City of Cathedral City Awarded $4.5 Million State Grant to Strengthen Cannabis Enforcement and Protect Neighborhoods

Cathedral City among California communities sharing in $227 million in Proposition 64 public safety funding announced by Governor Newsom

The City of Cathedral City has been awarded a $4.5 million state grant to expand and modernize its cannabis enforcement efforts - an investment that will strengthen public safety, protect youth and public health, and reduce the environmental and quality-of-life impacts associated with one of the densest cannabis industry clusters in California.

The award, funded through the Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program, will support the City's Cannabis Enforcement Capacity Improvement Project, a comprehensive, multi-department effort that touches the Police Department, Fire Department, Code Compliance, and Information Technology.

About the Cathedral City Project

With more than 60 licensed cannabis businesses and persistent illicit-market activity, Cathedral City faces a level of regulatory demand and public safety challenge that few cities of its size encounter. The grant funding will help the City meet those challenges while supporting the responsible operators who make up the heart of the local industry.

The Cannabis Enforcement Capacity Improvement Project is designed to:

• Strengthen enforcement capacity across police, fire, and code compliance
• Modernize the City's regulatory and permitting systems
• Expand environmental and public health protections
• Address hazardous materials incidents and illegal extraction operations
• Reduce widespread odor impacts on neighborhoods
• Protect youth from exposure risks tied to cannabis activity

The investment builds directly on enforcement and odor-mitigation work that Cathedral City residents have followed closely over the past two years - from joint Code Compliance and Fire inspections and dedicated odor patrols to the City's updated cannabis ordinance and odor control plan requirements. This funding gives those efforts new tools, capacity, and staying power.

Part of a Statewide Initiative

Cathedral City's award is part of $227 million in Proposition 64 grants announced by Governor Gavin Newsom on June 25, 2026, to help local communities combat illicit cannabis activity, support youth prevention and public health programs, and address environmental harms. With this latest round of awards, statewide Proposition 64 grant funding now totals more than $350 million.

The program is overseen by the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) and was established by California voters in 2016 through the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act. Funded projects across the state address one or more of four focus areas: public safety and enforcement, youth prevention and intervention, public health, and environmental impact, which is reflected in Cathedral City's project.

A Partnership for a Thriving Cathedral City

City leaders were careful to frame the grant as a partnership rather than a crackdown on the industry as a whole. Cathedral City is home to a legal, licensed cannabis sector that supports local jobs and contributes to the City's economy, and the great majority of operators work in good faith to meet local and state standards.

"This grant builds on the momentum we've created with our new cannabis ordinance and is a direct investment in the safety and quality of life of our residents," said City Manager Andrew Firestine. "Clear, consistent standards benefit everyone - our neighborhoods, our residents, and the responsible operators who are good partners in this community. This funding gives our police, fire, and code compliance teams the resources to build on that progress and help every part of Cathedral City continue to thrive."

Securing the award was a significant, organization-wide undertaking. The City's application was steered by Economic Development Manager Erick Becerril with support from staff across multiple departments and the City's grant partner, California Consulting.

Residents can learn more about the City's cannabis regulations, enforcement efforts, and how to report concerns at cathedralcity.gov/residents/resident-cannabis-information.