Boston Cannabis Equity Program

In order to participate in the Boston Cannabis Equity Program, you must fulfill the following prerequisites:

• Maintain an active application with the Boston Cannabis Board (BCB).
• Possess a lease or a letter of intent (LOI). As this certification is only for the City of Boston, a lease or LOI is only required to verify that your business will operate within Boston.
• Own or be a part of a group that owns a minimum of 51% of the entity.
• Satisfy at least THREE of the following criteria. If you are part of a group comprising 51% ownership, each member of the group must meet at least THREE of the following criteria:

1.  A person who has resided in an Area of Disproportionate impact (ADI) for at least 5 of the last 10 years, as defined by the Boston Cannabis Board.
2. A person who has a past arrest or conviction for the possession, sale, manufacturing, or cultivation of Marijuana between 1971 and 2016, who has been a resident of Boston for the past five years, OR is the child of a person with a past arrest or conviction for the possession, sale, manufacturing, or cultivation of Marijuana between 1971 and 2016, and has been a resident of Boston for the past 5 years.
3. A person who has resided in the City of Boston for at least the past 7 years.
4. A person who is of Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, or Indigenous descent.
5. A person whose annual household income is at or below 100% of the area median income for their city or town.
6. A person who has been certified by the Cannabis Control Commission as an Economic Empowerment Applicant, or a participant in the Cannabis Control Commission Social Equity Program, and is a resident of Boston for at least one of the last three years.
7. A person who is a former member of the Armed Forces of the United States (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force) who served on active duty and was discharged under conditions that were other than dishonorable.

The eligibility criteria for the Boston Cannabis Equity Program were set by the Boston City Ordinance 8-13.3. You can find more information about eligibility requirements and examples of eligibility documentation on the Boston Cannabis Equity Program frequently asked questions.

When applying for the Boston Cannabis Equity Program, it is necessary to submit supporting documents as proof for each eligibility category you are applying under. The following examples outline the types of documentation that are accepted for each eligibility criterion, but please note that this list is not exhaustive.

Please note: When submitting the required documents, be sure to provide the following information for each individual counting towards at least 51% of the entity’s ownership:

Proof of Residency in an Area of Disproportionate Impact (ADI) for at least 5 of the last 10 years. You must provide one bill or statement for each year you are trying to prove residency:

• Mortgage statement
• Property Tax Statement
• Property Deed
• Homestead Exemption
• Lease agreement (first page and signature page), 
• Electric bill
• Phone bill
• Bank statement
• Credit card bill
• Cable bill
• Car insurance coverage page

Proof of Past Conviction:

• Signed CORI acknowledgment form.

Proof of Residency in Boston for 1, 5, or 7 years as it applies. You must provide one bill or statement for each year you are trying to prove residency:

• Mortgage statement
• Property Tax Statement
• Property Deed
• Homestead Exemption
• Lease agreement (first page and signature page)
• Electric bill
• Phone bill
• Bank statement
• Credit card bill
• Cable bill
• Car insurance coverage page

Proof of Income. Provide copies of your most recent:

• Federal Tax Return, or
• State Tax Return

Proof of CCC Economic Empowerment or Social Equity Program Certification:

• Provide a copy of your certification letter.

Proof of Service:

• Provide your DD214 record.

Proof of Race/Ethnicity:

• Provide a government-issued ID.

Note: This list is not meant to be exhaustive. The Cannabis Business Manager may request additional information.

Pre-certification for the Boston Equity Program is available to assist applicants before obtaining a lease or Letter of Intent (LOI) for their business. Applicants who show they are eligible for pre-certification will receive an official letter from the Mayor's Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. This notice may be useful to the applicant to share when they are in talks about finalizing a site for their business.

However, before the applicant can be fully certified for the Boston Equity Program or complete their Marijuana Establishment Application with the Boston Cannabis Board (BCB), the applicant will need to obtain:

• proof of legal right to occupy the premise
• a notarized letter from a landlord, or
• a Letter of Intent (LOI) to submit an application to the Boston Cannabis Board and be fully eligible for the Boston Equity Program.

Want to learn more about pre-certification or apply? Please contact the Cannabis Business Manager, Shekia Scott, at Shekia.Scott@boston.gov or call her at 617-635-0053.

The Boston Equity Program provides various benefits to participants. Some of the key benefits include:

Priority Licensing: Equity applicants receive 1:1 priority consideration for cannabis-related licenses in the City of Boston, leveling the playing field in the licensing process.

Exclusive Access to Technical & Financial Assistance. You can find more information on technical assistance and grant funding below.

Equity Designation Certificate: Once your location has opened you will receive an official Equity Certificate from the City of Boston. 

It's important to note that the specific benefits and details of the Boston Equity Program may be subject to change based on the program's guidelines and any updates made by the City of Boston.