Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdiction

Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdiction

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development
Amount: Up to US $3,500,000
Last Updated: October 22, 2025

Summary

The Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions aims to promote economic justice for those impacted by cannabis criminalization by providing support to local governments. With $15 million available for fiscal year 2025-2026, the program helps reduce barriers to entry in the regulated cannabis industry for equity applicants and licensees. By offering technical assistance and funding, it seeks to create fair opportunities and address systemic inequalities, thus supporting the transition to a legal cannabis market.

Overview

On November 8, 2016, California voters approved Proposition 64, the Control, Regulate, and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA). In its statement of purpose and intent, AUMA calls for regulating cannabis in a way that “reduces barriers to entry into the legal, regulated market.” GO-Biz administers the Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions to aid local equity program efforts to support equity applicants and equity licensees. Offering technical support, regulatory compliance assistance, and assistance with securing the capital necessary to begin a business will further the stated intent of the AUMA by reducing barriers to licensure and employment in the regulated industry. Offering these types of support will also aid the state in its goal of eliminating or reducing the illicit cannabis market by bringing more people into the legal marketplace. Purpose The purpose of the Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions is to advance economic justice for individuals most harmed by cannabis criminalization and poverty by providing support to local jurisdictions as they promote equity and eliminate barriers to enter the newly regulated cannabis industry for equity program applicants and licensees. The term “equity” recognizes that because different individuals or groups have different histories and circumstances, they have different needs and unequal starting points. Using an equity approach, individuals and groups receive different resources, opportunities, support, or treatment based on their specific needs. By providing what each individual or group needs, they can have equitable or fair outcomes. Therefore, cannabis equity programs should be distinct from other types of assistance programs by their focus and intentionality in understanding the specific systemic barriers and injustices different individuals or groups face when trying to access opportunity in the cannabis marketplace. Funding A total of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) is available for fiscal year 2025-2026. There are two application types which are defined below. Applications for Funding Request Type 1 are subject to a maximum request of seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) and the total amount available for this application type is one million dollars ($1,000,000). In the event the total amount of funding requested in approved applications for Funding Request Type 1 exceeds the amount available for this application type, the grant amount allocated for each approved Funding Request Type 1 application shall be prorated. Applications for Funding Request Type 2 are subject to a maximum request of three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) and will be allocated grant funds using a point-based scoring system and funding formula. The total amount available for Funding Request Type 2 applications will be the difference between the total amount of funding available for the fiscal year and the total amount approved for Funding Request Type 1 applications. If a Funding Request Type 2 applicant requests an amount less than it would be entitled to based on the point-based scoring system and funding formula, then the applicant will be awarded the lesser amount.

Eligibility

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