State Rep. Daniel Donahue (D-Worcester)
January 3, 2025
Central Mass. cannabis businesses granted $5M in latest push to boost industry equity
Photo | Eric Casey
Cannabis on the sales floor of Wonderland Cannabis Co. in Millbury.
Some social equity cannabis businesses in Central Massachusetts are starting 2025 on more solid financial footing, thanks to a combined $4.75 million in government grants as part of a $25-million statewide effort to 180 businesses.
The latest allocation of funds from the state’s Cannabis Social Equity Grant Program announced on Dec. 23 saw a dozen businesses with Central Massachusetts locations awarded grants ranging from $250,000 to $500,000.
"The Cannabis Social Equity Grant Program provides marijuana entrepreneurs with much-needed support as they start and scale their businesses,” Gov. Maura Healey said in the Dec. 23 press release announcing the grants. “We are pleased to provide these grants to 180 business owners from populations that were impacted by the War on Drugs and expand economic opportunity in communities across Massachusetts.”
An initial round of funding in April helped some of the region’s social equity businesses stay afloat, but some Central Massachusetts business owners told WBJ the amounts only allowed their companies to continue treading water.
This second round of funding awarded on Dec. 23 followed an application process announced in September.
All of this comes as a part of an effort to boost businesses operated by people from communities the state has determined were disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement. The fund was created by lawmakers in 2022 and is administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development, in cooperation with the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board created to help dole out the funds.
A total of 111 applicants received funding for projects in the pre-application phase, meaning the eventual location of their prospective cannabis businesses has yet to be finalized. All of these applicants received grants ranging from $13,000 to $25,000, equaling a total of $2.75 million.
“The Cannabis Social Equity Grant Program demonstrates the Commonwealth’s continuing objective to promote equitable participation in the cannabis industry,” Rep. Daniel Donahue (D-Worcester), chair of the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy, said in the press release. “This first full round of grants reflects the tireless work put in by the Social Equity Advisory Board, other stakeholders, and my colleagues in the Legislature.”
The business with established Central Massachusetts locations receiving funding are:
- Apple Guy Flowers, a prospective cultivation business in Uxbridge ($250,000)
- Bada Bloom, a company looking to establish a cannabis delivery business in Natick ($250,000)
- Cannabro, a company seeking to open a cannabis retail store in Southbridge ($320,000)
- Caroline's Cannabis, a cannabis business with retail locations in Uxbridge and Hopedale and the first woman-owned dispensary to open in Massachusetts ($475,000)
- Dris Corp., a Natick-based cannabis delivery company ($500,000)
- Major Bloom, a Black-owned cannabis retailer, product manufacturer, and delivery company based in Worcester’s Canal District ($500,000)
- New Dia, a Worcester-based dispensary operating under the Cookies brand name ($500,000)
- Royal Sun Farm, a Hubbardston-based outdoor cannabis cultivator ($500,000)
- Speedy Cannabis, a prospective Fitchburg-based cannabis delivery operator ($250,000)
- SQ Causeway, a marijuana courier operating in Quincy and seeking to open a location in Clinton ($500,000)
- The Corner Emporium, a prospective Worcester dispensary ($250,000)
- Uproot, a prospective Worcester-based cultivation and delivery company ($450,000)
Businesses with a current Central Massachusetts presence who applied for funding for additional projects with to-be-finalized locations include Hubbardston-based Paper Crane Provisions and Wonderland Cannabis in Millbury. Both companies received $25,000.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.
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