Commonwealth of Massachusetts
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ONE ASHBURTON PLACE, ROOM 2101
BOSTON, MA 02108
https://www.mass.gov/eoed
MAURA T. HEALEY TELEPHONE
GOVERNOR (617) 788-3610
KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL FACSIMILE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR (617) 788-3605
YVONNE HAO
SECRETARY
Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund FY24 Annual Report
The Executive Office of Economic Development (“EOED”) is required by Section 14A of
Chapter 94G of the General Laws (“Authorizing Statute”) to administer the Cannabis Social
Equity Trust Fund (“Trust Fund”), in consultation with the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory
Board (“Advisory Board”), for the purpose of encouraging the full participation in the
Commonwealth's regulated marijuana industry by entrepreneurs from communities that have
been disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement.
EOED, in consultation with the Advisory Board, is required by the Authorizing Statute to
annually submit a report to the Legislature detailing the expenditures from the Trust Fund in the
previous fiscal year and any other information that EOED and the Advisory Board deem
appropriate. Accordingly, EOED submits this report describing the activities of EOED and the
Advisory Board covering the time period from July 1st, 2023 through June 30th, 2024.
Membership of the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board
The Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board is established by Section 14A(b) of Chapter 94G of
the General Laws. The Advisory Board consists of five members, as set forth by said Section
14A(b). In early 2024, the Advisory Board welcomed newly appointed member, Ryan
Dominguez, who filled a previously vacated board seat. The following are the current members
of the Advisory Board:
• Governor Appointee (Chair) - Keisha Brice
• Attorney General Appointee - Aaron Goines
• Treasurer Appointee - Chris Fevry
• Joint Appointee of the Governor, Treasurer and Attorney General - Meaka Brown
• Joint Appointee of the Governor, Treasurer and Attorney General – Ryan Dominguez
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Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board Meetings
The Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board met five times during the covered period of this
report. The meetings occurred on July 24, 2023; August 28, 2023; September 25, 2023;
November 13, 2023; and April 26, 2024. Member discussions included the following topics:
• Promulgation of Trust Fund regulations
• Legislative fix of funding source and initial funding transfer
• Review of program design for initial round of financial assistance
• Introduction of new Advisory Board member Ryan Dominguez
• Review of Immediate Needs Grant Program
• Trust fund balances
• Overview of program design for the FY25 round
Meeting minutes are posted online on the board’s website at: mass.gov/orgs/cannabis-social-
equity-advisory-board.
Trust Fund Balance
The Authorizing Statute required an amendment to resolve an issue pertaining to the transfer
mechanism. This issue was outlined in the FY23 annual report submitted last summer. In
September 2023, Governor Healey filed language to necessitate the technical fix, which
ultimately passed by the House and Senate. Section 21 of Chapter 77 of the Acts of 2023
effectuated the change to clarify the annual transfer process
In December 2023, the Trust Fund received an initial transfer of $2,330,649. On February 1,
2024, the Trust Fund received its first full annual transfer from the Marijuana Regulation Fund in
the amount of $27,447,434.
Currently, the Trust Fund balance stands at $27,331,490.74. This reflects the outputs from the
Immediate Needs Grant Program.
400 CMR 8.00 Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund Regulation
EOED, in consultation with the Advisory Board, was required by the Authorizing Statute to
promulgate regulations governing the structure and administration of the Trust Fund. EOED held
several meetings to consult with the Advisory Board and solicit input while drafting the
regulation. On January 12, 2024, EOED held a public hearing for 400 CMR 8.00, Cannabis
Social Equity Trust Fund, and subsequently promulgated the regulation on February 2, 2024.
Immediate Needs Grant Program Overview
The Immediate Needs Grant Program (INGP) launched in February 2024 and was the first
program to provide financial support from the Trust Fund. The INGP provided up to $50,000 in
grant funds to eligible Social Equity (SE) and Economic Empowerment (EE) businesses with a
provisional or final license issued by the Cannabis Control Commission. The INGP awarded a
total of $2.3 million to 50 award recipients providing critical support to social equity cannabis
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businesses for outstanding business expenses including payroll, rent, professional services,
regulatory fees, and debt service (see Attachment A for list of recipients and award amounts).
