The Cannabis Control Commission on Wednesday will start accepting applications for its social equity program, which will provide training and technical assistance for people who want to enter the marijuana industry from communities that were disproportionately affected by marijuana enforcement.

The Massachusetts law legalizing recreational marijuana requires the commission to promote full participation in the industry by people disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement.

While the commission gave priority in licensing to some “economic empowerment” applicants who fit that category, many of those applicants have struggled to open shops.

The Cannabis Control Commission is crafting its social equity program as a way to help minorities and people convicted of drug offenses find ways to work successfully in the legal marijuana industry.

There will be four tracks in the program: for owners/entrepreneurs; management and executive level careers; entry level jobs or people looking to re-enter society after incarceration; and people with existing skills who can be transferred to the cannabis business, like accountants, plumbers or drivers.

It will be open to Massachusetts residents who live in a community disproportionately affected by drugs or who have either had a drug conviction themselves or have a spouse or parent with a drug conviction.

The Cannabis Control Commission has identified seven vendors who applied to develop a curriculum for applicants. It is still in the process of developing a curriculum, and the commission will then have to enter contracts with the vendors.

Topics likely to be included are fundraising, creating a business plan, tax compliance, accounting, legal compliance, employee training and best practices in the marijuana industry.

The application will be available through the same online portal that companies use to apply for marijuana licenses. There is no deadline to apply.

Once applicants are in the system, the commission will be able to tailor the program to meet their needs.