News

And Social Justice for All . . .

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A new report from a global network of non-government organizations promoting drug policy offers a blueprint for cannabis businesses that take social justice seriously. The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC)’s looked at the responsible regulation of cannabis and shined a light on why companies should address broader issues such as social justice and sustainability.

The IDPC document lists 20 principles, and in an interview with Marijuana Business Daily, had three takeaways for cannabis executives:

  1. Support affirmative action for communities affected by the war on drugs
  2. Protect and empower women within the cannabis industry
  3. Use certifications to promote fairness and sustainability across the supply chain

Read more details here.

 

In a related video, Yahoo Life spoke to power players in the industry who are working to dismantle oppressive systems meant to incarcerate people of color and prohibit them from finding success.

VIDEO: How Marijuana Legalization Advocates Across the U.S. Are Fighting to End the War on Cannabis

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With social equity on the minds of many in the cannabis industry, Marijuana Business Daily asked six Black cannabis business executives from around the country their thoughts on how to create a more inclusive industry. They cover everything from licensing to partnering with minority-owned businesses to changing the makeup of your C-Suite.  The story is here.

Movement in the right direction.

  • The Hogan Law Group looks at Colorado’s HB-1424 social equity license, noting that the state did  “the right thing.”
  • Black CBD founders are finding their place in surging support for Black Lives Matter
  • The Color of Cannabis, a group organized to help promote social and economic justice as it relates to cannabis, is holding monthly Zoom clinics to help people convicted of cannabis crimes expunge their record. The next one is on August 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sponsors of the clinic include Colorado Leads members Native Roots and Vicente Sederberg.  Register for the event here.

More to be done

Richard Cowan, the former NORML National Director and author on the Real Tested CBD blog, encourages businesses to invest in Black entrepreneurs. “We cannot just back BLM and think we have done our duty,” he writes.