San Diego County advances cannabis social equity program
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday to advance social equity programs meant to help people who have been negatively impacted by the criminalization of cannabis.
The announcement came a day after reports that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration plans to reclassify marijuana as a “less dangerous drug” in a historic move.
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“The cannabis industry in San Diego County is continuing to grow, but not in a way that recognizes the many people who were significantly harmed by laws criminalizing cannabis, a product that corporations are now swooping in to make millions from,” said Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, vice chair of the board.
On Wednesday, the board voted to provide direction on eligibility requirements for the county’s cannabis social equity program, in addition to its implementation and a structure for the oversight body called the Cannabis Oversight Community Collaborative, according to a release.
It comes as a similar program run by the city of San Diego, called the cannabis social equity and economic development (SEED) program, faces cuts under Mayor Todd Gloria’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget proposal.
In order to qualify for the county’s program, one must have either been incarcerated, arrested, deported or convicted of a crime related to cannabis in the county before Nov. 8, 2016. They must also meet a low income threshold of 80% of the area’s median income as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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The board also set the following rules for cannabis businesses licensed in the county:
— a three-year window to start their licensing process once it becomes available.
— a minimum of 51% equity share in a cannabis business.
— a ceiling, or limit, of 25 licenses for cannabis storefront businesses that could be raised in the future, although the process of how that number will change has not yet been decided.
— reserving at least half of all storefront retailer licenses for social equity applicants. If the retailer decides not to start their business within the three-year timeframe, the license will then go on to the next applicant.
The oversight body will report to the board each year to provide updates on how the program is doing as well as both positive and negative feedback from the community. The collaborative will have a maximum of nine members, with one member appointed by each supervisor’s office and the other four seats chosen through an application process.
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