Martin Luther King III Advocates For Equity In Cannabis Industry And Support For Workers

Speaking in Las Vegas this week, Martin Luther King III, son of the civil rights advocate, emphasized the significance of fostering equity and inclusion within the cannabis industry.

“If we are able to create successful businesses and entrepreneurs that is one of the steps that helps build the beloved community that Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King were talking about,” King said to a packed audience at the annual D.I.C.E. mixer. “My dad talked about eradicating what he defined as triple evils, poverty, racism, and violence, and we believe that through peace, justice and equity you create that beloved community.”

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What Happened

Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM) celebrated “Cannabis & Culture Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop” at the annual Diversity In Cannabis & Equity Mixer last Tuesday evening in conjunction with the annual MJBiz Conference.

The event, sponsored by the Cannabis Workers Rising powered by United Food and Commercial Workers, featured Martin Luther King III as keynote speaker. King looked back on his father’s legacy and highlighted the need for a strong labor force to empower the Black cannabis community.

“What we know is the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first steps and this cannabis industry is going to be huge, it’s already large,” King continued. “But it’s going to be huge and historically when new industry is created the black and brown community and even poorer communities are left out or at least don’t get engaged till later on. Every movement that my family has been involved in, it started with just a few human beings.”

King Supports Cannabis Workers

During King’s address to the crowd, he also emphasized his willingness to stand with the workers of the cannabis industry.

“We’re going to be here with the workers because the owners may do well, but for everyone to do well, the workers have to be treated fairly…. Plan your work and work your plan,” King said. “As we do that, we will create a remarkable industry, be a part of a remarkable industry that is helping you help others, help people with illnesses, and if nothing else it certainly causes you to chill out.”

Meanwhile, cannabis unionization seems to be growing nationwide.

Cannabis workers at Verano Holdings Corp.'s VRNO VRNOF Zen Leaf dispensary in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago were last to opt for the move recently when they overwhelmingly voted to join Teamsters Local 777. Founded in 1937, Teamsters Local 777 represents workers in a wide variety of industries throughout the Chicago area.

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