Wine Country Times

Mendocino County is now taking applications for $2.2 million in Cannabis Equity grants in an attempt to help those who have suffered the most fallout from the War on Drugs.

The funds, which were received last year and will be administered by the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), are from Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions, according to a press release from the county. An additional $100,000 in matching grant dollars has been allocated by the Board of Supervisors.

Mendocino County’s local Cannabis Equity Program was developed to lower barriers to cannabis permitting and licensing, according to the press release.

Equity Eligibility Applications opened on Feb. 5. 

All equity applicants must first be eligible for a cannabis related application, permit and/or license to operate a cannabis business within the county, according to the press release.  The business must be particular to cultivation, nurseries, processing, manufacturing, laboratory analysis, distribution or retail of cannabis.

In addition, an applicant’s household income must meet the 2020 State Income Limits’ definition of "very low income" or "extremely low income" for Mendocino County as outlined by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

If a candidate meets these requirements, they may qualify for an equity grant. To qualify as an equity applicant, candidates must demonstrate they meet specific criteria relating to the War on Drugs, according to the press release. 

Applicants will qualify if they lived within a five-mile radius of the location of raids conducted by the Campaign against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) program.

Also eligible are those who have an immediate family member arrested for or convicted of the sale, possession, use, manufacture or cultivation of cannabis, including as a juvenile.

Those arrested and/or convicted of a non-violent cannabis offense who obtained or applied for a cannabis permit or worked or works in the cannabis industry qualify.

Also, anyone who forfeited assets due to a cannabis-related event qualifies as equity eligible.

Any individual who experienced sexual assault, exploitation, domestic violence, and/or human trafficking while part of the cannabis industry or became homeless as a result of law enforcement related to cannabis qualifies.

Three categories of funding are available to approved equity applicants, according to the press release.  Beginning in February and March, they may apply for grants through county fee waivers, direct technical assistance in business development or cannabis cooperative education, and direct grants.