One-on-One Business Coaching
It takes a team. To current and aspiring cannabis entrepreneurs, this is a reminder that you don’t have to do it alone. Through DCR’s network of business coaches, Social Equity Individual Applicants (SEIAs) can meet with subject matter experts for financial advice, to discuss business ideas, and everything in between to help build your brand and business. From branding to marketing, human resources to tax compliance, using point-of-sale data to accounting, there is a business coach available to help. The One-on-One Business Coaching Program offers over 1,500 hours of free business, professional, and workforce development coaching with subject-matter experts from a wide range of expertise. Due to high interest, there are limited spots available. If you are interested in signing up for this resource, please sign and return the Coaching Indemnification form and then book your appointment. For more information, please reach out to dcr.sep@lacity.org.
Meet Coach Toni Forge, Esq. and hear her pitch for why someone should sign up for coaching.
The Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Cannabis Section, in partnership with DCR, has created a Pro Bono/Low Bono Legal Assistance Program for Social Equity Individual Applicants to receive free and low-cost legal services. It operates through the Bar Association’s Smart Law Referral Service for Social Equity Applicants.
The goals of this referral resource are to:
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Promote fair and equitable participation in the licensed commercial cannabis industry,
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Foster a level playing field as it relates to access to legal counsel, and
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Help deter predatory practices targeting the social equity community.
This free and low cost referral service is available to ALL Social Equity Individual Applicants who have passed the Pre-Application stage. Complete the survey below to find out if you are eligible to receive up to 40 hours of low-cost legal advice from an attorney -- the first 10 hours are free; 30 additional hours may be provided for only $35 per hour.
If you are qualified and interested in this free and reduced-cost service, please complete the online survey titled “Pro Bono/Low Bono Legal Services Survey.” You must complete the required information in the Pro Bono/Low Bono Legal Services Survey and upload the Pro Bono/Low Bono Authorization Agreement(PDF, 255KB) to the survey to complete the intake process.
The Social Equity Program hosts an online Learning Management System (LMS) through the Business, License & Compliance Assistance Program. Through the LMS Portal, Social Equity Individual Applicants have access to self-paced online courses, digital resources, training and educational events. There are currently over 180 hours of educational content on subjects such as: Workforce Development, Branding & Marketing, Financial Planning and Security Requirements, just to name a few. Additionally, all archived technical assistance webinars can be viewed here. Please note, the LMS is only available to verified Social Equity Individual Applicants.
Click here to access the LMS Portal
If you are a verified Social Equity Individual Applicant and you cannot login, please fill out the form below.
Please email DCR.SEP@lacity.org if you have any questions.
DCR periodically receives grants through the Cannabis Equity Grant for Local Jurisdictions from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GoBiz) to assist Social Equity Individuals Applicants as they start or grow their cannabis business. These grants have helped business owners through direct financial assistance, fee waivers or fee deferrals. Below is a look at how past grants have helped social equity businesses.
SEED Grant
In April of 2021, the City of Los Angeles established the Social Equity Entrepreneur Development Grant Program (SEED) Grant Program. The Rules and Regulations for the SEED Grant Program can be found here. To date, the City of Los Angeles has dedicated $15 million towards the SEED Grant Program through funds made available through the 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024 California GO-Biz CEG Grant awards.
Fee Deferrals and Waivers
Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 104.20.4(ii) establishes a Fee Deferral Program that is available to Social Equity Applicants. Participating in the Fee Deferral Program may be subject to the availability of resources. To date, DCR has made over $2.6 million available to verified Social Equity Applicants through the Fee Deferral Program. Additional Fee Deferrals will be made available as resources allow.
DCR has also received grant funding that has been allocated to offer DCR fee waivers to SEIAs. In April 2025, DCR is set to receive $3.5 million from the 2025 Cannabis Equity Grant Program for Local Jurisdictions issued by the State of California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). This grant will provide more than $3 million for fee waivers, and $35,000 to support the SEP’s One-on-One Business Coaching program.
Grants by the Numbers
California Cannabis Portal: www.cannabis.ca.gov
Equity Unit Email Address: equity@cannabis.ca.gov
Equity Unit Phone: (833) 493-0583
To search for verified social equity retailers, go to the Real CA Cannabis map and click the Equity Retailer slider.