Is The Cannabis Industry Ignoring Minority Communities?

The cannabis industry has faced criticism for ignoring minority communities and failing to address the harm caused by the war on drugs, both in terms of ownership and leadership diversity and the impact of cannabis prohibition on these communities.

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Social Responsibility And Racial Equity 

Historically, minority communities have been disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition, with higher rates of arrest and incarceration for cannabis-related offenses.

Despite the growing legalization of cannabis in the U.S., many individuals with prior cannabis convictions continue to face significant barriers to employment and other opportunities, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and social injustice.
Some critics argue that the cannabis industry has failed to adequately address these issues through its social responsibility programs.

However, many cannabis companies have launched social responsibility initiatives aimed at supporting minority communities. Latoya Bellamy-Lockhart, VP of human resources at Jushi Holdings Inc JUSHF said cannabis has been pitched as a remedy to past wrongs, primarily addressing adverse effects of the war on drugs while creating economic gains for marginalized communities. "In reality, it has cast a light on just how deep systematic racism runs through our country – we have failed to overturn draconian policies of the past."  

Cannabis Advocacy Campaigns Push For Clemency On Nonviolent Convictions

The Minority Cannabis Academy (MCA) is making strides in providing accessible cannabis education and training to minorities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs. 

Despite President Biden's call to action urging governors to pardon nonviolent cannabis-related convictions, many have yet to act. In response, the Last Prisoner Project has launched the Pardons to Progress campaign, aimed at increasing public pressure on the President and governors to grant clemency to tens of thousands of individuals still incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis offenses.

In Missouri, over 15,000 people have had their records cleared of nonviolent weed offenses at both the misdemeanor and felony levels since the state legalized recreational marijuana. The expungements were undertaken across the state.

In Connecticut, a Judiciary Committee is working on a bill that would reconsider cannabis-related offenses following Gov. Ned Lamont's (D) announcement that thousands of residents with weed possession convictions would have their records cleared in an automated erasure method.

Racial Disparities Persist

Meanwhile, according to a survey from Marijuana Business Daily, just 5.7% of the business owners in the state-legal cannabis industry were Hispanic/Latino, 4.3% were Black, 2.4% were Asian and an overwhelming 81% were white.

The Sentencing Project, a Washington D.C.-based research and advocacy center found in 2021 that Latino Americans were imprisoned at a rate of 349 per 100,000 residents. White, non-Latino Americans were incarcerated at 261 per 100,000 residents, reported USA News.

"There are most assuredly more Latinx people in prison than are officially reported but the exact number is unknown," per the report.

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Photo: Courtesy Of Tim Mossholder On Unsplash