City of Sacramento
Racial Equity Committee Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2022-01828 10/25/2022 Discussion Item 3.
Status Update on Cannabis Racial Equity Study
File ID: 2022-01828
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Receive and file.
Contact: Davina Smith, Cannabis Manager, (916) 808-4772, [email protected], Zarah Cruz, Program Specialist, (916) 808-8925, [email protected], Office of Cannabis Management, Office of the City Manager
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: In early 2022, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued for a study to review, evaluate and provide recommendations on the City’s cannabis program and the effectiveness of its cannabis social equity program - the Cannabis Opportunity Reinvestment and Equity (CORE) - in achieving the City’s goal of increasing equity in the cannabis space.
Following the RFP process, the contract was awarded to Applied Memetics, LLC (AM), a health and research informatics firm certified in the areas of equity-based research, consultative services and public policy recommendations for state and municipal clients. Drs. William Armaline and Edith Kinney, active researchers, authors and experts in equity and equity research, serve as the lead on the project. Dr. Armaline is the founding Director of the Human Rights Program and an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Justice Sciences (SISS) at San Jose State University. Dr. Kinney is an assistant Professor of Justice Studies at San Jose State University, and her research focuses on social movement organizations’ role in the criminal justice reform.
File ID: 2022-01828 10/25/2022 Discussion Item 3.
AM’s study is now underway and is anticipated to be completed in early 2023. The study is expected to result in policy recommendations to further the City’s goal in promoting equity in the cannabis space and increasing opportunities for program participants. As part of the study, AM will examine data and reports on the impacts of disparate enforcement of cannabis related crimes in Sacramento communities and the effectiveness of the City’s initial equity study from 2017-2018 and the CORE program in addressing those impacts. The team will also analyze equity in the local cannabis industry by using data from the comprehensive study on Sacramento’s cannabis industry completed by Economic Planning Systems (EPS) earlier this year.
As its initial endeavor, a preliminary survey was sent out to program participants in August and the team is now conducting interviews with participants and forming focus groups. Through these efforts, the study aims to analyze the barriers to entry that are encountered by entrepreneurs and evaluate the program’s capacity and effectiveness in addressing them. Results of the study are hoped to inform Council policy in promoting economic justice and equitable solutions in the cannabis space.
AM’s final report will also contain a side-by-side comparison of equity programs with other jurisdictions, lessons learned and best and emerging practices. AM reports on its progress in the study to the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) through weekly meetings and collaborative work.
Policy Considerations: None at this time as the item is only a status update.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is the adoption of an ordinance, rule, or regulation that requires discretionary review, including environmental review, and approval of permits, licenses, or other authorizations to engage in commercial cannabis activity (CEQA Guidelines sections 15061(B)(1), California Business and Professions Code section 26055(h)) and because it does not have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment (CEQA Guidelines section15061(b)(3)).
Sustainability: Not applicable.
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: None, as the item only to provide a status on the ongoing social equity study.
File ID: 2022-01828 10/25/2022 Discussion Item 3.
Financial Considerations: None at this time.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.