James Paleologopoulos Boston University Statehouse Program BOSTON — While lawmakers in Connecticut and Rhode Island explore ways to legalize adult-use cannabis and also ensure social equity, regulators in Massachusetts are pushing further with their own programs to enable people disadvantaged by previous marijuana laws to benefit from the economic possibilities offered by legalization. One bill in Connecticut would create a “social equity council,” as well as a “Cannabis Equity and Innovation Account,” which would fund workforce development programs and offer grants with cash from potential cannabis excise tax revenue. Meanwhile, a bill in Rhode Island would create a “social equity assistance fund” to provide no-interest loans to business owners affected by past cannabis prohibition laws.