previously convicted drug users get involved in the recreational market. But having explicit programs doesn’t guarantee success.
The licensure process for marijuana is also trickier than for other industries, even highly regulated ones.
“The licensing process is onerous,” Lucien said. “I was able to open my brewery in less than a year; it took me 4 years to go through marijuana licensing. That’s
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