The City of Oakland held a medical cannabis mixer on Sunday, to allow Oaklanders interested in medical cannabis permits and who satisfy the equity program criteria to explore partnership opportunities and learn more about the city’s upcoming permit application process. 

Several hundred interested Oakland residents attended the mixer, where Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Larry Reid and Desley Brooks gave remarks.

Oakland’s newly-created equity program, introduced by Councilmember Brooks, prioritizes giving local pot industry permits to Oakland residents who have been negatively affected by the War on Drugs.

The ordinance is the first of its kind in the country and is intended as a form of reparations for Black and Latino people and neighborhoods that have been devastated by the war on marijuana, according to Brooks.

The equity program involves giving half of the city’s cannabis industry permits to people who have spent time in jail for possessing marijuana in the past 10 years, or who have lived in six particular Oakland Police Department beats in the last two years.

Attendees at last week’s event learned about how to apply for a permit and what its fees are, where medical cannabis facilities can be located in Oakland and how Equity Permit Applications are processed.

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“Our Equity Permit Program requires that at least half of the permits issued go to applicants that have at least one member that is an Oakland resident, reside for at least 2 years in certain Oakland Police beats and maintain no less than a 50% ownership in the entity partnership,” said Councilmember Gallo.

“Our medical cannabis operations would generate revenue and benefits for the City of Oakland,” he said.

For more information about applying for cannabis permits, visit http://www2.oaklandnet.com/government/o/ CityAdministration/d/SpecialPermits/index.htm

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