Eligibility Criteria – National Social Equity Certification

Eligibility Criteria

Who qualifies to apply for the National Social Equity Certification™?

The company or organization must have been formed as a legal entity in the United States with its headquarters located in the U.S. The company must be at least 51% owned, operated, managed, and controlled by an individual from the social equity community who is either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The business must operate independently from any business enterprise not owned and operated by someone from the social equity community.

Appropriate documentation must be supplied in accordance with the national standards listed below. The certification is awarded after a review of documentation and is valid for a two-year period, after which companies must recertify.

You are a legal resident of the United States including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
You reside or conduct business in a census-designated place with a low median income (the specific income requirement varies by program, as do the residency requirements) or reside or conduct business in a federally designated opportunity zone.
You have been convicted of a marijuana-related offense
One of your immediate relatives (usually a parent, child, or sibling) has been convicted of a marijuana-related offense
You are of African American, Native American, Asian, or Latinx descent (or you belong to one or more other communities of color that have been harmed by the War on Drugs)
You belong to another underrepresented group or disproportionate subset of cannabis business owners (for instance, if you’re a woman, a veteran, or a disabled business owner)
You meet certain maximum income requirements. Affluent business owners are generally disqualified from social equity licensing.