Prince George's County Cannabis Equity Task Force Board Meeting - June 4, 2026

The Cannabis Equity Task Force Board convened on June 4, 2026, at 6:00 PM to discuss the legislative framework, grant methodology, and administrative fees for the community reinvestment fund. Key topics included the role of the grants division, scoring criteria for applicants, and a pending dispute with council chair Oriada over administrative fee allocation. The board voted unanimously to require administrative fees as part of the funding process.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (May 20, 2026): The minutes were approved with corrections: the organization name was updated to "Largo Town Center Association" and "Prince George's County Drug Policy Coalition" was added. Speaker Deborah Mims requested the change, and Dr. Ron Garrett asked to be listed as "Ron" or "Dr. Ron" rather than "Ronald." The motion carried 8-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lawan Striplin: Introduced herself as a resident of Bowie and advocate for mental health and cannabis legalization. She expressed support for the board's work and advocacy efforts.

Discussion Items

• Legislative Update (CB 88 2023): Mr. Maddox clarified the board's roles per law, including developing a public process for fund applications, prioritizing community-based organizations serving low-income and historically underfunded communities, and issuing a summary of awards to the county council via resolution.
• Role of Grants Division: Cheryl Taylor from the grants division explained they will process and vet applications, but the board will create the criteria and rubric. The board intends to retain control over scoring criteria rather than using a standard domestic violence grant model.
• Administrative Fees Dispute: Vice Chair James McDowell raised concerns that council chair Oriada wanted to remove administrative fees from the fund, which were already allocated per state law (up to 15%). Board members expressed that administrative fees are necessary for community outreach, town halls, and grant administration. Multiple members noted that other counties (e.g., Montgomery County) include such fees. Board members stressed the need for a meeting with the council chair to resolve the issue.
• Methodology and Scoring Criteria: The board reviewed the standard operating procedure (SOP) for grants. Topics included:
  • Whether to allow multi-year grants and general operating support.
  • The scoring criteria categories (alignment with CB 88 goals, equity/target population reach, community impact, organizational capacity, budget justification).
  • Suggestions to add explicit scoring for applicants who are Black/African American-led, serve disproportionately impacted communities, employ formerly incarcerated individuals, or are based in Prince George's County. The board debated the legal and strategic risks of explicit racial criteria; some members preferred language tied to "disproportionately impacted areas" rather than race.
  • The need for a separate scoring category for project goals, objectives, and implementation plans was discussed; Ms. Taylor indicated the application process already requires such information.
• Funding Structure: Angela Fair noted that the fund has $11 million total, but only $4 million will be appropriated in fiscal year 2027 to ensure multi-year sustainability. The board discussed the option of multi-year grants to provide stability for grantees.

Key Outcomes

• Motion on Administrative Fees: Mayor Inyang moved that the board requires administrative fees to support its mission. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously (8-0). The board intends to communicate this position to Council Chair Oriada via staff liaison Eubanks.
• Next Steps: The board agreed to postpone final approval of the methodology until the administrative fee issue is resolved. Staff will work on revised scoring criteria language reflecting the board's input. The next meeting is scheduled for June 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned by consensus after a motion and second.