Massachusetts officials have announced $26 million in grants aimed at supporting cannabis business owners from communities disproportionately affected by marijuana prohibition and enforcement.
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This funding seeks to help 180 entrepreneurs start and expand their operations through the state's Cannabis Social Equity Grant Program.
Damaris Aponte, the CEO of Riverside Cannabis and Blossom Flower, is one of the grant recipients. At 48, Aponte reflects on her journey from a teenager who smoked marijuana, to leading two cannabis businesses. Growing up in Holyoke, Massachusetts, she witnessed firsthand the negative impacts of drug-related violence, including the loss of her older brother Miguel.
Aponte’s businesses, which focus on cannabis delivery and manufacturing, received $750,000 in grants. She plans to use the funds to pay off expenses, purchase an additional delivery vehicle, and repair an HVAC system. She credits the grant program for providing crucial support in achieving her goals.
Governor Maura Healey emphasized the importance of these grants, stating they aim to address the harm caused by the War on Drugs and provide economic opportunities in affected communities. The program, funded through cannabis licensing and application fees, received 278 applications, awarding grants to 180 businesses, including ten in Gateway Cities.
Massachusetts decriminalized marijuana in 2008 and opened a recreational market in 2018. Despite these advancements, racial disparities persist. A 2019 Massachusetts Sentencing Commission report revealed that Black and Hispanic individuals made up 70 percent of those convicted for mandatory drug offenses, despite similar drug usage rates across racial groups.
The cannabis industry reflects these inequities, with white owners comprising the majority of businesses. Fewer than 10 percent of cannabis business owners are Latino or Hispanic, and just 7 percent are Black, according to the Cannabis Control Commission.
Aponte, who has hired two employees with prior drug convictions, sees her success as a step toward addressing these disparities. "The dream that I’m living right now is amazing," she said, adding that her late brother would be proud of her accomplishments.
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