Coachella

cannabis social equity program "csep"

Coachella CSEP

Background

Cannabis prohibition and criminalization had a devastating impact on populations and communities across California. Individuals convicted of a cannabis offense and their families suffer long-term consequences of the prohibition and criminalization. These individuals have a more difficult time entering the newly created adult-use cannabis industry due, in part, to a lack of access to capital, business space, technical support, and regulatory compliance assistance. During the era of cannabis prohibition in California, the burdens of arrest, convictions, and long-term collateral consequences arising from a conviction fell disproportionately on African American/Black and Latinx/Hispanic people, even though people of all races used and sold cannabis at nearly identical rates.

Coachella CSEP

Purpose

The Cannabis Social Equity Program will reduce the barriers of entry for applicants that have been negatively impacted by the disproportionate law enforcement of cannabis related criminalization by providing them access to cannabis business development resources and small business support. This program will make a cognizant effort to provide assistance and services to those from economically disadvantaged communities that experienced high rates of poverty or communities most harmed by cannabis prohibition.

GOAL: FEARLESS INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY

CSEP CLASSIFICATIONS

Individual

Business

Classification

5 years accumulated residency in the City of Coachella; and
Has a cannabis related arrest or conviction in California prior to November 8, 2016; or
Immediate family member has a cannabis related conviction or arrest (Father, Mother, Brother, Sister)