Alderman Gregory told the city council on Jan. 6 that language in Springfield's cannabis grant and contract templates appears to bar individuals with felony records from accessing cannabis-tax-funded grants and that the requirement discourages applicants. He said the restriction runs counter to the stated purpose of many cannabis-repair programs, which were intended to help neighborhoods harmed by the war on drugs.

Gregory urged the council to remove felony-related language from grant agreements and to consider administrative changes to make the program more accessible. He said some grantees have taken loans "some up to a $100,000," which he described as an additional barrier to entry for small organizations.

He also said he has drafted an ordinance to create what he described as the "1908 Race Riot Repair Commission," modeled after other city commissions, to examine how city systems and programs could be changed to improve equity and remove barriers. Gregory said the commission would "put more eyes on our systems to help them get better so our communities can grow."

Mayor Buscher said he would consult with the economic development director and have staff follow up with Alderman Gregory about the cannabis grants and any language that might be inappropriate for locally administered cannabis-tax funds. No formal council action on changing the grant language or creating the commission took place at the meeting.

During the public-comment period, a speaker identified in the meeting as Mister Pasha urged the council to ensure cannabis funds reach neighborhoods harmed by policing and cautioned against excluding people with felony records. He said, "a program that was created with the intention of helping repair some of that damage has a barrier in front of it that would prevent the very people that were disenfranchised in the first place from accessing it." He also criticized what he called disproportionate allocations to police pensions.

Alderwoman Notriano told the council she supported a commission to review equity in programs and raised a separate issue about a five‑year clawback on a homeowner reimbursement; she said she would ask for an ordinance revision to reimburse that resident without stipulations.

The mayor and staff committed to follow up; the council did not vote on changes during this session.

Next steps discussed included staff review of grant templates and a follow-up meeting between Alderman Gregory and the economic development director.