COUNCIL: 2/15/22ITEM: 8.1
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND FROM:Councilmember Raul PeralezCITY COUNCIL SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: February 11, 2022
____________________________________________________________Approved by: Date: 2/11/22____________________________________________________________ SUBJECT: ACTIONS RELATED TO THE CANNABIS EQUITY ASSISTANCEPROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONAccept staff’s report and recommendation on a Cannabis Equity Program; And request aprogress report back to Council within six months of program activation.
DISCUSSIONI’d like to thank staff for their work in not only developing a Cannabis Equity Program,but also examining the historical impact that cannabis prohibition has had on our brownand black communities. History has shown, even within our own city, that a high numberof low income and communities of color have been disproportionately targeted forcannabis-related offenses. Knowing this, we can and should support those who have beenunjustly affected in the past with an equity program such as this.
As we are continuing to learn about the efficacy of Cannabis Equity programs andunderstanding how we can ensure its success in San José, I would like to ask staff toreturn in six months of implementation with an update that includes any metrics and dataon how the program is functioning, so that we can continue to craft this program that willtruly benefit the very same communities that were once criminalized.