(a) There is an Office of Social Equity within the Department. (b) (1) The Governor shall appoint an Executive Director of the Office of Social Equity. (2) The Executive Director of the Office of Social Equity shall have at least 5 years of experience in civil rights advocacy, civil rights litigation, or another area of social justice. (c) The Office of Social Equity may employ staff and retain contractors as may be required to carry out the functions of the Office. (d) The Office of Social Equity shall: (1) promote and encourage full participation in the regulated cannabis industry by people from communities that have previously been disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs in order to positively impact those communities; (2) with the assistance of the Comptroller, oversee the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund under § 1-3A-03 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article; (3) consult with and assist the Department of Commerce in the administration of the Cannabis Business Assistance Fund under § 5-1901 of the Economic Development Article; (4) identify and oppose regulations that unnecessarily burden or undermine the legislative intent of the Office, including regulations that impose undue restrictions or financial requirements; (5) oversee the appropriation of funds and the training of recipients of funds from the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund under § 1-3A-03 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article; (6) provide recommendations to the Maryland Cannabis Administration on regulations related to: (i) diversity; and (ii) social equity applications; (7) work with the Maryland Cannabis Administration to implement free technical assistance for social equity and minority cannabis business applicants; (8) produce reports and recommendations on diversity and equity in ownership, management, and employment in the legal cannabis economy; and (9) assist businesses with obtaining financing through the Capital Access Program under Title 36, Subtitle 14 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article.
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