Social Equity in Cannabis: Lessons Learned and the Path to Reform

Social equity was meant to be the cannabis industry's correction to decades of harm. Years in, the results are uneven. Some cannabis equity programs have opened real doors, while others have stalled under licensing backlogs, capital gaps, and rules that look good on paper but rarely survive in the market. This session takes an honest look at what's working, what isn't, and where the next round of reform must go. This discussion moves past good intentions to evaluate outcomes with clear eyes. We'll examine the structural and legislative levers that can turn equity promises into lasting ownership, participation, and wealth.