An Act to Create Equity in the State's Cannabis Industry
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1517
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: TALBOT ROSS, HICKMAN, PLUECKER
Amends: 10 MRSA §964

Legislative Document
No. 1517
H.P. 972
House of Representatives, April 5, 2023
An Act to Create Equity in the State's Cannabis Industry
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Speaker TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec and
Representative: PLUECKER of Warren.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  10 MRSA §964, sub-§1, ¶G-1 is enacted to read:
G-1.  Cannabis business equity program under section 1020-E;
Sec. 2.  10 MRSA c. 110, sub-c. 1-G is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 1-G
CANNABIS BUSINESS EQUITY PROGRAM
§1020-E.  Program established
In accordance with the provisions of this subchapter, the authority shall establish and 
administer a cannabis business equity program, referred to in this subchapter as "the 
program," to encourage eligible individuals to apply for registration under the Maine 
Medical Use of Cannabis Act or for licensure under the Cannabis Legalization Act and to 
provide related direct support services to those individuals and to other eligible individuals 
already registered or licensed under those programs.  The authority may employ 
consultants, contract for services and enter into agreements with public and private entities 
as necessary for the establishment and administration of the program.  
§1020-F.  Eligibility criteria
The authority shall accept as a participant in the program any applicant that meets one 
of the following eligibility criteria:
1.  Persons with prior cannabis-related convictions.  The applicant was previously 
convicted of and incarcerated for a cannabis-related crime in this State or in another 
jurisdiction, as long as the conviction was not for a disqualifying drug offense under Title 
22, section 2422, subsection 4 or under Title 28-B, section 102, subsection 15;
2.  Persons from historically disinvested communities.  The applicant is a member 
of a historically disinvested community, as determined based on criteria established by the 
authority; or
3.  Legacy cannabis cultivators.  The applicant has at least 4 years of prior experience 
operating a cannabis cultivation business in the State pursuant to a registration issued under 
the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act or a license issued under the Cannabis Legalization 
Act and realized less than $300,000 of total gross revenue from that business during the 
prior calendar year.  
§1020-G.  Services offered
The authority shall design the program to offer to participants satisfying the eligibility 
criteria in section 1020-F the following direct services:
1.  Regulatory assistance.  Assistance in applying for and successfully obtaining 
registration under the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act or licensure under the Cannabis 
Legalization Act and in maintaining compliance with applicable requirements of those 
programs for the cannabis business the participant seeks to operate or is operating, 
including, but not limited to, assistance with community engagement activities in the 
community in which the cannabis business is located or to be located if community 
approval is required for the registration or licensure of the business;
2.  Real estate and other contracting.  Assistance in identifying, negotiating and 
obtaining real estate and other contracts and related services necessary to the establishment 
and operation of the cannabis business the participant seeks to operate or is operating;
3.  Safety and security consulting.  Assistance in connecting and consulting with 
cannabis safety and security consultants familiar with the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis 
Act and the Cannabis Legalization Act as necessary for the establishment and operation of 
the cannabis business the participant seeks to operate or is operating;
4.  Business and financial planning.  Assistance with the development of business or 
financial plans for the establishment and operation of the cannabis business the participant 
seeks to operate or is operating, including, but not limited to, assistance with applying for 
and obtaining low-interest business loans and in connecting with and securing financing 
from accredited investors; and
5.  Other services.  Any other necessary services as determined by the authority. 
§1020-H.  Cannabis Business Equity Fund
The Cannabis Business Equity Fund, referred to in this chapter as "the fund," is created 
under the jurisdiction and control of the authority.  The fund, which is nonlapsing, must 
receive all money appropriated or allocated for inclusion in the fund and any other money 
received by the authority to support the establishment and administration of the program.  
The authority may expend money in the fund to support the program, including, but not 
limited to, to employ consultants, contract for services and enter into agreements with 
public and private entities as necessary for the establishment and administration of the 
program and to support the provision to program participants of the direct services 
described in section 1020-G.
Sec. 3.  Transfer funds.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the 
State Controller shall transfer $2,000,000 by June 30, 2024 from the Adult Use Cannabis 
Public Health and Safety and Municipal Opt-in Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds 
account in the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to the Cannabis 
Business Equity Fund established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 10, section 1020-H.
Sec. 4.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
FINANCE AUTHORITY OF MAINE
Cannabis Business Equity Fund N429
Initiative: Allocates one-time funds to support the establishment and administration of a 
cannabis business equity program to encourage eligible individuals to apply for registration 
under the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act or for licensure under the Cannabis 
Legalization Act and to provide related direct support services to such individuals and to 
other eligible individuals already registered or licensed under those programs.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2023-24
2024-25
All Other
$2,000,000
$0
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$2,000,000
$0
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Finance Authority of Maine to establish and administer a cannabis 
business equity program designed to encourage eligible individuals to apply for registration 
under the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act or for licensure under the Cannabis 
Legalization Act and to provide related direct support services to such individuals.  
Applicants to the program must have been previously convicted of and incarcerated for a 
cannabis-related crime, be a member of a historically disinvested community or have at 
least 4 years of prior experience operating a cannabis cultivation business in the State that 
realized less than $300,000 in total gross revenue in the prior calendar year.  Services 
provided under the program include assistance with regulatory compliance, real estate and 
other contracting, safety and security consulting and business and financial planning.  The 
bill directs the State Controller to transfer $2,000,000 by June 30, 2024 from the Adult Use 
Cannabis Public Health and Safety and Municipal Opt-in Fund, Other Special Revenue 
Funds account in the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to the Cannabis 
Business Equity Fund, which is established in the bill as part of the cannabis business equity 
program.