Helping Secure More than $1M Grant for Cannabis Equity

We secured a $150,000 grant from Go-Biz on behalf of the County of Monterey for a cannabis equity assessment and a $1 million grant for a county-wide cannabis initiative.

In partnership with the California State University Monterey Bay, the County plans to use this funding to more closely identify the role the Latinx and rural communities, both disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, play in the Monterey County’s legal cannabis industry.

“It is our hope that these efforts lead to the creation of a truly diverse industry and that these programs serve as a blueprint for others who share in our commitment to address systemic discrimination and create real prosperity for all,” says Nicole Elliott, Governor Newsom’s Senior Advisor on Cannabis.

We participated in all the County meetings regarding the application, provided feedback and suggestions on the grant strategy and content, and reviewed the narrative. This grant will provide the groundwork needed to create a cannabis equity program within the County. In total, we secured over $48 million in funding for a variety of County efforts since 2014.