On Tuesday, Boston City Council approved reforms to the process for licensing cannabis facilities with a 12-1 vote. (Councilor Althea Garrison voted against it.)

The legislation is hoping to help smaller, local companies with diverse owners. There’s especially a push to help those from neighborhoods of color – hit hardest by arrests via the war on drugs.

As part of the plan, Mayor Marty Walsh will create a new “Boston Cannabis Board” to evaluate and vote on license applications from cannabis companies, using in a very public and transparent process. There will also be an equity program that will offer training and technical assistance to entrepreneurs with past arrest for marijuana crimes or communities targeted by the police informing prohibition of cannabis. The city will also have to approve equal or greater of participants of the equity-program compared to others.

You can learn more about the new licensing process here.

Here are some things you should know about cannabis shops in the city.