CRA All Star Program Explained
Requirements and How to Get Certified
CRA All Star Program recognition gives Michigan adult-use cannabis licensees a structured way to demonstrate active social equity work. The Cannabis Regulatory Agency recognizes participating businesses across Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers based on published plans and documented implementation.
The program is voluntary, but it can affect your public credibility, municipal compliance, and eligibility for future CRA grant opportunities. Use this guide to understand who qualifies, what each tier requires, and how to prepare a complete submission.
What the CRA All Star Program does
The CRA created the Social Equity All-Star Program to encourage cannabis industry participation by people from communities disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition and enforcement.
The program also aims to create positive, measurable effects in those communities. Recognition appears on the CRA website, and the agency may promote recognized licensees throughout the year.
The CRA All-Star Program is a recognition program, not a separate cannabis license. You must already hold a fully licensed adult-use establishment to participate.
You cannot qualify based only on an Adult-Use Step 1 application.
Confirm your eligibility
Before preparing your plans, verify that your business meets these conditions:
You hold a fully licensed adult-use establishment license.
You are applying as an adult-use licensee rather than a medical-only licensee.
Your required plan is current in its implementation.
You can submit the required plan or plans with the CRA form.
You are prepared to maintain the program requirements each year.
Check your adult-use licensing status before drafting your submission.
CRA All Star Program Tiers
The program has three recognition tiers. Each level builds on the previous one, so Gold requires completion of the Bronze and Silver requirements first.
Bronze recognition
To qualify for Bronze, you must:
Publish your social equity plan on the CRA website.
Attest that the plan is current in its implementation.
Your social equity plan should connect equity commitments to how your business actually operates. The CRA encourages you to consider your municipality’s requirements and use the plan to support your broader business goals.
Common plan components include:
Employment opportunities
Educational programs
Mentorship programs
Monetary assistance
Workforce or business training
You may submit the same social equity plan you submitted with your Adult-Use Step 1 application. Review it first to confirm that it remains accurate, specific, and operational.
Build Bronze around concrete commitments your business can document and maintain.
Silver recognition
To qualify for Silver, you must:
Meet every Bronze requirement.
Publish your corporate spend plan on the CRA website.
Attest that the corporate spend plan is current and being implemented.
A corporate spend plan identifies a dedicated percentage of your annual business spending for diverse suppliers. The CRA does not require a specific percentage or minimum dollar amount.
Eligible spending can include:
Legal services
Accounting services
Real estate services
Architecture
Interior design
Security
Insurance
Marketing
Packaging
Printing
Other cannabis supply chain expenses
Payroll does not count as corporate spend for this program.
Your diverse suppliers also do not have to hold a formal diversity certification. To qualify as a diverse supplier under the CRA guidance, an organization must be more than 50 percent owned and operated by an individual or group in one of these categories:
Minorities
Women
Veterans
Tribal communities
LGBTQ people
People with disabilities
The CRA publishes a diverse suppliers list as a resource, but you are not limited to certified businesses.
Choose a realistic spending commitment and track invoices, vendors, ownership information, and annual totals.
Gold recognition
To qualify for Gold, you must:
Meet every Bronze requirement.
Meet every Silver requirement.
Publish your community reinvestment plan on the CRA website.
Attest that the community reinvestment plan is current and being implemented.
Your community reinvestment plan should describe volunteer time or donation percentages of revenue directed to organizations, nonprofits, or charities that positively impact at least one of two categories.
Category one
Organizations operating within communities the CRA has identified as disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition and enforcement.
Category two
Individuals or groups who are:
Racial or ethnic minorities
Women
Veterans
Native American tribes
LGBTQ people
People with disabilities
Returning citizens
A strong Gold plan explains who benefits, what your business will contribute, how often contributions occur, and what records will verify implementation.
Document volunteer hours, donation records, recipients, dates, and measurable community outcomes.
What you do not need for the CRA All Star Program
Several common assumptions can create unnecessary work or delay an otherwise complete application.
You do not need:
A specific minimum percentage for diverse supplier spending
A minimum dollar amount for corporate spending
Formal certification for every diverse supplier
Payroll included in your corporate spend plan
A separate form for every license you hold
A CRA-issued template for your plans
A separate municipal verification form
The CRA does provide instructions and forms, but no template exists for the social equity plan, corporate spend plan, or community reinvestment plan. Your documents should reflect your actual business structure and commitments, not generic language.
You also do not need to submit a separate form for each license. The form lets you identify the license you want recognized and list any additional licenses you hold.
