Black-Owned Cannabis Business Grants

The Cannabis Equity Grant Program is a financial assistance initiative aimed at supporting start-ups in the state. The program provides early-stage financial support and technical training to cannabis licensees who meet the social equity definition. To be eligible for the grant, an applicant must have majority ownership and control by at least one individual who has either resided in a disproportionately impacted area for 5 of the last 10 years or has been convicted of a misdemeanor marijuana offense or has a family member who has. The grants are awarded on a competitive basis, with the strength of the submitted plan being the primary criteria for award consideration. The eligible technical assistance activities under the program include assistance with the marijuana retailer licensure process, business-specific education and business plan development, regulatory compliance training, financial management training, and connecting social equity applicants with established industry members, tribal marijuana enterprises, mentoring programs, and other forms of approved support. The goal of the Cannabis Equity Grant Program is to help start-ups in the state develop and succeed by providing financial and technical support.