California is Accepting Applications for Grants To Support Sustainable Cannabis Cultivation

​California in in process of granting a total of $6 million for sustainable cannabis cultivation.

The grant program is sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and it’s called the Cannabis Restoration Grant Program (CRGP).

So far, they have awarded more than $1.7 million in grants, and the remaining $4.3 million is still available and open for applications.

Grants are awarded to eligible non-profits, government entities and tribes, which can then distribute funds to individual grower applicants.

The purpose of the grant program is to promote sustainable cannabis cultivation. Grant moneys can also assist cultivators in processing and paying for their annual licensing. Sustainable projects could be for things such as to enhance water conservation, land conservation, restoration projects, and the like.

For this first round, two large grants have been assigned. One is for the cultivation certification organization named Sun+Earth, who received nearly $400,000 for planning purposes and to expand their operations, with a focus on land restoration and conservation on marijuana farms across the state. The second one already granted was to Mendocino County Resource Conservation District, and it was for nearly $1.4 million for water conservation projects in the South Fork Eel River Watershed. The money is being specifically allocated to install three rainwater collection systems, upgrade irrigation infrastructure, manage invasive species and bring in native, “pollinator-friendly plants.”

The Acting Cannabis Program Director Sarah Paulson said in a press release, “These are well-conceived and timely planning projects that will result in lasting benefits to fish and wildlife resources and the habitats they depend upon for survival. Supporting these entities will help preserve California’s natural resources and pave the way for future cannabis farmers in the regulated market.”

The application window is open until April 2023.      

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