This Program Aims to Ensure That Individuals Affected by Past Criminalization Have Fair Access to Opportunities
Santa Monica is calling for community feedback to shape the social equity component of its forthcoming adult-use cannabis program, part of an ongoing effort to implement legal cannabis sales in the city.
Following the adoption of an Interim Zoning Ordinance in 2023, the city permitted its two medicinal cannabis retailers to sell adult-use products. City officials are now preparing a broader ordinance that will allow adult-use cannabis businesses of all types, incorporating a program to address social equity.
This equity program aims to ensure that individuals and communities disproportionately affected by past cannabis criminalization have fair access to opportunities in the legal cannabis industry. City staff will collect data on local cannabis-related arrests and demographic trends, combining it with resident input to inform the program’s development.
Residents are encouraged to complete a brief, 10-minute survey by November 30, available in both English and Spanish, to share their experiences and views on the impact of cannabis criminalization, especially within communities of color. Additionally, a public workshop will be held on November 13 at the Ken Edwards Center, offering an overview of the cannabis industry, the effects of criminalization on local communities, and a preview of the next phases of the program.
The draft ordinance and social equity assessment are expected to be reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council in early 2025.
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