The Massachusetts Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund was established in 2022 by the State of Massachusetts to “provide financial assistance to eligible applicants for the purpose of encouraging the full participation in the state’s regulated marijuana industry of entrepreneurs from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement.”
The Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund was established by Section 14A of Chapter 94G of the General Laws. The legislation also established the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board, to “work with and advise EOED on the administration of the Trust Fund.”
In January of this year the Immediate Needs Grant Program was launched. It is a grant program that offers financial assistance from the Trust Fund to “support eligible cannabis social equity license holders with urgent financial needs.”
Starting in April 2024, after various delays, the program started to award recipients with grant money. In total, the first round of awards from the Healey-Driscoll administration amounted to 50 grants to cannabis social equity businesses in 28 communities, totaling $2,350,000.
“Our administration is committed to righting historic wrongs from the War on Drugs, both by addressing inequities in the criminal justice system and by advancing equity in the cannabis industry. With the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund, we’re creating a sustainable and inclusive path to the industry for Massachusetts entrepreneurs that have faced barriers to entry,” said Governor Maura Healey in a press release. “This funding will fill critical gaps necessary to allow social equity businesses to grow and succeed here in Massachusetts.”
“Marijuana prohibition and enforcement has historically disadvantaged those living in communities of color. With the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund, we are rewriting this narrative and providing a secure path for aspiring social equity cannabis entrepreneurs to succeed,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll.
“The Immediate Needs Grant Program exemplifies our commitment to advancing equity within the cannabis industry in Massachusetts,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “This inaugural round of funding will not only boost our economy in new ways, but also reaffirms that our state is the best place for business.”
“I am proud to join the Healey-Driscoll administration to celebrate the inaugural round of awardees from the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund,” said State Senator Gomez, Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Cannabis Policy Committee. “Given the precedent set by prohibition era measures, commonly known as the War of Drugs, this financial assistance is only the beginning of sound legislation to address the dire need many cannabis dispensaries have vocalized. I look forward to advocating alongside my colleagues in the legislature for additional funding for entrepreneurs and communities in the Hampden district and across the Commonwealth.”
“The Social Equity Trust Fund is the product of tireless effort from many advocates, stakeholders, and my colleagues in the Legislature to better ensure equitable access to the Cannabis industry. I would like to thank Speaker Mariano for his leadership and commitment to advancing this social equity fund last session,” said Representative Dan Donahue, House Chair of the Legislature’s Cannabis Policy Committee. “Thank you as well to the Social Equity Trust Fund board for their work in advising the administration on the program and their continuing efforts to address the wrongs of the War on Drugs with this access to capital.”
Below is a list of the grant awardees and the amounts that they received:
Advesa MA, Inc.
City of Cambridge, $50,000
Apple Guy Flowers, LLC
Town of Uxbridge, $50,000
Aunty Budz LLC
Town of Florence, $50,000
Bada Bloom! Inc.
Town of Tyngsborough, $50,000
Bailey’s Buds LLC
Town of Dracut, $50,000
Belle Fleur Holdings LLC
Town of Blandford, $50,000
Blossom Flower LLC
Town of Holyoke, $50,000
Blue Sky Organics LLC
Town of Newton, $50,000
Boston Bud Factory Inc.
Town of Holyoke, $50,000
Bracts & Pistils, LLC
Town of Taunton, $50,000
Cloud 9 Cultivation LLC
City of Quincy, $20,000
DB Delivery MA, LLC
City of Boston, $33,000
Delivered, Inc.
Town of Clinton, $30,000
Dris Corporation
Town of Natick, $50,000
Elevation Inc.
City of Brockton, $50,000
Ember Gardens Delivery LLC
Town of Somerset, $50,000
Freshly Baked Company
City of Taunton, $50,000
Gan Or LLC
Town of Northampton, $50,000
Gas Bus LLC
City of Boston, $50,000
Grassp Ventures LLC
City of Salem, $50,000
Green Flash Delivery LLC
City of Boston, $50,000
Greener Leaf, Inc.
Town of Fall River, $50,000
Greenerside Holdings, LLC
City of Boston, $50,000
Herbal Power LLC
City of Boston, $50,000
Holyoke Smokes Corp
Town of Holyoke, $50,000
Home Grown 617 LLC
City of Cambridge, $50,000
Infused Element
Town of Holyoke, $35,000
JimBuddys Rec Shop, Inc.
Town of Chicopee, $50,000
KG Collective Brockton, LLC
City of Brockton, $32,000
KindRun Massachusetts, LLC
Town of Hudson, $50,000
Lucky Green Ladies, LLC
Town of Norton, $50,000
Major Bloom
City of Worcester, $50,000
Motah 420 LLC
Town of Adams, $50,000
New Dia, LLC
City of Worcester, $50,000
On Root, LLC
Town of Lynn, $50,000
Paper Crane Provisions LLC
Town of Hubbardston, $50,000
Primus LLC
City of Springfield, $50,000
Rolling Releaf, LLC
Town of Newton, $50,000
Rooted In LLC
City of Boston, $50,000
Royal Sun Farm LLC
Town of Hubbardston, $50,000
Social-J, LLC
Town of Northampton, $25,000
Stone’s Throw Cannabis LLC
City of Boston, $25,000
Team Green, LLC
City of Boston, $50,000
Teddy’s Veggie Farm
Town of Spencer, $50,000
The Heritage Club LLC
City of Boston, $50,000
Treevit LLC
Town of Athol, $50,000
Underground Legacy Social Club LLC
City of Boston, $50,000
Uproot LLC
City of Worcester, $50,000
Verdant Reparative Inc.
City of Boston, $50,000
Zyp Run, Inc.
City of Boston, $50,000