California supports cannabis equity at both the state and local levels through the development of DCC equity fee relief programs, CDTFA and FTB equity tax credit programs, and GO-Biz grants to local jurisdictions for the development and implementation of local equity programs. You may qualify for equity support if you are a cannabis business owner and were harmed by cannabis criminalization.
Local equity grant programs
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) provides grant funding to local jurisdictions for the development and implementation of local equity grant programs.
Local equity grant programs offer support to those harmed by cannabis criminalization by providing opportunities tailored to the:
- Circumstances of the local community
- Experiences of the residents
They serve as hubs of innovation that:
- Surface best practices
- Offer new and effective ways to provide support to cannabis equity entrepreneurs
If you’re an equity business owner, you may be able to get help through your local equity program. This may include:
- Priority application processing
- Access to business partnerships
- Interagency advocacy
- Reduced or waived local fees
- Technical support, like one-on-one consulting and training
- Help with navigating cannabis licensing and regulatory requirements
- Low- or no-interest loans or grants
For more information, please contact your city or county to see what resources are available in your area.
County contacts
Resources for local jurisdictions
If you are a local jurisdiction interested in developing a local equity grant program to support equity cannabis businesses you can learn more about resources available to you and the successes of other local jurisdictions by:
- Visiting the GO-Biz website for grant information
- Visiting the DCC’s webpage, Promising practices for equity entrepreneurs and local jurisdictions
- Contacting the DCC’s Equity and Inclusion Division for additional assistance, and
- Reviewing the Minority Cannabis Business Association’s Ten Model Municipal Social Equity Ordinances
DCC equity relief programs
If you were negatively affected by the criminalization of cannabis, you may be eligible for:
- Technical support getting your state license
- Equity fee relief including license fee deferrals
Learn more about equity fee relief
California’s equity tax credit programs
California directly supports equity business owners by providing Cannabis Equity Tax Credits to eligible equity business owners.
To learn more about California’s equity tax credit programs, visit the following websites:
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration Cannabis Tax Guides
- Franchise Tax Board Tax Program
Contact us
Email questions to info@cannabis.ca.gov or call 1-844-61-CA-DCC.
Related resources
Promising practices for equity entrepreneurs and local jurisdictions
The DCC is committed to promoting equity for communities harmed by cannabis criminalization. We support local communities who share these values by lifting practices that are making a difference. By talking to business owners affected by the War on Drugs and asking them what policies have helped them start or grow their business, we are…
Discussions with equity entrepreneurs
California’s cannabis equity efforts support people and communities harmed by cannabis criminalization. These efforts lower barriers to the cannabis industry for those hit hardest by the War on Drugs. Listen to equity entrepreneurs talk about the investments California has made toward creating equity in the cannabis industry. Please note that the information on this website…
California’s state and local jurisdiction equity programs
California supports cannabis equity at both the state and local levels through the development of DCC equity fee relief programs, CDTFA and FTB equity tax credit programs, and GO-Biz grants to local jurisdictions for the development and implementation of local equity programs. You may qualify for equity support if you are a cannabis business owner…
