Social Equity Licensee Resources

Maryland law requires the Office of Social Equity (OSE) to work with the Maryland Cannabis Administration to provide free technical assistance to social equity and minority cannabis business applicants. OSE provides and facilitates technical assistance designed to help applicants and licensees navigate the challenges of entering, operating, and growing within Maryland’s regulated cannabis industry. 

Technical assistance may include: 

• Individualized support and coaching 
• Business education and structured training 
• Peer learning 
• Resource referrals and navigation 
• Site visits and direct engagement 
• Access to partner-provided training, conferences, and professional development 
• Connections to business development resources and opportunities 

As social equity licensees move through different stages of the operational journey, OSE continues to assess their needs and adapt technical assistance to support launch, operation, growth, and long-term sustainability.

Programs and Initiatives 

OSE has developed and delivered programs and initiatives designed to respond to the evolving needs of Maryland’s social equity cannabis businesses. These offerings have included business education, individualized technical assistance, mentorship, peer learning, operational support, and connections to industry and economic development resources.

Social Equity Partnership Grant Program

The Social Equity Partnership Grant Program is established in Maryland law to promote qualifying partnerships between operational cannabis licensees and social equity licensees. 

The program is supported by a $5 million annual State appropriation beginning in Fiscal Year 2025. Grant funding is intended to support qualifying partnerships that provide meaningful assistance to social equity licensees, including training, mentorship, shared commercial space or equipment, and other approved forms of operational support. 

OSE is responsible for implementing and administering the program, including establishing eligibility and application requirements, reviewing qualifying partnerships, awarding grants, and monitoring continued eligibility. 

OSE is completing the regulatory and administrative work necessary to launch the program. Additional program guidance, eligibility information, and application materials are expected to be available in late 2026.

Cannabis Business Assistance Fund

The Cannabis Business Assistance Fund (CBAF) supports small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses entering Maryland’s adult-use cannabis industry.

Administered by the Maryland Department of Commerce, CBAF includes grants and loans designed to support social equity licensees as they work toward operational status. Funding is tied to business development and capital milestones established for Maryland cannabis licensees. 

Previous funding rounds have provided more than $45 million in support to social equity businesses and eligible medical cannabis businesses transitioning to the adult-use market. 

OSE works with the Department of Commerce and other State partners to help connect social equity licensees with CBAF resources and other available business support opportunities.

Stay informed

Sign up for OSE Insights: The Bud Bulletin for program announcements, funding news, and events for social equity licensees. 

Contact the Office of Social Equity at 1-877-420-8868. Mailing address: 849 International Drive, 1st Floor, Linthicum, MD 21090.