The Affirmative Action Debate Lands in Cannabis Court – Are Social Equity Programs Discriminatory Toward White Guys?

Valencia Ag LLC filed a lawsuit on January 24th in the Northern District of New York U.S. District Court. The lawsuit argues that the business benefits described in the state law that legalizes marijuana for recreational use in 2021—which is specifically targeted at assisting women and minority entrepreneurs—are illegal and unconstitutional. A goal of the law is to give social equity entrepreneurs 50% of all cannabis licenses.