The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission has launched the second round of its Social Equity Program, the commission announced in a press release on Thursday.
Through the program, more than 280 participants from communities disproportionately harmed by the War on Drugs will have access to expedited licensing review, fee waivers, training and technical assistance, according to the announcement.
The second cohort has nearly double the number of participants as the first round, which wrapped up in April and included 146 people.
“The fact that participation in the Social Equity Program has doubled from the first cohort to the second speaks both to the high-quality training we’ve sought to deliver and to the need and desire for wraparound services that level the industry playing field for those harmed the most by the War on Drugs,” said CCC Executive Director Shawn Collins, in a statement.
The orientation for the second cohort took place virtually on July 17. Programming was scheduled to continue on Friday with a valuation seminar.
Participants can select one of four tracks in the program. Options include programming focused on cannabis entrepreneurship, managerial cannabis careers, entry-level cannabis careers and also a track focused on skills that are directly transferable to the cannabis industry.
