NCIA’s #IndustryEssentials webinar series is our premier digital educational series featuring a variety of interactive programs allowing us to provide you timely, engaging and essential education when you need it most.

California’s historic transition to a regulated cannabis market has presented many unique opportunities and challenges for cannabis businesses. State regulatory agencies and their county partners have many different funding opportunities to help these businesses succeed, while protecting the environment. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) will present on recent and upcoming funding opportunities from their respective agencies.

CDFW will provide an overview of its Cannabis Restoration Grant Program (CGRP). The CRGP funds grants through California’s Environmental Restoration and Protection Account. Grants may be used to fund the cleanup and restoration of environmental damage in watersheds affected by cannabis cultivation and related activities, which can include supporting local partnerships.

The DCC’s new Office of Grants Management will introduce DCC grant opportunities that help create a safe, legal, and equitable cannabis market, including an overview of the Local Jurisdiction Assistance Grant Program (LJAG). A one-time grant opportunity totaling $100 million dollars, these local assistance grants support provisional licensees who are legacy and equity applicants, as well as provisional licensees more likely to have arduous environmental compliance requirements associated with CEQA.

Grants manager Sara Banchero will also provide an overview of grant funding to California universities for research into the implementation and effect of the Medicinal Adult Use Cannabis Regulations Safety Act (MAUCRSA) approved by voters in 2016.

Learning Objectives
• Public education and engagement
• Funding opportunities for small farm operators
• Watershed protection opportunities

Panelists

Maggie Romo
Statewide Coordinator – Cannabis Restoration Grant Program
California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Sara Banchero
Grants Manager – Office of Grants Management
Department of Cannabis Control