What does equality in the Cannabis industry mean to you? I honestly
don’t hear the term equality used in this industry. To me, equality in the Cannabis industry is a difficult concept to grasp, as we’re talking about a profit incentivized capitalist environment where MSOs are rewarded for influencing the obliteration of small FOUNDER business within the GW SMOKEBREAK TV Cannabis industry. HUMBOLDT, CA There is nothing equal @GWSMOKEBREAKTV about this industry, nor in the world of fast-paced American business. Equality in the Cannabis industry means understanding that the plant is the equalizer. Marijuana culture is in fact about inclusivity “MARIJUANA and equality. I’ll never forget the CULTURE IS IN FACT words of Pam Lane Sohum from ABOUT INCLUSIVITY SoHum Royal Farms when she said, “In the ‘60s and ‘70s it was AND EQUALITY.” all about sitting in a circle, deseeding your bud, rolling a joint and passing it around.” There’s something about that imagery that clearly defines equality as it pertains to authentic California Cannabis culture. Our industry can become a true pillar for social change and the values we hold dear via our products, branding and messaging. This is the power of the plant, the almighty equalizer.
DANIEL MONTERO
What does equality in the Cannabis industry mean to you?
MIKE MCINTYRE FOUNDER | ESKIMO FIRE BETHEL, AK @ESKIMOFIRE
“IN THESE OUTER COMMUNITIES, IT’S NOT CANNABIS – IT’S WEED.”
Equality means equal access to Cannabis for everyone. While you enjoy your easy access to this resource, the people in very rural areas are still unable to access it, even though it is fully legal. In these outer communities, it’s not Cannabis – it’s weed. It even gets confiscated when they find it on you. I am just here to point out the obvious. Everything aside, I try to do my best to have passion for what I do. I have the love for what I do and my iluqs (Yup’ik translation: Male First Cousins) love it too. Just imagine sitting in a village out in the boonies smoking Triangle Mints #23. What is the Cannabis industry getting right in terms of equality and equity? I’ve seen Black entrepreneurs get some help through
an equity system, and they were getting somewhere. It made me feel good for somebody to rise above. I just wish there was something like that here. I have also seen a lot of inequity – too much business crawling into somewhere it shouldn’t be.
ELIZA PIRES
OWNER SANCTUARY FARMS YUBA CITY, CA What challenges are facing the Cannabis industry in terms of equality and equity? One of the most obvious obstacles
NEIL LEQUIA
LGBTQ CANNABIS ADVOCATE | FOUNDER THE FULL SPECTRUM | SEATTLE, WA
MARIE MONTMARQUET CO-FOUNDER MD NUMBERS, INC. SALINAS, CA
JENNIFER SKOG
MDNUMBERSINC.COM
What does equality in the Cannabis industry mean to you? Equality in
Cannabis means replicating the legacy market into the compliant Cannabis market – giving those who have been over-persecuted and who have risked their lives to consume and distribute Cannabis for decades, the chance to do so legally. The same politics that supported “THERE ARE STILL arresting minorities has yet to put that same vigor behind social justice. OVER 40,000 What needs to change about the Cannabis industry as it relates to equality/equity? Right now, Cannabis
PEOPLE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED FOR CANNABIS CHARGES.”
in the United States of America is only for the privileged. There are still over 40,000 people currently incarcerated for Cannabis charges. And it is still used as a war on minorities throughout this country. Compliant Cannabis has turned into a local and state cash grab. There’s no compassion for small business or legacy operators. The barriers to enter the compliant space are nearly impossible for those who have been negatively impacted by the War on Drugs.
THEFULLSPECTRUMNETWORK.COM
Can you give us an example of something equitable you’ve seen happen in the Cannabis space? I’m seeing
more and more expungement fairs happening, which is fantastic! Auto-expungements are happening in a lot of the newer states that are legalizing as well, and a lot are also creating equity programs for “THERE IS A HUGE license distribution from the start – instead of trying to fix LACK OF HUMAN something that was forgotten RESOURCES. A NEW about initially.
INDUSTRY MEANS THAT EVERY BUSINESS IS A STARTUP.”
What challenges are facing the Cannabis industry in terms of equality and equity? Washington was one
of the first states to legalize Cannabis, and made a lot of missteps when it came to ensuring an equitable playing field. We’ve already issued our licenses, before making sure they would be distributed fairly and equitably. Now we’re trying to be more intentional as licenses get redistributed. There is a huge lack of human resources. A new industry means that every business is a startup. Not every business has policies or protections in place for their employees. Not every business is a safe place for a minority to thrive. We have an inconsistent patchwork of how we’re handling criminality and expungement – it’s harder to be effective when there are so many independent movements and challenges. We need a bit more awareness, compassion, and cohesion to truly impact equality and equity in the industry.
in the way of reaching equity in the Cannabis industry lies with the federal scheduling and prohibition. Federally legalizing, or at least descheduling, would allow us to operate much like existing companies who produce medicinal and recreational products. This inhibits our access to banking. Although it is possible to get banking for a Cannabis business, we are subject to exorbitant monthly fees that make it almost impossible for a small farmer to maintain. Small farmers face a number of local and state challenges as well. The most glaring example of inequity lies in the ability for each county to develop their own ordinance, instead of following a statewide set of rules. This way, farmers in some counties are “SMALL FARMERS limited to 10,000 FACE A NUMBER OF square feet of LOCAL AND STATE cultivation (or less), while other CHALLENGES counties allow AS WELL.” for the state's full four acres. This makes it difficult to compete with farms allowed to cultivate 15 times (or more) our square footage. We also encounter a disparity between the state granting us the right to do business, and the counties holding us back with long, drawn out and limiting processes. All of this is compounded by the multitude of fees, price gouging when Cannabis is mentioned, and the expectation of funds up front before product sales … issues that our wealthy, well-funded counterparts have no trouble with. … there must be a shift away from money outweighing knowledge and experience. This would open the doors for those of us who intend to supply the market with quality.
INTERVIEWS by TOM BOWERS @PROPAGATECONSULTANTS/LEAF NATION | ILLUSTRATION by GUILHERME LEMES @GUILEEMES
