The City of Long Beach announced Wednesday that the first dispensary has officially opened under its Cannabis Equity Program, marking what city officials described as a major milestone for an initiative that has been years in the making.

The dispensary, Off the Charts, is located at 6037 Atlantic Ave. in North Long Beach. According to the City, the business received grant funding through the Cannabis Equity Program to help support its opening, though officials did not disclose the amount awarded.

The Cannabis Equity Program was created to help expand opportunities for people who were disproportionately impacted by past cannabis criminalization by making it easier to enter the legal cannabis industry. The program provides eligible applicants with financial assistance, business development support, legal and financial consulting, and guidance through the City’s licensing process.

Eligible applicants may receive up to $350,000 in grant funding, depending on the type of cannabis business and the size of the facility. Grant funds can be used for startup expenses such as rent or lease payments, licensing and regulatory fees, legal assistance, regulatory compliance, equipment, capital improvements and other business-related costs.

The City says the program is still accepting applications on a first-come, first-served basis, and applications will remain open until the available funding has been exhausted.

To qualify, applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements established by the City. Those include income and residency qualifications, as well as having either a cannabis-related arrest or conviction between 1971 and 2016, or an immediate family member who was arrested or convicted during that period.

The Cannabis Equity Program was first approved by the Long Beach City Council in 2018 as part of the City’s adult-use cannabis ordinance. Since then, the City has continued expanding the program with grant funding and business assistance designed to help eligible entrepreneurs establish licensed cannabis businesses.

In a previous announcement, the City said it has issued more than $2.1 million in Cannabis Equity Program grant funding since 2023. Officials also said applications reopened in 2025 after a temporary pause and continue to be accepted while funding remains available.

According to Wednesday’s announcement, eight equity applicants were selected to move forward in 2024. Six have secured locations throughout Long Beach, and the City expects five additional dispensaries participating in the program to open later this year.

People interested in learning more about the Cannabis Equity Program, reviewing eligibility requirements or submitting an application can find additional information on the City’s cannabis program website.