Protecting Our Equity: Why the “REGROW Grant Program – Keep Cannabis Revenue for Restoration, Not Deficits” Petition MattersBy ETF ENT News
- ETFENT NEWS
- Nov 4
- 4 min read
A new petition launched by grassroots organizers — titled “Protect REGROW. Keep Cannabis Revenue for Restoration, Not Deficits.” — is gaining traction across Illinois communities. Here’s what you need to know about what’s at stake, who stands to gain, and how this impacts Black and Brown-owned businesses and communities.
🧭 What’s the core issue?
The petition calls on Illinois lawmakers and city officials to guarantee that adult-use cannabis tax revenue — particularly the portion legally dedicated to restorative justice and reinvestment in communities historically harmed by the war on drugs — stays committed to those purposes, and is not diverted to cover budget shortfalls or general state deficits.
In many parts of Illinois, the revenue from cannabis is meant to support grant programs like the REGROW program in Rockford, Illinois — described as an equity-driven, restorative justice and community reinvestment grant initiative funded by the city’s 3 % local tax on adult-use cannabis retail sales.
State law under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (CRTA) also specifies how cannabis tax revenue is allocated:
25 % is mandated for the “Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3)” program to address economic development, youth initiatives, re-entry services and violence prevention in impacted areas.
Other portions go to drug treatment, local government distributive funds, general revenue funds, etc.
The petition argues: when revenue meant for restoration and reinvestment is instead used for deficit filling, the promise to communities most harmed is broken.
📍 Why this matters for Black and Brown small businesses & communities
Many Black and Brown neighborhoods were disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition, enforcement, and incarceration — while at the same time, they are underinvested in when it comes to infrastructure, business capital, youth development, and wealth-building.
Programs like REGROW (Rockford) and R3 (statewide) are specifically designed to channel cannabis-related revenue back into these communities through grants for business development, youth training, violence prevention, job creation, legal services, and more.
Diverting those funds to cover general budget deficits or unrelated allocations undermines the original concept of equity and restorative justice in the legal cannabis economy.
For small businesses owned by Black and Brown entrepreneurs, these reinvestment funds represent real opportunities for capital, technical assistance, job training, and community partnerships. If diverted, that pipeline shrinks.
🗣 Current status & what’s happening
The petition is actively circulating via platforms including MoveOn with calls to action for supporters to sign and share.
Local media and opinion pieces are drawing attention to this concern. For example, an editorial in the Rockford Register Star emphasized: “Rockford cannabis revenue guardrails should not be removed.”
Data show that Illinois’ cannabis tax revenue has approached nearly $180 million in a fiscal year, but that revenue is facing pressures, including competition from neighboring states with lower taxes.
Program guidelines for regional reinvestment efforts (like Rockford’s REGROW program) clearly stipulate the purpose: economic development, youth programming, trauma reduction, and community wealth building in disproportionately impacted communities.
✅ What can community members and stakeholders do
Sign & share the petition — show lawmakers and officials that the community demands that reinvestment dollars stay where they were intended.
Stay informed about local grant applications — if you’re a business owner or nonprofit in an impacted community (e.g., Rockford, Chicago, etc.), track openings for programs like REGROW or R3, and ensure you’re eligible (often via GATA for Illinois grants).
Watch how tax allocations are made locally and statewide — ask whether funds are being diverted away from reinvestment into general budgets.
Build partnerships — small businesses, nonprofits, youth groups should collaborate and apply for these reinvestment funds to strengthen community capacity and infrastructure.
Hold agencies accountable — demand transparency about how cannabis tax revenue is used, particularly in communities of color.
🧾 What’s at risk if action isn’t taken
The promise of cannabis legalization to deliver equitable economic opportunity and restorative justice could be undermined.
Disadvantaged communities may lose out on investments meant to support business development, youth programs, violence prevention, and reentry services.
The narrative shifts back toward “extractive revenue” rather than “community reinvestment,” deepening distrust.
When communities of color are sidelined in the legal cannabis economy, longstanding disparities widen rather than shrink.
🔍 In short
The “Protect REGROW” petition is more than a policy ask — it’s a call for justice, equity, and accountability in how we invest the revenue generated by the cannabis industry. For Black and Brown entrepreneurs and communities, this means making sure the systems designed to uplift us are not hijacked by deficit-filling agendas.
At Breaking Generational Curses Academy (BGCA) and through the Elevate The Family Entertainment News & TV Network (ETF ENT), our mission is to shine a spotlight on these stories, resources, and opportunities — to ensure we know the money, see the movement, and claim the access.
If you represent a business, nonprofit or community anchor in a disproportionately impacted area, this is your moment. Let’s stay informed, stay engaged, and ensure the wealth we help create is the wealth we own.
For more in-depth coverage, interviews with community grant recipients, and actionable guides on how to apply for reinvestment funds, visit ETFENT.COM and subscribe to our News Blog.