Broken Promises: Part 2
Special to the Arizona Informant
It was sold to the community as an opportunity to have ownership in the lucrative Cannabis market in Arizona. The was supposed to be chance to bring generational wealth to one’s family, if, you were fortunate enough to secure one of the 26 “Social Equity Ownership Program” licenses. Each of the licenses had an estimated value of $25 million dollars.
Celeste Rodriguez, a principal in Acre 41, has been a major advocate of the social equity program. According to Celeste “The social equity program was destined to fail from inception.” The multi-state operators wrote the law, and DHS (Department of Health Services) drafted the rules to ensure that those who were supposed to benefit from the program were not protected and the MSOs (Multi State Operators) were. DHS was forewarned of the facts prior to the lottery awarding of licenses when Acre 41 initially sued the agency. The department argued that the allegations by Acre 41 were only “speculative” providing an opportunity for the dominant players to capitalize on the program.
Today, there are a few social equity license winners who received no monies or undervalued money from the forced sale of their licenses. However, the disproportionately impacted communities that were supposed to benefit have seen little to no benefit from the program. Rodriguez believes that the program was truly bait and switch and not what the people of Arizona voted for.
“The Marijuana Social Equity Licensing Scandal was a complete failure in every way, shape, and form. The Government of Arizona failed in enforcing the law the voters of Arizona voted for. Social equity can be identified as a mega lottery win for the Arizona legal cartel. The true marijuana social equity license winners had little or no equity whatsoever before having them stolen with predatory agreements from existing license holders. As of today 25, of the 26 Social Equity licenses are controlled by existing Multi State License operators” stated Rodriguez.
Next week we will have comments from more stakeholders and comments from elected officials.
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