The City of Long Beach is gearing up to enhance its cannabis landscape with a new wave of equity, thanks to a sizable chunk of state funding. With a unanimous vote by the city council last month, the city has secured $1.2 million dedicated to its Cannabis Equity Program, a movement to lift communities that have borne the brunt of past cannabis-related policies, as reported by the City of Long Beach.
Mayor Rex Richardson, appreciating the state's investment, noted that this funding would empower those cannabis entrepreneurs who have been disproportionately affected by outdated policies, the communal fabric getting a chance to mend as new jobs are created and local economies take a turn for the better. According to a statement obtained by the City of Long Beach, grants per eligible applicant could soar as high as $350,000, useful for covering a spectrum of startup costs—from rent and legal fees to compliance and equipment purchases—and while no new applications are being accepted just yet, come May 2025, that's all expected to change.
The fuel for this cannabis equity engine will be partly supplied by the Economic Development Department in collaboration with the City’s Office of Cannabis Oversight, striving to register past wrongs etched in the city's history by federal and state-level enforcement of cannabis laws. They're setting the platform to launch Long Beach's under-resourced individuals, particularly from communities of color, on a trajectory where legal cannabis business and employment opportunities are a reachable horizon.
The Long Beach City Council cast its approval for an Adult-Use Cannabis Business Ordinance back in July 2018, marking the inception of the Program that today stands as testament to fair opportunity, Mayor Richardson and Economic Development Department Director Bo Martinez told City of Long Beach, saying these grants are essential pillars in constructing a cannabis industry that mirrors the rich tapestry of the community at large. Technical and financial assistance, reduced or waived fees, and prioritized licensing are among the tools at disposal, all to nourish a market that benefits every resident of Long Beach.
Residents interested in the Program or need of further details can direct their inquiries to [email protected] or visit the Long Beach city website, where updates on application eligibility and availability will be continuously posted.
