With the passage of prop 207, legal cannabis sales for recreational purposes become a new norm for Arizona residents. The legal cannabis market is a multi-billion dollar industry with a projected worth of $73 billion globally by 2027. That’s why it is important for local residents of Arizona to look for partnerships that benefit local communities within Arizona instead of foreign corporations.

Social Equity Partners’ mission is to assist Arizona residents who were convicted of non-violent cannabis felonies to apply for adult-use marijuana dispensary and cultivation establishment licenses through the program offered by Social Equity Partners. Their goal is to offer Arizona residents with cannabis convictions extensive support in receiving a license and establishing a cannabis business through the Social Equity Program. The founder Thomas Lopez was convicted in 2001 by the State of Arizona with a felony for marijuana possession. He understands the obstacles of what it takes to have personal and professional growth after a criminal conviction which is why he founded Social Equity Partners.

Under the ELEVATE brand label, one of the services that Social Equity Partners offers is access to their fully conceptualized dispensary. ELEVATE is a boutique dispensary with the aim to modernize and deliver the highest-quality marijuana products, with locations planned for Sunnyslope, Glendale and Tempe. ELEVATE aims to serve the local communities of Arizona as a small independent business that keeps money in the community instead of generating profits for foreign corporations while forgetting about the concerns of the local citizens.

Applicants will receive assistance with developing a broad web presence, social media campaigns, and professional branding once accepted into partnering with Social Equity Partners. They will also have access to their pool of local investors who are local community members looking to provide capital for starting dispensaries that benefit local residents instead of funneling money into corporations.

Social Equity Partners will be there to offer assistance during the application process for Arizona residents who are applying with felony cannabis convictions by helping them complete the application, create a compelling business plan, and verify financial requirements.  The goal for Social Equity Partners is to ensure that all funding remains local and stays in the community. With this partnership, they believe that applicants have a chance to positively impact their neighborhoods and take part in reinvigorating local economies with locally-based investors’ support.

With a partnership like Social Equity Partners, applicants will have access to full support from land-use lawyers, Realtors, and permitting specialists to help with identifying a site for your cannabis business. Their real estate brokers and lawyers understand the legal requirements for zoning laws for spaces all over Arizona and will help assist partners with finding the right property for their needs. Their partnership increases the likelihood of eligibility for the Social Equity Ownership Program with their proven funding and business plans already in place.