California Equalizing Cannabis Industry

IncSmart California  (Small Business and Startups) - Oakland is changing the rules for the cannabis industry.  The California city is starting by giving permits to ex convicts.  Ex convicts with a twist - they were arrested for marijuana.  Oakland has received 72 applications for pot permits.  Half of the applications are equity permits that will provide reparations for the war on drugs.  The city must give at least half of cannabis permits to people who were convicted of a marijuana related laws, and earn an income less than 80 percent of the city average.  These Equity Applicants must prove they lived in an Oakland neighborhood for 10 of the last 20 years. 

Roadblocks include the lack of available space in Oakland.  The city may have to sell city owned properties to marijuana startups.  Proposals for selling vacant city buildings and rezoning are growing.  If  you don't qualify under the Equity Applications, your permit request can move up the list by giving an Equity Applicant 1,000 square feet of free rent through an incubator relationship. Oakland is one of the few places in California that allow every type of operation from laboratory testing, cultivation, delivery and dispensary.