As a successful social equity program applicant approved by the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB), please proceed with the social equity licensing process. Your first step is to register your business with the Secretary of State through Business Licensing Services (BLS). You can learn more about the program in our background information section, below.

Please note: You are not required to select a location as part of this LCB process, and without selecting a location you are still eligible to receive technical assistance from Commerce. Once a location is selected and secured it will help expedite the grant reimbursement process under the Commerce Cannabis Social Equity Program (CSEP). SEAs may be eligible for grants up to $100,000.

Cannabis technical assistance training roadmap

We strongly encourage you to review the following curriculum prior to applying for technical assistance and meeting with your mentor. This is to ensure that you are taking advantage of every learning opportunity available, that you are knowledge-ready, and one step closer to confidently opening and operating a successful cannabis retail store.

Once you’ve completed these cannabis training modules, your next step is to apply for technical assistance and one-on-one mentorship for more specific support towards successfully opening and operating a cannabis retail store. Commerce will facilitate providing technical assistance and mentorship to Social Equity Applicants (SEA) through a contracted partner and expert in business development, opening and operating a cannabis retail business, and/or a specialized cannabis technical assistance area of expertise, where you must apply for technical assistance and mentorship using the designated application form.

We’ve added to the technical assistance categories listed in RCW 43.330.540 to include the following:

• Accounting practices; receivables, payables, taxes and budgeting
• Building a team; HR related
• Business plan development
• Cannabis-business specific education
• Commercial cannabis real estate; how to negotiate a lease
• Complete cycle of business; formation, operations & steady growth
• Financial planning/projections
• How to secure funding to operate a retail cannabis business
• Insurance requirements
• Inventory; planning and sourcing
• Legal assistance; cannabis retail operations, regulatory compliance and market analysis
• Marketing; branding and public relations
• Mentorship
• State licensing requirements
• Washington Administrative Codes (WAC)
• Website development

If you have already completed the technical assistance modules as a previous participant, please email the Program Manager at SEgrants@commerce.wa.gov to apply for the grant at this stage.

Apply for CSEP techincal assistance and mentorship

As noted above, you must apply for technical assistance and mentorship using the designated application form. Commerce will coordinate the provision of that support. An SEA may not provide reimbursable technical assistance services to another SEA due to conflict‑of‑interest considerations and true party‑in‑interest restrictions.

Please remember to explore a business location. To move forward to the next step in receiving a grant from Commerce, a retail location must be selected and secured.

To move forward to the next step in receiving a grant from Commerce, a retail location must be selected and secured. Once you select and secure your location, it’s time to gather up your receipts and backup documentation in preparation of filling out the application to apply for grant assistance of up to $100,000. Please note, there are no advance grant payments.

The applicant may be eligible to receive up to $100,000 of eligible costs on a reimbursement basis after expenses are incurred and paid, and proper backup documentation has been submitted. View and download a list of eligible expenses (PDF).

Required criteria for a reimbursement grant

1. Cannabis Social Equity eligibility from Liquor & Cannabis Board (LCB)
2. “Active” status with the Secretary of State of Washington
3. Location selected and secured
4. All previous CSEP grants closed

Required application documentation

1. Cannabis Social Equity eligibility notice from LC
2. Evidence of previous CSEP grants closed, if applicable
3. Evidence of “Active” status with the Washington Secretary of State
4. First application only: Timeline of technical assistance and mentorship received from CSEP (for example: “completed online curriculum 4/6/26″, or “no need for TA/mentorship”, or “TA for business plan rec’d week of 4/6/26”)
5. First application only: Budget that identifies eligible expenses required for you to open your doors for business. Based on that budget, please identify the grant amount you are requesting reimbursement
6. Fully executed and verifiable lease, intent to lease, memorandum of agreement, letter of interest confirming commitment to rent/lease
7. Verifiable proof of charges and payments for all eligible costs being used for grant reimbursement must be provided in a manner deemed acceptable by Commerce
8. W-9 form

Apply for CSEP grant for reimbursement of eligible expenses.

Pilot process

In addition to standard CSEP reimbursement grants, Commerce is instituting a pilot process where Commerce may approve SEA invoices currently due and payable, but which the SEA has not already paid. The requirements are as follows:

• The SEA must have already reconciled/closed any and all grants/contracts/funds previously received from any Commerce program, consistent with current requirements, including any repayment obligations.
• Invoices must be for allowable expenses under the Cannabis in Social Equity Technical Assistance Grant Program, not to exceed the amount of $15,000.
• The SEA must verify the invoice was paid after Commerce funds were provided. Verifiable backup documentation acceptable to Commerce must be provided to Commerce within 10 business days after Commerce transmits payment to the SEA.
• No new pilot invoices will be processed until payment of the previous pilot invoice has been verified in Commerce’s sole determination.

Commerce reserves the right to recapture funds if these requirements are not met. The pilot process may be modified or ended upon notice from Commerce.

Commerce retains the authority to adjust the level of financial support dependent on available funding and the information provided in each grant application. View and download the Cannabis Social Equity Grant Program terms and conditions.  

In 2023, SB 5080 expanded and improved the Social Equity in Cannabis program by amending the disproportionately impacted area (DIA) to mean a census tract within Washington state where community members were more likely to be impacted by the War on Drugs. These areas must be determined in rule by LCB, in consultation with the Office of Equity, using a standardized statistical equation to identify areas with demographic indicators consistent with populations most impacted.  Visit their website to learn more about the Social Equity Program, administered by the Liquor and Cannabis Board.

The Cannabis Social Equity Program was developed to create a process for the LCB to award cannabis business licenses to those identified as disproportionately affected by Washington’s War on Drugs. Commerce offers a web-based on-demand training resource, and is responsible for awarding and administering grants for technical assistance, mentorship and grant funding to reimburse eligible expenses so applicants can open a successful cannabis retail store.

View and download the Cannabis Social Equity Program (CSEP) frequently asked questions (PDF).

As you work through the training modules and consider your grant application, you may have questions or wish to discuss some of the things you have learned. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please email the Program Manager at SEgrants@commerce.wa.gov.