The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) has announced $18.4 million in grant funding to assist 18 local jurisdictions as they eliminate barriers to entry in the regulated cannabis industry, thereby promoting equitable economic opportunities for local applicants and licensees. Offering these types of assistance also supports statewide efforts to reduce and eliminate the illicit cannabis market by bringing more people into the legal marketplace.

These cities and counties will use this funding to support a range of activities, including the support of program applicants and licensees who face financial barriers to entry into the cannabis industry by providing low/no-interest loans or grants, reduced licensing fees or waived fees and technical assistance, including one-on-one consulting and training, and navigation assistance with cannabis licensing and regulatory requirements.

To date, this program has granted a total of $123.4 million to 34 local jurisdictions across California. As of December 2024, the cities and counties that have received these grants have licensed 1,446 Californians who faced barriers to the industry across California.

In 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 efforts to support applicants and licensees by offering technical support, regulatory compliance assistance, and assistance with securing the capital necessary to begin a business.

The awardees and their respective grant amounts in the latest round of awards included:

City of Los Angeles: $3,500,000

City and County of San Francisco: $3,324,052.50

City of Oakland: $2,074,369.75

City of Sacramento: $1,680,777.31

County of San Diego: $1,413,134.46

City of Long Beach: $1,198,263.18

County of Humboldt: $657,436.98

County of Mendocino: $612,689.88

City of Richmond: $600,000

County of Sonoma: $558,102.04

City of Nevada City: $557,845.81

City of Palm Springs: $538,328.09

County of Nevada: $500,000

County of Trinity: $500,000

City of Vista: $250,000

City of Watsonville: $250,000

City of Coachella: $200,000

Total: $18,415,000

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more. For more information visit, www.business.ca.gov.