What is the Task Force 1620 Community Access Network?
The Task Force 1620 Community Access Network (TF1620 CAN) is a formal program established by the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) that gives licensed cannabis retailers and brands a structured, compliant way to provide cannabis to eligible Michigan veterans at deeply discounted or no cost.
The name references a Michigan statute, but the program itself is straightforward: businesses that choose to participate agree to offer qualifying veterans discounts of 75-100% on cannabis products, up to defined monthly allotments. The CRA sets the framework. Licensed businesses set the specific terms of their program within that framework. Veterans who qualify can access cannabis from participating businesses at a fraction of the standard cost.
For veterans, it is a path to affordable, legal cannabis access through licensed Michigan retailers. For businesses, it is a compliant structure for giving back to veterans that also supports social equity and community reinvestment goals. Social Equity Solutions helps businesses build and operate TF1620 CAN programs that work for both.
For veterans
How to access Task Force 1620
Who qualifies
The Task Force 1620 program is available to Michigan veterans with a documented disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The specific discount level a veteran can access is typically tied to their disability rating percentage. Veterans with higher disability ratings generally qualify for larger discounts, up to and including free cannabis within defined monthly limits.
To access the program, veterans need documentation of their VA disability rating. Each participating retailer may have slightly different documentation requirements, so it is worth contacting them directly before your first visit.
What to bring
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Valid government-issued photo ID
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Proof of Michigan veteran status
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VA disability rating documentation
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Michigan medical cannabis card, if applicable
What you can access
Participating retailers can offer eligible veterans discounts of 75-100% on cannabis products, within monthly allotment limits set by the business's TF1620 program. The specific products available, the allotment amounts, and any additional requirements vary by retailer. Some retailers offer the program on all products.
Others limit it to specific categories.
There is no statewide directory of TF1620 participants maintained in real time, but the CRA lists participating businesses on its website. You can also contact dispensaries in your area directly to ask whether they participate and what their current program terms are.
A note on medical cannabis and TF1620
TF1620 applies to adult-use cannabis purchases at participating licensed retailers. Veterans who also hold Michigan medical cannabis cards may have access to additional programs or product categories depending on the retailer. If you hold a medical card, bring it with you and ask the retailer about any additional options available to you.
If you have questions about accessing the Task Force 1620 Community Access Network (TF1620 CAN) or need help navigating the program, Social Equity Solutions can point you toward participating businesses and answer questions about how it works.
For cannabis businesses
Implementing Task Force 1620
TF1620 participation is voluntary for Michigan cannabis licensees. Retailers and brands that choose to participate gain a structured, CRA-compliant framework for veteran access, and a program that connects directly to social equity and community reinvestment goals under the CRA All-Star Program.
Building a TF1620 program that works means making specific decisions about eligibility criteria, discount levels, monthly allotments, documentation requirements, and tracking systems. It also means staying within the CRA's compliance guardrails throughout the program's run. Social Equity Solutions designs TF1620 programs that are compliant from day one, sustainable over time, and built to serve the veterans in your community rather than function as a checkbox.
How the CRA framework works
The Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency provides a framework for TF1620 participation, not a single fixed program. Within that framework, participating retailers have the flexibility to design their own program terms: which products are included, what the discount levels are (within the 75-100% range), what the monthly allotments are, how eligibility is verified, and what documentation veterans need to provide. The CRA sets the ceiling and the floor. The business fills in the structure.
That flexibility is valuable. It also means that businesses implementing TF1620 without a clear structure are more likely to encounter compliance issues, inconsistent veteran experiences, or programs that are difficult to sustain. A well-designed TF1620 program documents all of these decisions in advance and builds the operational procedures to execute them consistently.
How TF1620 CAN Connects to Social Equity and All-Star Certification
TF1620 CAN participation is directly applicable to the CRA Social Equity All-Star Program as a community reinvestment activity. A well-documented TF1620 CAN program, with tracked veteran participants, tracked product distributions, and documented outcomes, can be a significant component of your community reinvestment plan. That documentation supports All-Star tier advancement and strengthens grant applications.
For businesses building toward Gold-level All-Star certification, TF1620 CAN is one of the most concrete and measurable community reinvestment activities available. It produces specific outcomes: a documented number of veterans served, a documented value of product provided, and a documented impact on a community the CRA's social equity framework specifically recognizes. SES integrates TF1620 CAN program design with broader social equity program development so the two reinforce each other rather than running as separate administrative tracks.
Compliance requirements and guardrails
TF1620 participation operates within Michigan's standard cannabis licensing compliance requirements. Sales and transfers to TF1620 participants must be tracked in Metrc. just like all other cannabis transactions.
Discounted and donated products must be recorded accurately. Documentation of veteran eligibility must be retained. The discount structure must be consistent with the terms your business has registered with the CRA.
Businesses that approach TF1620 informally (offering veteran discounts without a formal program structure) create compliance exposure. The CRA expects TF1620 participation to be documented, tracked, and operated within the program's defined parameters. SES builds programs that meet those expectations from the start.
What SES designs and builds for TF1620 participants
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TF1620 program design: eligibility criteria, discount levels, allotment structure, and product scope
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Veteran documentation requirements and verification procedures
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Metrc tracking and record retention procedures for TF1620 transactions
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Staff training on the TF1620 program terms and veteran interaction protocols
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Outcome tracking systems: veterans served, product value distributed, monthly and annual reporting
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Integration with social equity plan and community reinvestment documentation for All-Star certification
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CRA compliance review of program terms before launch
Why Social Equity Solutions Works on Task Force 1620 Community Access Network
Melissa Jekel's work at the intersection of cannabis access and medical advocacy predates TF1620 CAN. As a caregiver and advocate in the ALS community, she has worked on federal policy questions around medical cannabis access, including the Steve Gleason Enduring Voices Act and the Right to Try Act. She understands both the regulatory mechanics of cannabis access programs and the human reality of what access means to people who need it.
That background is what makes SES's approach to TF1620 CAN program design different from a compliance exercise. The goal is not just to pass CRA review. It is a program that actually serves the veterans it was designed for, runs consistently over time, and integrates cleanly with the broader social equity work the business is doing.
Common questions about Task Force 1620
Related services
TF1620 program design connects directly to social equity program development and All-Star certification. SES builds them together so each component reinforces the others.
Cannabis businesses: build your TF1620 program
SES designs compliant, sustainable TF1620 programs for Michigan cannabis retailers and brands. Every program includes eligibility structure, Metrc-integrated tracking, outcome reporting, and integration with your social equity and All-Star documentation.