THAT PROCESS IS COME IN AND SAY HI. THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE PUT OUR HEART AND SOUL INTO. CRYSTAL NUGS, A SACRAMENTO CANNABIS BUSINESS JUST OPENED A STOREFRONT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MIDTOWN. PRODUCTS FILLED THE CASES AND LINE THE SHELVES. BUT CEO MAISHA BAHATI TELLS ME THIS DREAM COME TRUE WAS NOT EASY THERE. THERE’S SO MANY WHEELS THAT HAVE TO TURN TO MAKE THIS MACHINE WORK. CRYSTAL NUG STARTED OFF AS A DELIVERY SERVICE IN 2019, BUT TO OPEN A STORE, BAHATI SAYS THERE WERE A LOT OF CHALLENGES, INCLUDING FUNDING HURDLES. BUT A SPECIAL PROGRAM TURNED HER DREAM INTO A REALITY. I WOULDN’T HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY IF THE CORE PROGRAM DID NOT EXIST. THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO CHOSE CANNABIS OPPORTUNITY REINVESTMENT AND EQUITY OR CORE PROGRAM WORKS TO HELP COMMUNITIES DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THE WAR ON DRUGS. ENTER THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE FROM MINORITY GROUPS SUCH AS BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WHO WERE DESPERATELY ARRESTED FOR CANNABIS RELATED OFFENSES OR LIVED IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH OVERPOLICING. BAHATI SAYS IT’S THANKS TO CORE THAT SHE’S BECOME THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN OWNED STOREFRONT DISPENSARY IN SACRAMENTO. I’VE RECEIVED LOANS AND GRANTS CLOSE TO $200,000.