HIGHLY LIKELY

Highly Likely highlights Cannabis pioneers who paved the way to greater herbal acceptance.

A Veteran and the CEO of Simply Pure, a Colorado based dispensary

12 ONE OF THE WORST WAYS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS RESTRICTED THE CIVIL LIBERTIES OF ITS CITIZENS IS THROUGH THE FAILED AND SADISTIC OPERATION BEGUN BY RONALD REAGAN IN THE 1980S - AND CONTINUING THROUGH TODAY - KNOWN AS THE WAR ON DRUGS. Roughly 40 years after his official declaration in 1982, we know that the war on drugs isn’t just a war WANDA JAMES The subject of our column this month is Wanda James, the CEO of Simply Pure, a Colorado based dispensary and brand that prides itself on quality products and social justice. And James has a spectacular story. Along with her husband, Scott Durrah, James became the first Black American to >> on your ability to take liberties with your body and own and operate a Cannabis storefront, caliFornialeaf.COM mind, but that it is also a racist war. That’s because the war on drugs has disproportionately affected people of color since its inception. It is what has helped to create the privatized prison-industrial complex that has wrought pain and terror on our society. It is truly an evil thing, created and maintained by those in power, and it is high time that it is ended for good. cultivation facility and an edible company. James is a former lieutenant in the US Navy, who also served on President Barack Obama’s 2008 National Finance Committee. After her brother was given a 10-year sentence for Cannabis possession, she became inspired to help After her brother was given a 10-year sentence for Cannabis possession, James became inspired to help right the wrongs of the United States’ failed drug war. right the wrongs of the United States’ failed drug war. She has also worked to get jail sentences commuted for people imprisoned for similar Cannabis related crimes. She has been an ambassador for the legalization of Cannabis ever since.

She’s highly regarded in the industry when it comes to intelligently thinking about operating a business in this burgeoning marketplace.

When asked by Cannabis Dispensary Magazine about whether the Cannabis industry instills the same sort of discipline and goal of serving the public interest as her time in the military and politics, James replied, “No, I don’t think that the industry instills it at all. I think that it’s really vital that you’ve got a good sense of values before you come into this industry, because this industry will rip and will tear at those - and will challenge you at every turn.”

Today, Wanda James continues to fight for equity and equality in the Cannabis industry. In June, she worked to get Colorado House Bill #1424 passed, which creates a social equity license. This allows someone who might not otherwise qualify for a business license to work with a mentor - an established business willing to be a partner and adviser - through the licensing and operational processes.

The bill signing ceremony by Colorado Governor Jared Polis was held at James’ Simply Pure dispensary, where James said it best: “Social Equity is about righting the wrongs of the drug war and giving diversity a strong foothold in the developing industry.”

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