Find out if you live in an area that qualifies for Delaware's Cannabis equity program
Interactive Map Helps Delaware Residents Determine Eligibility for Social Equity Marijuana Licenses.
Do you live in an area that has been disproportionately impacted by high rates of arrests, convictions, and incarcerations for marijuana-related offenses?
An interactive map launched by the Delaware Office of the Marijuana Commissioner helps residents determine whether they could qualify for a recreational marijuana license through that office’s Social Equity License program.
Delawareans who have lived in an area designated as disproportionately impacted for at least five years of the preceding 15 years could be eligible to apply for a license through the social equity program. An applicant must also have at least 51% ownership and control of the business.
The Disproportionately Impacted Areas map launched Tuesday shows large swaths of Wilmington, areas south of the city along the Delaware River, parts of Middletown, Smyrna, Dover, Seaford, Laurel and Millsboro, and others with census tracts that have high arrest and incarceration rates for marijuana-related offenses.
Those who are interested in applying must submit an eligibility validation form before July 15.
How to qualify
Living in one of the impacted census tracts is just one of three criteria that could qualify interested candidates for a social equity license.
Beyond living in a disproportionately impacted area, other criteria to qualify for the social equity license program include:
- Was convicted of, or “adjudicated delinquent of” a marijuana-related offense under Delaware law before April 23, 2023, except if the offense involved delivery to a minor or had a “Tier 3 quantity” of marijuana (more than 11 pounds).
- “Had or has a parent, legal guardian, child, spouse, or dependent who was convicted” of, or adjudicated delinquent for” a marijuana-related offense under state law.
Candidates must have at least 51% ownership and control of the business and meet one of the three criteria outlined.
Get more information
Interested candidates can also attend the remaining public workshop to learn more about the equity program, which will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on June 26 at Dover Public Library in Dover. If you cannot make the workshop in person, you can tune in through the office’s Facebook page, or review the PowerPoint presentation online.
Confirm eligibility
Applicants must first be validated by the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner for the social equity program by submitting the validation form before July 15.
There is no charge for the validation.
This will ensure applicants know whether they meet the requirements for the social equity program under Delaware law before applying for a license.
Apply for license
The license application period opens on Sept. 1 for all those interested in applying.
Applicants who qualify for social equity licenses will receive technical assistance and guidance through the process, along with discounted application fees.
The equity carveout sets aside 15 retail licenses, 20 cultivation licenses, 10 manufacturing licenses and two testing labs for those who qualify.
