Understanding Regulatory Background Checks on Cannabis Dispensaries, Part II
Minority Investor, Major Impact
By Tanya Hoke and Caroline Lambert
This post is part of a series exploring how state regulator background checks are used in the legal cannabis industry. In this post, we look at background checks on minority investors. Part I focused on “good moral character” clauses.
Everyone rightly expects that applicants for cannabis dispensary licenses will need to pass a state background check of some sort. But did you know that in many states, minority investors in licensed cannabis businesses (LCB) might also need to pass regulatory background checks?
Our research found that minority shareholders or owners in LCBs in California, Colorado (Statute 12.43.3-307(2)), Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Las Vegas, Nevada can all be subject to background checks by state regulators. But the rules governing which minority investors have to pass these checks vary significantly by state (see chart).
For example, in California, you'll need to be a 20% shareholder in a public LCB before you are subject to regulatory background checks. But in Pennsylvania, that number is only 5% for a public company and any stake at all in a private company.
Each state sets its own rules for the level of investment that triggers a background check.
* Oregon: Regulations vary depending on business structure. Generally, anyone holding 10% or more of a company's shares is required to complete a Marijuana Business Individual History form (this rule also applies to spouses!). In addition, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission License Investigator has a great deal of discretion in identifying other individuals with an interest in the business who may be required to complete the form.
** Colorado: Requires disclosure of all shareholders in an LCB, but has different categories for those owning more than 5% (associated key person) and those owning less than 5% (qualified limited passive investor). It's unclear whether the Marijuana Enforcement Division treats these categories differently for background check purposes.
Consequences
These different triggering levels for background checks lead to some interesting issues for LCBs expanding across state lines.
“Just because an investor is a minority owner doesn’t mean they can avoid regulatory scrutiny.”
For example: Imagine a California company getting ready to expand its brand to Oregon. The company has an investor who holds a 15% stake in the California company, and wants to participate at the same level in the Oregon company. The investor's 15% stake didn’t trigger a check in California, so the company has never looked into his background. But if his stake in Oregon exceeds 10%, he may have to pass the Oregon Liquor Control Commission’s checks. What will they find?
Another example: Public companies don’t usually have control over who buys their shares. But in Pennsylvania, an ownership stake of as little as 5% in a public LCB can trigger a background check . So what is a public company supposed to do if an investor acquires a 5% stake and then fails Pennsylvania’s background checks? Will they lose their license?
The Takeaway
Some of these issues are hypothetical for now – public LCBs are rare in the US, so Pennsylvania’s regulation is unlikely to be applied any time soon. But LCBs that are hoping to expand across state lines should absolutely be aware of the triggering levels for background checks in different states. Just because an investor is a minority owner doesn’t mean they can avoid regulatory scrutiny.
Our advice? Always practice KYI – Know Your Investor – before accepting an investment. If you don’t, your license could be at risk.