1. Introduction
The growing emphasis on linking social equity goals with the legalization of recreational cannabis should be viewed against the backdrop of the stigmatization of both marijuana in society and the entrepreneurs who are the expected beneficiaries of social equity provisions. Understanding how states have approached the creation and implementation of these types of business set-asides provides insights into the degree to which social and economic equity programs can achieve their goals. This is the case when a nexus exists between a highly stigmatized industry and a group of entrepreneurs, as well as in economic sectors that are more mainstream.
At its core, this article asks if, under their current structure and implementation, recreational cannabis laws achieve social equity goals. More specifically, differentiation in the social equity provisions of state laws governing business set-asides for recreational cannabis dispensaries is examined. The methods for this analysis are two-pronged. First, content analysis of public policy documents is used to examine social equity provisions in state and local cannabis laws applicable to large U.S. cities (2020 population > 600,000). Second, spatial analysis is used to gain insights into how the geography of cannabis businesses furthers or hampers the core social and economic equity goals of the law. The findings from the analysis are used to generate recommendations to strengthen the social and economic equity outcomes from the implementation of recreational cannabis policy nationally.
