While negative headlines pour in about cannabis social equity program delays, barriers and failures, success stories also are beginning to emerge.
Many of the success stories appear to involve minority entrepreneurs who have become equity activists or formed incubators to help others get the know-how and capital needed to break in.
“They (the entrepreneur-activists) are fighting for every dollar to be invested in social equity,” said Amber Littlejohn, executive director of the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA).
“These are people who are standing up and fighting for the community, in spite of running businesses” of their own, some of which are still struggling.
The association recently conducted a sweeping and critical study of equity programs across the U.S. that showed state programs have yet to fulfill the promise of boosting cannabis industry participation among minorities and those affected by the war on drugs.
Jesce Horton, founder and CEO of the Portland, Oregon-based premium cannabis producer Lowd and co-founder of the MCBA in 2015, cited similar successful examples of local cannabis entrepreneurs.
But in general, he stressed, it’s important to go beyond the negative headlines to “celebrate the people who did get in,” while also recognizing that a sea change has occurred.
“When I first got started in the industry, social equity wasn’t even a term being used. There was no discussion of it at the table,” Horton said.
Today, he noted, social equity, diversity and inclusion are at least an essential part of any legalization discussion.
“Without a doubt, it’s something we need to recognize and understand the importance of and realize it has come a long way.”
To Read The Rest Of This Article By Jeff Smith on Marijuana Business Daily
Published: March 01, 2022
Founder & Interim Editor of L.A. Cannabis News
