Prince George's County Cannabis Equity Board Meeting - July 2, 2026

The Prince George's County Cannabis Equity Board held a regular meeting on July 2, 2026, at 6:08 PM. The board discussed administrative expenses for the cannabis fund, approved the grant methodology, and planned community outreach. Key debates included the need for a council resolution to spend administrative funds and strategies for holding district town halls.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The board approved the minutes from the previous meeting with a minor correction (adding "used" instead of "use" on page three). Motion by Valencia, seconded by Dr. Jordan, passed unanimously (8-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were recorded.

Discussion Items

• Administrative Expenses for the Fund: The board discussed using up to 15% of annual cannabis fund revenue (about $2.5 million) for administrative costs. Chair Carpenter reported a conversation with the council chair, who was initially unaware of the need and preferred minimal administrative spending. The board decided to send a letter explaining the uses (community engagement, professional services, town halls) and to request the Office of Law for a legal opinion on whether a council resolution is required for spending administrative funds already appropriated under non-departmental in FY27. Mr. Jupe argued the appropriation allows spending without a resolution; Arian asserted a spending plan must be approved by council resolution. The board will seek clarity.
• Grant Methodology: The board reviewed and amended the proposed grant methodology document. Amendments included adding a demographic reporting requirement (10.1) and a verifiable demographic data collection requirement (13.1). The document was kept at a high level, with details to be implemented in the application process. Motion to approve as amended passed 8-0.
• Town Hall Planning: To meet state requirements for community input, the board discussed asking each council district council member to host a town hall. Chair Carpenter will send a request from the board to coordinate dates. The goal is to have town halls by August to allow council action before the election season deadline.
• Grant Amounts and Multi-Year Grants: The board debated whether to advertise grant amounts. Some members advocated for stating amounts (e.g., "up to $50,000") to guide applicants; others preferred letting applicants propose budgets. No decision was made; discussion postponed to a future meeting. Multi-year grants were raised; county staff noted they are uncommon but not prohibited, and the board may include such recommendations to the council.
• Mako Conference: The board learned of the Mako conference (August 12–15 in Ocean City) with a session on cannabis fund reinvestment. Members asked if board attendance could be funded through the council's budget or individual council member sponsorships. A request will be included in the letter to the council.

Key Outcomes

• Methodology Approved: The board voted 8-0 to approve the grant methodology as amended.
• Letter to Council Chair: The board chair will send a letter explaining the need for administrative expenses and requesting council members host town halls.
• Office of Law Inquiry: The board will ask the Office of Law for an opinion on whether a council resolution is needed to spend administrative funds.
• Next Steps: Staff will draft a grant application and scoring rubric for review at the next meeting. Town hall planning will proceed via the board chair's outreach to council members.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.