2024 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 21a - Consumer Protection
Chapter 420h - Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis
Section 21a-421f. - Cannabis business accelerator program.
(a) The Social Equity Council, in coordination with the Departments of Consumer Protection and Economic and Community Development, shall develop a cannabis business accelerator program to provide technical assistance to participants by partnering participants with a cannabis establishment. The Social Equity Council may partner with a constituent unit of the state system of higher education in developing the program.
(b) Any individual who would qualify as a social equity applicant may apply to participate in the accelerator program under this section.
(c) On and after October 1, 2021, the Social Equity Council may accept applications from an individual described in subsection (b) of this section for the component of the accelerator program corresponding to each of the following license types: (1) Retailer, (2) cultivator, (3) product manufacturer, (4) food and beverage manufacturer, and (5) product packager.
(d) On and after July 1, 2022, the council may accept applications from (1) retailers, (2) cultivators, (3) product manufacturers, (4) food and beverage manufacturers, (5) product packagers, (6) hybrid-retailers, and (7) micro-cultivators, licensed pursuant to section 21a-420e, to partner with participants in the accelerator program component corresponding to the same license type, provided an accelerator retailer participant may be partnered with either a retailer or hybrid retailer and an accelerator cultivator participant may be partnered with either a cultivator or micro-cultivator.
(e) As part of the cannabis business accelerator program, accelerator participants may be required to participate in training on accounting methods, business services, how to access capital markets and financing opportunities and on regulatory compliance. Social equity applicants who have been awarded either a provisional license or a final license for a cannabis establishment may participate in the training programs made available under this section.
(f) The Social Equity Council shall facilitate opportunities for participants in the cannabis business accelerator program to meet with potential investors.
(g) A participant who has partnered with a cannabis establishment pursuant to subsection (d) of this section shall be allowed to participate in any activity of the cannabis establishment with the same privileges afforded by the cannabis establishment's license to employees of such cannabis establishment.
(h) Each participant shall annually apply for and obtain a registration, on a form and in a manner prescribed by the commissioner, prior to participating in any activity of a cannabis establishment. The Social Equity Council may charge a registration fee to participants.
(i) The Social Equity Council may determine the duration of the program and number of participants under this section.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1, S. 38.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1 effective June 22, 2021.
