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CITY OF SALEM, MA CANNABIS EQUITY POLICY 2023 Purpose and Scope In August, 2022, an Act RelaƟve to Equity in the Cannabis Industry was signed into law. The law requires host municipaliƟes to establish iniƟal policies to promote equity in the cannabis industry through various means, all aimed at increasing parƟcipaƟon by social equity applicants in local cannabis ecosystems. Based on cannabis social equity best pracƟces, guidance from the Cannabis Control Commission and the City of Salem’s current cannabis business permiƫng processes, the City of Salem hereby adopts this Policy to support people from communiƟes disproporƟonately harmed by marijuana prohibiƟon and enforcement. Applicability This Policy applies to Qualifying Social Equity Applicants, defined as those that have been cerƟfied as eligible to parƟcipate in the CCC Social Equity Program or are CerƟfied Economic Empowerment Priority Applicants by the CCC. Policy The City of Salem shall: 1. Provide permiƫng technical assistance for social equity and economic empowerment applicants navigaƟng the City’s cannabis permiƫng process. 2. Designate the City Solicitor and the City Planner, or their designees, as municipal contacts who shall work closely with social equity applicants in the permiƫng process from iniƟal inquiry through the special permit and building permit process. 3. Wherever possible, reduce financial barriers and expedite the permiƫng for social equity and economic empowerment applicants. 4. Throughout the City’s special permit process, the City departments shall endeavor to streamline permiƫng for these applicants 5. Consider a waiver or reducƟon of fees associated with the municipal Host Community Agreement (“HCA”) approval process and/or special permit approval process, as allowable by ordinance or statute. 6. Include the most up to date local cannabis ordinances on the City website.