The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GoBiz) announced the opening of the Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions with $15 million available for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Local jurisdictions can be awarded up to $75,000 for assistance on cannabis equity program development, or up to $3.5 million for cannabis equity program applicants and licensees to gain entry to the state’s regulated cannabis marketplace.
Included in Proposition 64 that legalized recreational cannabis in 2016, the Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions is intended to reduce barriers to entry into the regulated cannabis industry by offering technical support, regulatory compliance assistance, and assistance with securing the capital necessary to begin a cannabis business. The aim of offering these supports is to aid the state in its goal of eliminating or reducing the illicit cannabis market by bringing more people into the legal marketplace.
The Online Application Portal will be available on October 8, 2025, via this link. Applications must be submitted electronically via the Online Application Portal by December 8, 2025, at 11:59pm. The Grant Solicitation, an Application User Guide, and required documents can also be found at that link. Only eligible local jurisdictions (cities and counties) may apply for this grant.
For additional information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate Leigh Kammerich.