California offers cannabis-related grants to local governments regulating legal cannabis businesses, and to universities to fund research.
Grants for public universities
Cannabis Academic Research Grants
The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) funds scientific research at California public universities to study the effects of adult-use cannabis legalization. At least $10 million is available each year for researchers.
DCC funds cannabis research about:
- Public health
- Criminal justice and public safety
- Economic impacts
- Environmental impacts
- Cannabis industry
Eligibility: California public universities
Status: DCC issued a Request for Proposals on October 05, 2022. Answers to submitted questions were posted on October 31, 2022.
Funding for local jurisdictions
Local Jurisdiction Retail Access Grant
As of February 1, 2023, 61% of California cities and counties (327) do not allow cannabis retailers. This makes it harder for consumers to access safe, tested cannabis products.
California allocated $20 million to help local governments establish cannabis retail licensing programs. This grant program aims to provide existing consumers with sufficient access to legal, tested cannabis, promoting consumer safety and reducing demand in the illicit market.
Eligibility:
A local jurisdiction (city, county, or city and county) is eligible for funding if it:
- Prior to July 1, 2022, did not have a cannabis retail licensing program in existence;
- Has a plan to develop and implement a cannabis retail licensing program.
Local Jurisdiction Assistance Grant Program
California is committed to quickly transition cannabis businesses from provisional to annual licenses. In January 2022, DCC awarded one-time grant funding totaling almost $100 million to help 17 cities and counties with the highest numbers of provisional licenses in transitioning businesses to annual licenses. Extra funds were available for eligible local jurisdictions with social equity programs.
Eligibility: 17 cities and counties with the highest numbers of provisional licenses
Status: DCC awarded grant funding in January 2022.
Funding opportunities from other state agencies
Equity program grants
Equity programs support cannabis businesses run by people who were negatively or disproportionately affected when cannabis was illegal.
California offers funds to cities and counties to:
- Assess cannabis equity in their area
- Create a cannabis equity program
- Support an existing cannabis equity program
- Directly help equity applicants and licensees through:
- Technical assistance
- Reduced or waived fees
- Low or no-interest loans or grants
- Help securing a business location
- Help recruiting, training or retaining a qualified and diverse workforce
- Business resilience, such as emergency preparedness
Application process
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development awards equity program grants. Sign up for updates about equity grants, including when they’re accepting applications.
Previous grant recipients
California has awarded $40 million in equity grants.
2020
Cities and counties received nearly $1.15 million to conduct a cannabis equity assessment or develop a local equity program.
| Local jurisdiction | Funding awarded |
| County of Lake | $150,000 |
| County of Monterey | $150,000 |
| County of Nevada | $149,999.95 |
| City of Palm Springs | $149,397.90 |
| City of San Jose | $149,300.37 |
| City of Santa Cruz | $147,666.75 |
| City of Clearlake | $98,890.43 |
| City of Coachella | $93,783.26 |
| City of Stockton | $60,000 |
Cities and counties received nearly $29 million to directly help equity applicants and licensees.
| Local jurisdiction | Funding awarded |
| City of Oakland | $6,576,705.76 |
| City of Los Angeles | $6,042,014.23 |
| City & County of San Francisco | $4,995,000 |
| City of Sacramento | $3,831,955.93 |
| City of Long Beach | $2,700,000 |
| County of Humboldt | $2,459,581.02 |
| County of Mendocino | $2,245,704.40 |
2019
All cities and counties that met the grant requirements received at least $100,000.
| Local jurisdiction | Funding awarded |
| City of Los Angeles | $1,834,156.39 |
| City of Oakland | $1,657,201.65 |
| County of Humboldt | $1,338,683.13 |
| City & County of San Francisco | $1,338,683.13 |
| City of Sacramento | $1,197,119.34 |
| City of Long Beach | $913,991.77 |
| City of San Jose | $560,082.30 |
| County of Santa Cruz | $560,082.30 |
| City of Coachella | $500,000 |
| City of Palm Springs | $100,000 |
Grants for law enforcement
Impaired driving research grants
The California Highway Patrol funds research to combat impaired driving, including:
- How to reduce crashes caused by impaired drivers
- Increasing awareness of the dangers of impaired driving
- Improving highway safety
These grants are available to California:
- Law enforcement agencies
- City and county crime laboratories
Other California grant opportunities
California offers other grants related to cannabis. You can view a list of all funding opportunities on the California Grants Portal.
Contact us
For questions about the grant program, email grants@cannabis.ca.gov.
For media inquiries, email press@cannabis.ca.gov.
