Fuente: PubMed "Cannabis" Am J Prev Med. 2025 Dec 13:108218. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2025.108218. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION: With expanding cannabis legalization, sometimes motivated by an interest in improving social justice, some states have enacted different initiatives to support social equity (SE) goals. This study described state SE initiatives related to equitable industry entrepreneurship opportunities among disproportionately-impacted communities and areas (DICAs), community reinvestment, and criminal justice reform.METHODS: Two coders independently identified these 3 state-level cannabis-related initiatives among the 22 states with legal and active non-medical ('recreational') cannabis retail as of December 2024 using NexisUni and state-specific legislative websites. Themes were synthesized using iterative content and thematic analysis.RESULTS: SE initiatives related to cannabis licensure were present in 17/22 states; of these, 13 reserved a number/percent of licenses for SE entrepreneurs. Regarding SE licensure eligibility, all states required majority business ownership and had criteria considering: cannabis-related arrests/convictions of applicants and/or family members (n=14/17), residence in DICA residence (n=15/17), and/or applicants' income/wealth (n=9/17). Most states with SE entrepreneurship initiatives provided SE entrepreneurs with technical assistance/training (n=14/17) and opportunities for reduced application/licensing fees (n=10/17). Most states imposed cannabis sales taxes (n=15/22) and/or excise taxes (n=20/22). Ten states (n=10/22) distributed cannabis program revenues to substance use education/prevention/treatment; approximately one-fifth (n=4/22) distributed funds to SE entrepreneurship initiatives. Over two-thirds of states (n=15/22) had cannabis-related expungements.CONCLUSIONS: Most states had cannabis-related SE initiatives (e.g., equitable entrepreneurship support, allocation of tax revenue, expungements), which varied in terms of their licensure, resources, and participation. Future research is needed to monitor and evaluate these SE initiatives.PMID:41397535 | DOI:10.1016/j.amepre.2025.108218