Press Release  Governor Healey Awards over $2.3 Million in Funding from the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund

BOSTON — Today the Healey-Driscoll administration awarded 50 grants to cannabis social equity businesses in 28 communities, totaling $2,350,000, through the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund (CSETF). These awards follow Governor Healey’s recent pardon of marijuana possession misdemeanor offenses as part of the administration’s efforts to advance equity and justice in Massachusetts. 

The Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund was established 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 Immediate Needs Grant Program was launched in January as the first grant program to offer financial assistance from the Trust Fund to support eligible cannabis social equity license holders with urgent financial needs. 

“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. “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.”  

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. 

"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.”   

The grant awardees are:  

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 

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