Fresno City Council on Thursday set up an equity fund to potentially help support cannabis businesses run by disadvantaged owners — or people who have previously been affected by outdated drug laws.
The fund can get grant money from the state’s Cannabis Equity Grant Program, and can also collect dollars from weed taxes and community benefit efforts from other marijuana business owners.
The Fresno equity clause is supposed to help communities historically affected by the “War on Drugs,” as well as other specific groups. During the War on Drugs, which gained steam during the 1980s, many people of color received what many view as overly severe prison sentences for nonviolent drug-related crimes.
At least two and as many as four of the 16 retail permits are supposed to go to equity applicants, according to city staffers.
Read more at fresnobee.com