California Announces Over $18M in Local Cannabis Equity Grants

The California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development on Tuesday announced over $18 million in grant funding for local governments to support cannabis equity applicants and licensees, FOX 40 reports. The funding is facilitated by California’s voter-approved cannabis legalization law, which called for an adult-use industry that “reduces barriers to entry into the legal, regulated market.”

In total, 18 California jurisdictions are set to receive cannabis equity funding from the state. Most of the cities and counties listed by the agency are being allotted funding to support cannabis equity applicants and licensees. Those jurisdictions include:

• City of Los Angeles – $3,500,000.00
• City and County of San Francisco – $3,324,052.50
• City of Oakland – $2,074,369.75
• City of Sacramento – $1,680,777.31
• County of San Diego – $1,413,134.46
• City of Long Beach – $1,198,263.18
• County of Humboldt – $657,436.98
• County of Mendocino – $612,689.88
• City of Richmond – $600,000.00
• County of Sonoma – $558,102.04
• City of Nevada City – $557,845.81
• City of Palm Springs – $538,328.09
• County of Nevada – $500,000.00
• County of Trinity – $500,000.00
• City of Vista – $250,000.00
• City of Watsonville – $250,000.00
• City of Coachella – $200,000.00
• Total – $18,415,000.00

Additionally, the agency announced $35,000 in grant funding for the City of Santa Monica to assist with cannabis equity assessment and program development.

The funds can be used to help cannabis equity applicants and licensees pay for technical support, reach regulatory compliance, and secure loans or grants for starting a business.