We have been critical of cities licensing cannabis businesses in the past. Cannabis businesses are taxed and regulated heavily enough at the state level–why involve cities as well? We have always thought that if a city is going to be involved in the licensing process, it might as well do some good along the way. Portland, Oregon has provided one example of what a city can do with those tax funds.

As many cities in Oregon have done, Portland imposes a 3% local tax on retail cannabis sales. The City allocated $500,000 of the taxes to support neighborhood small businesses, especially women-owned and minority owned businesses and to provide economic opportunity and education to communities disproportionately-impacted by cannabis prohibition. Of that $500,000, $150,000 was allocated to specifically reinvest in minority- owned cannabis businesses.

To receive a City Grant, a Cannabis Business must complete a Cannabis Tax Allocation Grant Application. The Grant Application requires the cannabis business to identify a project/program that meets the “Record Clearing” or “Workforce Development” goals of the grant. The Record Clearing goals focuses on awarding money to those that have been disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition by removing barriers to housing, employment and education through legal support including, expungement, fine reduction, and charge reduction. The Workforce Development goals focus on creating pathways for people disproportionately impacted by previous cannabis laws to obtain family-wage jobs, including training, mentorship, and other workforce reentry support.

The application is detailed and requires the applicant to explain the background and mission of their organization, specific examples of activities to be completed, major milestones, along with questions regarding budget. The Portland City Council then reviews the applications and allocates the grants.

The first recipients of grants intended to help communities historically harmed by cannabis prohibition were awarded on January 21, 2019. Green box, an African American owned cannabis delivery company, was awarded $30,000. Adrian Wayman has reported he intends to use the money to hire his first employee.

The second recipient of $30,000 is Green Hop. Green Hop is an African American owned dispensary in North Portland. Green Hop also runs the “Green Hop Academy”, an apprentice program that provides training to individuals who hope to one day own their own cannabis business.

The City plans to keep moving forward with the grants and has increased its allocations for the grants to $700,000 for the fiscal year 2018-2019. It is comforting to see money from cannabis taxes being reinvested into the community. While the grant application can seem daunting, it can certainly make a huge difference in the Portland community to assist those that historically have been disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition. Here’s to hoping other cities follow in Portland’s footsteps and reallocate taxes and other fees to good causes.