Equity Defense Fund

04/07/2023

Congratulations to our Justice Involved Individual-owned client, Big Dipper NY for their application approval!! The EDF is proud to have helped our client in this process and are honored to continue helping them succeed in the New York cannabis industry 💚

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/new-york-just-approved-99-more-recreational-cannabis-shop-applications-040423

12/02/2022

Congrats to our Equity client Sweetleaf Collective for being approved for a DCC cannabis event license 🥳 Sweetleaf Collective is an Equity-owned, non-profit organization dedicated to providing low-income, elderly, and disabled patients with free medicinal cannabis. The EDF team assisted Sweetleaf in applying for their cannabis event license so they can start hosting events showcasing cannabis Equity businesses 💚

10/07/2022

The White House announced Thursday that President Biden would be issuing pardons to those with federal convictions for 'simple possession' of cannabis — a decision that is expected to affect thousands of people. Per CNN, the administration is also planning to reconsider cannabis’ federal classification as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act.

‘Sending people to prison for possessing ma*****na has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit,’ Biden said in a statement. ‘Criminal records for ma*****na possession have also imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities. And while white and Black and brown people use ma*****na at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates.’

07/24/2022

Senate Democrats have introduced a bill that would end the federal prohibition of cannabis, also known as ma*****na. On Thursday, Senators Cory Booker and Ron Wyden introduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act. They were joined by Senate M...

07/19/2022

Black individuals are 5 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession. Contact your local representative and urge them to push Biden to stop dragging his feet!

President Joe Biden says his administration is “working on” plans to fulfill his campaign pledge to free people who are incarcerated for ma*****na. This marks the first time that the president has publicly made a substantive comment about cannabis policy since taking office more than a year ago....

07/12/2022

07/07/2022

Hey ! Did you know there are 24 operational Equity-owned cannabis businesses in SF? Support your local Equity-owned businesses today!

07/04/2022

This 4th of July, celebrate by supporting local Equity & Back-owned businesses 💚

06/30/2022

AB 195 passed!! The elimination of the cultivation tax will provide significant financial relief for the cannabis industry, especially Equity-owned businesses. Additionally, AB 195 will provide a $10,000 tax credit to Equity-owned businesses, lower their excise tax to 12%, and allow them to keep 20% of their excise tax revenue 💚

The California legislature on Wednesday approved a wide-ranging bill to restructure the state’s adult-use ma*****na program, including by eliminating a cannabis cultivation tax, in an effort to provide industry relief and further curtail the illicit market. AB 195, which builds upon an amended bud...

06/23/2022

Equity Stories: Exotic Genetics
Born and raised in the Fillmore District in San Francisco, Walter Redding, Jr. is currently the Executive Director of Star Quality Youth Camp, Inc., an organization focused on reducing violence and incarceration among San Francisco’s youth. He has also run youth groups at the Ella Hill Hutch Community Center, violence intervention youth groups at the African American Arts & Culture Complex, and worked for the Community Response Network, a violence intervention network. Walter is also an accomplished recording artist signed with Universal Records and is a member of ASCAP & BMI. He has collaborated with over 200 artists and produced 30 songs with Grammy Award Winning music producer Zaytoven.

Walter became a verified Equity applicant in 2021 and established Exotic Genetics, a cannabis delivery retailer, and 1323, LLC, his own technical assistance incubator offering assistance to Equity Applicants with management services, business networking and coaching, finding investors, and other services 🌹💙

06/19/2022

Black individuals are 5 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession according to the Department of Justice. No one should sit in prison for cannabis. This Juneteenth, contact your legislative representatives to push for the federal legalization of cannabis, and support your local Equity-owned cannabis businesses 🤎💚🖤