Social Equity Entrepreneurs Want More From Colorado Cannabis Industry

When Colorado became the first state to legalize recreational marijuana in 2012, it didn't have a playbook.

While the state worked out the early rules regarding sales and taxation, it didn't initially consider how years of marijuana criminalization had impacted historically marginalized communities, and whether those communities should get special access to opportunities in the cannabis industry. (As originally posted on Westword by HILAL BAHCETEPE)

But in the years that followed, other states that legalized recreational marijuana did consider those issues and built social equity provisions into their programs.

Colorado is now playing social equity catch-up. On October 1, Governor Jared Polis pardoned 2,732 past marijuana possession convictions. When he signed Senate Bill 111 earlier this year, he approved $4 million going to support social-equity marijuana entrepreneurs. And on April 20 — that unofficial stoner holiday – Mayor Michael Hancock signed into law Denver’s social equity program, which began accepting applications for licenses in June.

Aja Palomino, a social-equity licensee, has been working in the cannabis industry for four years. Had it not been for her background and the connections she's made, she said it would have been nearly impossible to become a successful entrepreneur.

The biggest hurdles have been fundraising and finding new industry prospects, she explained; setting up a successful deal can come down to a head nod or shake from bigger industry players. “The exclusivity for the licensing and delivery seems really great in theory, but how much it's going to create more opportunities for us is questionable. It has been a difficult process,” said Palomino. “This whole program is amazing, but it is limited in a way. There’s only so much you can do without the proper connections, status and resources.”

William "Willie" Denney had been working security in the cannabis sphere for years, and approached Green Dragon, one of the dispensary companies for which he'd worked, about a year ago regarding his social equity status. He'd signed on for the state's Accelerator Program, which gives social equity licensees a pathway to partner with existing businesses that are willing to provide technical assistance and capital.

But Green Dragon wasn't interested, nor were several other companies he spoke with. “I’m looking for companies day in and day out,” said Denney. “I can’t receive a contract until somebody’s willing to partner with me for delivery or to do the Accelerator Program. That’s the issue I’ve been running into: No one wants to give up that 51 percent of ownership.”

Corporate gatekeeping is another concern. Denney noted that Eaze, Green Dragon's delivery service, is a multi-national company that's now available through the Apple store. The potential for small businesses to enter the market could disappear when they're up against big tech, he warned;

In acknowledgment of these issues, the BCEI developed a report card to measure a cannabis business's contribution to social equity — something Selena Dunham, principal at the consulting firm Classique LLC, believes is necessary to keep the industry accountable. "I hope in every conversation we have moving forward, as big players like Amazon are looking to get into the industry, that we not forget how important it is to hold people accountable, measure what the results are and make sure they are reinvesting back into our communities," she said. "Overall within the cannabis community, we're far from trust, truth and transparency. We're having the conversations, and I think people are polite and they have good intentions, but I also think folks are just waiting to see what happens and slide through."

For entrepreneur Curtis Washington, the biggest challenge has been finding a location for a retail marijuana store. “I’ve spent a lot of time trying to find a suitable or approvable location,” he said, explaining that Denver’s 1,000-foot buffer restrictions and the number of existing stores make it very difficult to enter the market.

Lisa Gee with Lightshade Dispensaries said that barriers to entry for social equity applicants and a "protectionism philosophy" surrounding the industry pose other threats.

“There’s so much support that's needed to get people in a position where they feel comfortable running their own business," she explained, adding that there's an invisible wall that blocks would-be entrepreneurs. “I think this is a really difficult position for social equity applicants to be around. They're coming into a mature market that’s protectionist already.” 

But Victoria Osler, an Aurora entrepreneur, said that she feels the social equity programs have created many opportunities for her hospitality business, Dreamy Illusions, and she encouraged other applicants not to get discouraged. “We gotta stop thinking we can do it on our own. People want to help us," she advised. “It takes time and a lot of work, but don’t get discouraged. This is all new to us, and we deserve to be here."

According to Molly Duplechian, policy analyst at the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses, the office currently has five pending applications for a retail marijuana shop under the social equity rules. It's already issued five transporter and delivery permits and licenses, but the office has not received any new cultivation or manufacturing facility applications. Hospitality licenses for social equity applicants will open up in November

As of August 1, the state has approved twelve social equity applicants and 118 applications are pending review, according to Will Lukela, chief of licensing at the Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED). One accelerator endorsement has been approved and one application is pending; one accelerator store has been approved. The state has not received social equity applications for accelerator cultivations or manufacturers.

The new Cannabis Business Office in the OEDIT will determine how the $4 million will be distributed. According to Tristan Watkins, the office's new program manager, $2.5 million will go to loans, $1 million to grants, and half a million to technical assistance.

"We are going to be very learning- and teaching-forward on this, ensuring that we can really provide that foundational information that allows the applicants to have the best chance of success," Watkins said. "We want to make sure that this isn't just lip service that we're doing, and what we're doing is actually impactful at the end of the day." The office is currently working with individuals outside of lenders for loans, and will soon announce grant values for social equity licensees.

“Progress is being made, but very very slowly," concluded Dunham. "I’m cautiously optimistic about where we’re going, and there’s a lot of work we need to do.”