Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Board
- Reference:
- » 2.2-2499.5
- » Website
- Description: The purposes of the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Board is to directly address the impact of economic disinvestment, violence, and historical overuse of criminal justice responses to community and individual needs by providing resources to support local design and control of community-based responses to such impacts. The Board has the following powers and duties (i) support persons, families, and communities historically and disproportionately targeted and affected by drug enforcement; (ii) develop and implement scholarship programs and educational and vocational resources for historically marginalized persons, including persons in foster care, who have been adversely impacted by substance use individually, in their families, or in their communities; (iii) develop and implement a program to award grants to support workforce development programs, mentoring programs, job training and placement services, apprenticeships, and reentry services that serve persons and communities historically and disproportionately targeted by drug enforcement; (iv) administer the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund; (v) collaborate with the Board of Directors of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as necessary to implement programs and provide recommendations; (vi) submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly; and (vii) perform such activities and other functions as the Governor and General Assembly may direct.
- Report Date: Annually
-
Staff Contact:
Martin D. Brown, Board Chair and Virginia Director of Diversity, Opportunity, and Inclusion, diversityopportunityandinclusion@governor.virginia.gov
| Citizen Members: |
| Name | Representing | Appointed By | Term |
|---|
| Michele Riddick Hamilton | Expert in education with a focus on access to opportunities for youth in underserved communities | Senate Committee on Rules | Expires 06/30/2027 |
| Keisha Smith | Expert in the field of public health with experience in trauma-informed care, if possible | Senate Committee on Rules | Expires 06/30/2026 |
| Benjamin P. Peterson | A person who has been previously incarcerated or convicted of a marijuana-related crime | Senate Committee on Rules | Expires 06/30/2029 |
| Dr. Penni Sweetenburg-Lee | Expert in workforce development | Speaker of the House | Expires 06/30/2029 |
| Paul McLean | Entrepreneur with expertise in emerging industries or access to capital for small businesses | Speaker of the House | Expires 06/30/2029 |
| Vernon Green Jr. | Veteran | Speaker of the House | Expires 06/30/2026 |
| Dr. Nancy Toscano | Expert on Virginia's foster care system | Speaker of the House | Expires 06/30/2027 |
| Dr. Cassandra L. Newby-Alexander | Representative from one of Virginia's historically black colleges and universities | Speaker of the House | Expires 06/30/2027 |
| 5 Citizens | Governor |
| Ex Officio Members: |
| Name | Title |
|---|
| The Honorable Jeffery O. Smith | Secretary of Education | ||
| The Honorable Marvin B. Figueroa | Secretary of Health and Human Resources | ||
| The Honorable Stanley Meador | Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security | ||
| Angela Sailor | Chief Diversity, Opportunity, and Inclusion Officer | ||
| Megan Healy Ph.D | Chief Workforce Advisor | ||
| The Honorable Jay Jones | Attorney General | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | Virginia Cannabis Control Authority |
| Membership and Term Information: |
| Max # House: | 0 | Appointment Coincident With House Term? | YES |
| Max # Senate: | 0 | Appointment Coincident With Senate Term? | YES |
| Max # Citizens: | 13 | ||
| Max # Ex Officio: | 7 |