La Krisha Young, owner of a new cannabis dispensary in South Sacramento, can finally breathe a sigh of relief after a lengthy and challenging process to get her business off the ground. Despite objections from a nearby drug treatment center, the Sacramento City Council recently voted unanimously to approve her conditional use permit.
For Young, this decision is a long-awaited victory. She had spent several hundred thousand dollars in start-up costs for her location and had been working on the planning process since January 2022. However, a snafu in the process led to the discovery that her proposed dispensary was located less than 200 feet from the Diamond House Detox treatment center, and its CEO Vicky Magobet had objected, arguing that her clients could be tempted to purchase marijuana at the dispensary.
Young had followed all the required procedures for notifying sensitive use facilities, such as drug treatment centers, within 600 feet of her proposed location. However, the drug treatment center had opened several months after Young began her notification process, and neither she nor city officials nor Magobet were aware of each other until a city hearing in October 2022.
Despite the objections, Young remained determined to see her business through. She is a recipient of the city’s Cannabis Opportunity Reinvestment and Equity (CORE) program, which aims to award dispensary licenses to victims of the war on drugs and promote equity in the cannabis industry.
What is the CORE program?
The CORE program is an initiative of the City of Sacramento that seeks to reduce the harm caused by the war on drugs by providing economic opportunities to those most impacted by it. The program is designed to prioritize the issuance of cannabis business licenses to individuals who meet certain criteria, including:
- Residency in one of the city’s priority neighborhoods, which are areas with high rates of cannabis-related arrests and convictions;
- A criminal record that includes a cannabis-related offense;
- Or having a family member with a cannabis-related offense.
Through the CORE program, the city aims to create a more diverse and inclusive cannabis industry that reflects the community it serves. Recipients of CORE licenses are also required to follow certain social equity provisions, such as hiring from the community, partnering with community-based organizations, and supporting workforce development programs.
The city’s commitment to equity in the cannabis industry is reflected in the decision to approve Young’s dispensary, which not only provides economic opportunities for a Black woman-owned business but also supports the city’s efforts to promote social equity.
Looking Ahead
With the hurdle behind her, Young can now focus on building her business and serving her community. She expressed her gratitude for the support she received from council members and the CORE program, and her commitment to being a responsible and positive member of the cannabis industry.
“I’m just happy that the process has come to a close and that I can finally move forward,” she said. “I believe that cannabis can be a force for good in our community, and I’m excited to be a part of that.”
