Social Equity Entrepreneurs Program

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Social Equity Entrepreneurs Program Framework Development

The County of San Diego is working to develop ordinance amendments and a new permitting system that would allow for additional commercial medicinal and adult-use cannabis operations in the unincorporated area of the County. The Board directed that these efforts prioritize social equity, access, and business opportunities to help rectify the disproportionate and adverse impacts on people of color and communities caused by the War on Drugs. Specifically, the Board directed that a social equity program be included as part of the wider proposed Socially Equitable Cannabis Program.

The social equity program is to be in place prior to the issuance of the first permit. To accomplish this, the proposed Social Equity Entrepreneurs Program (‘Entrepreneurs Program’) must be developed and implemented concurrently with the development of the ordinance amendments and new permitting system.

The goal of the Entrepreneurs Program is to ensure that those negatively or adversely impacted by cannabis criminalization be provided the opportunity to successfully participate in the regulated cannabis market (California Cannabis Equity Act). To that end, the Entrepreneurs Program would include different types of assistance to support eligible applicants and may include investing back into impacted communities.

In developing the Entrepreneurs Program, many factors will be considered including:

- Accessibility

- Equity

- State and local cannabis laws and guidelines

- Investment into impacted communities

- Stakeholder input

Your Participation

We want your help in developing the Entrepreneurs Program. Have an idea, suggestion, or comment to help the County identify what the final Entrepreneurs Program will include? These suggestions may address the Entrepreneurs Program's eligibility requirements, the types of assistance an Entrepreneurs Program participant could receive, and/or potential benefits to the community.

We appreciate your time and suggestions, in particular those that are solutions focused.

Social Equity Entrepreneurs Program Framework Development

The County of San Diego is working to develop ordinance amendments and a new permitting system that would allow for additional commercial medicinal and adult-use cannabis operations in the unincorporated area of the County. The Board directed that these efforts prioritize social equity, access, and business opportunities to help rectify the disproportionate and adverse impacts on people of color and communities caused by the War on Drugs. Specifically, the Board directed that a social equity program be included as part of the wider proposed Socially Equitable Cannabis Program.

The social equity program is to be in place prior to the issuance of the first permit. To accomplish this, the proposed Social Equity Entrepreneurs Program (‘Entrepreneurs Program’) must be developed and implemented concurrently with the development of the ordinance amendments and new permitting system.

The goal of the Entrepreneurs Program is to ensure that those negatively or adversely impacted by cannabis criminalization be provided the opportunity to successfully participate in the regulated cannabis market (California Cannabis Equity Act). To that end, the Entrepreneurs Program would include different types of assistance to support eligible applicants and may include investing back into impacted communities.

In developing the Entrepreneurs Program, many factors will be considered including:

- Accessibility

- Equity

- State and local cannabis laws and guidelines

- Investment into impacted communities

- Stakeholder input

Your Participation

We want your help in developing the Entrepreneurs Program. Have an idea, suggestion, or comment to help the County identify what the final Entrepreneurs Program will include? These suggestions may address the Entrepreneurs Program's eligibility requirements, the types of assistance an Entrepreneurs Program participant could receive, and/or potential benefits to the community.

We appreciate your time and suggestions, in particular those that are solutions focused.

  • Listening Session - Cannabis Social Equity Program

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    The County of San Diego Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) will hold a virtual listening session meeting on August 8th, 2023 at 6pm. This is part of the public outreach for the Cannabis Social Equity Program. The specific topics include program structure, eligibility parameters, program benefits and timeline for the Cannabis Social Equity Program.

    Information collected will help assist in informing the Cannabis Social Equity Program.

  • Survey Extended!

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    The survey has been extended through June 30, 2023. Please take the time to share your perspective.

  • Listening Session - Cannabis Social Equity Program

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    The County of San Diego Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) held a virtual listening session meeting on May 18, 2023 at 6pm. This is part of the public outreach for the Cannabis Social Equity Program. The specific topics include program structure, eligibility parameters, program benefits and timeline for the Cannabis Social Equity Program.

    This event has passed, but information collected will help assist in informing the Cannabis Social Equity Program. If you could not attend, please take the survey.

  • Listening Session - Cannabis Social Equity Program

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    The County of San Diego Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) held a virtual listening session meeting on April 13, 2023 at 6pm. This is part of the public outreach for the Cannabis Social Equity Program. The specific topics include program structure, eligibility parameters, program benefits and timeline for the Cannabis Social Equity Program.

    This event has passed, but information collected will help assist in informing the Cannabis Social Equity Program. If you could not attend, please take the survey.

  • Survey Now Available

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    The County wants your feedback on the Social Equity Entrepreneurs Program. Please take the time to share your perspective with us.

  • Board of Supervisors Update

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    The Board accepted the Social Equity Assessment and allowed for the Office of Equity and Racial Justice to apply for and accept the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development grant funding.

  • News Feed

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    In October 2022, the County finalized a Cannabis Social Equity Assessment (Equity Assessment) which includes community feedback received through a series of listening sessions, interviews, focus groups, and a survey, as well as data analysis and research of active social equity cannabis programs in other California jurisdictions.

    The Equity Assessment includes recommendations for the Entrepreneurs Program and other efforts to address the harms caused by cannabis criminalization.

Page last updated: 02 Aug 2023, 09:16 AM