Avoid copying a generic plan and build documentation around your actual operations.
How to apply for CRA All Star Program recognition
Follow the CRA’s required process carefully. Missing supporting documents can extend the review timeline.
Step one
Review the Social Equity All-Star Program Form Instructions.
Step two
Complete the Social Equity All-Star Program Form.
Step three
Prepare the plans required for your selected tier:
Bronze requires a social equity plan.
Silver requires a social equity plan and a corporate spend plan.
Gold requires a social equity plan, a corporate spend plan, and a community reinvestment plan.
Step four
Submit the completed form and all supporting plans at the same time to CRA-SocialEquity@Michigan.gov.
Step five
Keep a complete copy of everything you submit, including the email, attachments, plan versions, and any supporting records.
The CRA typically provides a determination within three to five business days. The response may take longer if documents are missing or the agency needs additional information.
Review every attachment before submitting your application.
Amendments and annual renewal
Your All-Star status is not permanent. You must submit a Renewal Form each year to continue participating.
The CRA social equity team sends courtesy emails:
Three months before expiration
One month before expiration
These emails include your expiration date, renewal instructions, amendment information, and guidance for moving to a higher tier.
To amend a plan, complete the Social Equity All-Star Program Amendment Form and email it, along with a copy of the updated plan, to CRA-SocialEquity@Michigan.gov.
Mark your renewal date on your calendar and update your plan when your operations change.
The CRA All-Star seal and municipal verification
Recognized licensees receive a CRA All-Star seal. You receive a seal for each year you renew your recognition.
You may use the seal:
On your website
On social media
Inside your marijuana establishment
In other appropriate business materials
The seal gives customers, partners, municipalities, and community organizations a visible way to identify your participation.
Some municipalities require All-Star participation. The CRA does not provide a separate municipal verification form. Instead, your letter of acceptance into the program serves as verification for that participation year and may be submitted to your municipality.
Save your annual acceptance letter and provide it to your municipality when requested.
How recognition connects to CRA grant eligibility
All-Star recognition matters beyond public visibility. Certification in the All-Star Program is a prerequisite for the CRA Social Equity Grant Program.
That means the tier you hold can directly affect your eligibility for future grant funding. The FY2026 grant window closed on November 30, 2025, and current grantees are in the reporting phase. Do not treat the grant cycle as currently open, but use the next cycle to plan ahead.
A practical funding preparation process includes:
Confirming your adult-use license remains valid.
Maintaining current All-Star recognition.
Reviewing whether your ownership structure meets grant requirements.
Keeping records of social equity, spending, and reinvestment.
Tracking documented outcomes from your commitments.
Preparing before the next application window opens.
Social Equity Solutions provides CRA All-Star certification support for Michigan operators building Bronze, Silver, or Gold plans. You can also review social equity program development services or contact Social Equity Solutions for help assessing your next step.
Plan for the next funding cycle before the application period begins.
Frequently asked questions about the CRA All Star Program
Can a Step 1 applicant participate in the program
No. The establishment must be fully licensed for adult use. Submitting an Adult-Use Step 1 application alone does not qualify you.
Does the CRA require a minimum corporate spend percentage
No. The CRA does not require a specific percentage or minimum amount. Your plan should identify a dedicated percentage of annual spending for diverse suppliers.
Do diverse suppliers need formal certification?
No. Diverse suppliers do not have to be certified. They must meet the CRA’s ownership and operation criteria, meaning more than 50 percent ownership and operation by qualifying diverse individuals or groups.
Can payroll count toward Silver corporate spending
No. Payroll is not considered part of a corporate spend plan.
Can you reuse your Step 1 social equity plan?
Yes. You may submit the same social equity plan used with your Adult-Use Step 1 application, as long as it is current and accurately reflects your implementation.
How long does CRA review take
A determination typically arrives within three to five business days. Missing documents or requests for more information may extend the timeline.
Do you need a separate form for every license?
No. You can identify the license you want recognized and list additional licenses on the same form.
How often must you renew
You must submit a Renewal Form annually to continue participating. The CRA sends courtesy reminders three months and one month before expiration.
What proves participation to a municipality
Your CRA letter of acceptance serves as verification for that participation year. The CRA does not issue a separate municipal verification form.
Does All-Star recognition affect grant eligibility?
Yes. All-Star certification is a prerequisite for the CRA Social Equity Grant Program. Because grant windows are limited, maintain your status and records between cycles.
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