The City of San Francisco has received $4.5 million in state funds to assist the Office of Cannabis (OOC) Grant Program’s cannabis equity initiatives.
The funding, from the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, is slated to enhance the program’s initial goal of combating disparities in the cannabis industry by establishing equity cannabis businesses.
“COVID-19 had a significant impact on our city’s small businesses and entrepreneurs, including those in the cannabis industry,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said. “With the assistance from the State and leadership at the Office of Cannabis, this funding will ensure that the Cannabis Equity Grant Program continues to achieve its goal of providing access to the industry for those who have been disproportionately affected by past policies.”
OOC is responsible for administering grants for equity applicants, officials indicated. Equity applicants are individuals meeting criteria based on residency, income, criminal justice involvement and housing insecurity.
“From a historical lens, the Equity Grant Program represents government proactively addressing drug policies that have harmed our communities,” San Francisco Office of Cannabis Nikesh Patel said. “We hear from social equity applicants just how powerful these grants are to advance their businesses. We take pride in continuing to develop a program that includes community input, meets applicants’ needs and ultimately reduces barriers to entering the cannabis industry.”
Cali Heals CEO Perry Jones praised the city’s Cannabis Equity Grant Program.
“As I seek to establish my own cannabis business, I’ve learned that not all money is good money,” he said. “However, when it comes to the San Francisco Equity Program, cannabis grants provided me with an opportunity to not only establish my own cannabis company, but to potentially realize generational wealth for me and my family.”