State Awards $869K 'Cannabis Equity Grant' To Palm Springs

PALM SPRINGS, CA — The city of Palm Springs has received $869,540 through the state's Cannabis Equity Grants Program, which aims to advance economic justice for communities that were disproportionately affected by the drug war.

The city can use the grant money to assist their equity program applicants and licensees with low or no-interest loans, reduce or waive licensing fees, and provide technical assistance, including one-on-one consulting, training and navigation assistance for regulatory requirements.

"Cannabis prohibition and criminalization has had devastating impacts on generations of Californians," said Nicole Elliott, senior adviser on cannabis to Gov. Gavin Newsom. "As we work to safely reopen our economy, leading with equity across all sectors will ensure a just recovery and further our commitment to create a truly diverse legal industry. These efforts stand as a testament to our values as a state, and I applaud the work being done by these jurisdictions as they thoughtfully embrace this challenge."

Palm Springs was one of several cities and counties across the state to receive a slice of $15 million doled out by the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, in partnership with the Bureau of Cannabis Control.

Those entities were chosen because they are "committed to promoting equity in the legal cannabis marketplace and eliminating barriers to entering the regulated cannabis industry," according to the state.

The following shows the list of 2020-21 grant recipients:

City of Oakland $2,434,712.51

City and County of San Francisco $2,055,841.43

City of Los Angeles $2,030,997.42

City of Sacramento $1,813,612.38

City of Long Beach $1,267,044.26

City of Fresno $1,204,934.25

County of Humboldt $1,055,870.22

County of Lake $888,173.18

City of Palm Springs $869,540.18

County of Mendocino $832,274.17

Total $14,453,000

This year's funding builds upon an additional $40 million in cannabis equity funding awarded by the state.