FY25 Round
EOED is in the process of developing the second round of financial assistance from the Trust
Fund. The FY25 round of financial assistance aims to continue to offer the critical assistance
provided under the Immediate Needs Grant Program, as well as enhanced support to licensed
social equity cannabis businesses with operational or capital needs. The forthcoming round will
also expand eligibility to social equity applicants that are exploring entry into the marijuana
industry in order to fulfill the Authorizing Statute’s goal of “ensuring the full participation… of
entrepreneurs from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by marijuana
prohibition and enforcement.”
Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund FY24 Annual Report – Attachment A
Grant awardees for the Immediate Needs Grant Program Round 1
Business Location Grant Amount Social Equity Status
Advesa MA, Inc. Cambridge $50,000 Economic Empowerment Priority
Applicant
Apple Guy Flowers, LLC Uxbridge $50,000 Social Equity Business
Aunty Budz LLC Florence $50,000 Social Equity Business
Bada Bloom! Inc. Tyngsborough $50,000 Social Equity Business
Bailey's Buds LLC Dracut $50,000 Social Equity Business
Belle Fleur Holdings LLC Blandford $50,000 Social Equity Business
Blossom Flower LLC Holyoke $50,000 Social Equity Business
Blue Sky Organics LLC Newton $50,000 Social Equity Business
Boston Bud Factory Inc. Holyoke $50,000 Social Equity Business
Bracts & Pistils, LLC Taunton $50,000 Social Equity Business &
Economic Empowerment Priority
Applicant
Cloud 9 Cultivation LLC Quincy $20,000 Social Equity Business
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DB Delivery MA, LLC Boston $33,000 Economic Empowerment Priority
Applicant
Delivered, Inc. Clinton $30,000 Social Equity Business
Dris Corporation Natick $50,000 Social Equity Business
Elevation Inc. Brockton $50,000 Social Equity Business
Ember Gardens Delivery Somerset $50,000 Social Equity Business
LLC
Freshly Baked Company Taunton $50,000 Social Equity Business
Gan Or LLC Northampton $50,000 Social Equity Business
Gas Bus LLC Boston $50,000 Social Equity Business
Grassp Ventures LLC Salem $50,000 Social Equity Business
Green Flash Delivery Boston $50,000 Social Equity Business
LLC
Greener Leaf, Inc. Fall River $50,000 Social Equity Business
Greenerside Holdings, Boston $50,000 Social Equity Business &
LLC Economic Empowerment Priority
Applicant
Herbal Power LLC Boston $50,000 Social Equity Business
Holyoke Smokes Corp Holyoke $50,000 Social Equity Business
Home Grown 617 LLC Cambridge $50,000 Social Equity Business
Infused Element Holyoke $35,000 Social Equity Business
JimBuddys Rec Shop, Chicopee $50,000 Social Equity Business
Inc.
KG Collective Brockton, Brockton $32,000 Economic Empowerment Priority
LLC Applicant
KindRun Massachusetts, Hudson $50,000 Social Equity Business
LLC
Lucky Green Ladies, Norton $50,000 Social Equity Business
LLC
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Major Bloom Worcester $50,000 Economic Empowerment Priority
Applicant
Motah 420 LLC Adams $50,000 Social Equity Business
New Dia, LLC Worcester $50,000 Economic Empowerment Priority
Applicant
On Root, LLC Lynn $50,000 Social Equity Business
Paper Crane Provisions Hubbardston, $50,000 Social Equity Business
LLC
Primus LLC Springfield $50,000 Social Equity Business
Rolling Releaf, LLC Newton $50,000 Social Equity Business
Rooted In LLC Boston $50,000 Social Equity Business
Royal Sun Farm LLC Hubbardston $50,000 Social Equity Business
Social-J, LLC Northampton, $25,000 Social Equity Business
Stone's Throw Cannabis Boston $25,000 Social Equity Business
LLC
Team Green, LLC Boston $50,000 Economic Empowerment Priority
Applicant
Teddy's Veggie Farm Spencer $50,000 Social Equity Business
The Heritage Club LLC Boston $50,000 Social Equity Business
Treevit LLC Athol $50,000 Social Equity Business
Underground Legacy Boston $50,000 Social Equity Business
Social Club LLC
Uproot LLC Worcester $50,000 Social Equity Business
Verdant Reparative Inc. Boston $50,000 Social Equity Business
Zyp Run, Inc. Boston $50,000 Social Equity Business
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