The term “social equity" is poorly and inconsistently defined throughout the cannabis industry from state to state, and fails to consider all that creates and ensures equity across a diverse population. The antiquated, academic definition of social equity speaks to justness of social policy, but today equity means (and must mean) so much more. Because of systemic racism and drug prohibition, black and indigenous people have been denied health equity and thus the collective realization of wellbeing. This is why we need policy and regulations - especially as they pertain to cannabis legalization and the regulation of its economy - to be health equity-centric. Today we’ll discuss how we can leverage equity-centric cannabis policy reform, cannabis taxation and use of funds, the greater cannabis economy, and the agricultural, industrial, nutritional, and medicinal innovations of cannabis to actualize health equity for all people beginning with those individuals and communities most impacted by the war on drugs.

Social equity programs in the cannabis industry have become a business imperative. This panel will discuss how several different operators approach the issue in their organizations.

Social equity programs in the cannabis industry have become a business imperative. This panel will discuss how several different operators approach the issue in their organizations.

Cannabis and social transformation.

An open conversation exploring the fundamental injustice of individuals, particularly people of color, who experienced firsthand the devastating and unjust impact of the criminilization of cannabis, specifically, incarceration for cannabis offenses. These experiences will be juxtaposed with the rising tide of legalization and the burgeoning cannabis industry. The panel will then explore how the legal cannabis industry can work together to help repair these injustices with direct, tangible actions.

A robust discussion identifying the regulatory missteps made by states and cities as Adult-Use cannabis legislation is put into place across the nation. Social equity was meant to be a form of reparations for the harm inflicted on communities of color during the war on drugs. However, the realities of standing up a successful cannabis business are expensive, convoluted and difficult to navigate. 

Karim Webb, CEO of LA based SE firm 4thMVMT will be joined by Ron Holmes, co-founder on Chicago based consulting firm Majority-Minority and Mrs. Phyllis Dorsey, a current LA dispensary license holder to discuss SE policies in CA and IL, the changes that are needed to ensure success for Black and Latino communities in cannabis and how the concept of social equity can work in other industries. 

The growth of legal cannabis has come with complications related to prior prohibition of cannabis that disproportionately and adversely impacted people in communities of color. In an attempt to counter this history of disparity, many states, cities and businesses have implemented social equity programs connected to the legalization of medical or recreational cannabis. This panel will discuss some of the social issues that have risen to the surface during the transition into a legal market and highlight various solutions that emerged.