The cities of Long Beach and Los Angeles received $1.26 million and $2.03 million, respectively, through the Cannabis Equity Grants Program, which aims to advance economic justice for communities that were disproportionately affected by cannabis prohibition.
The city’s cannabis equity program has required 40% of employee hires to be lower-income residents, but getting the same equity in ownership positions has been evasive.
The city manager’s office this week announced that it will be extending the deadline for licensed cannabis dispensaries to obtain a business license.
From cultivation to retail, the eight-week class will cover all sectors of the industry, with sessions taught by local business owners.
The event featured local and statewide cannabis industry professionals and promoted an education campaign called #WeedWise that the state’s newly formed Bureau of Cannabis Control launched this spring.
One Love Beach Club was established in 2009 when the city first allowed the sale of medical marijuana.
Long Beach cannabis businesses are also struggling—so much so that leaders are considering a pilot program to provide tax breaks to manufacturers.
The committee will discuss the feasibility of a 24-month pilot program that could streamline processes, adjust tax rates and provide incentives for non-retail cannabis businesses.
The second annual two-day State of Cannabis wrapped up Thursday aboard the Queen Mary, where those in the cannabis world were educated on the ins and outs of California’s nine-month old legal industry.
Cannabis “could be bigger, one day, than coffee,” one of the organizers said.
