Locked Out: Thanks to State Policies, Minorities Are Being Left Behind by the Cannabis Industry

Abstract

Locked Out: Thanks to State Policies, Minorities Are Being Left Behind by the Cannabis Industry Social justice provisions in states with legal cannabis usually include a percentage of business licenses for minorities and expungements for those formerly incarcerated for cannabis possession so they can participate in the industry. But that isn’t enough for minority communities to successfully start cannabis businesses. Expensive start-up and operation costs, competition from corporate cannabis, lack of banking services for the industry, and fear stemming from decades of over-policing for cannabis use continue to be major roadblocks. Cannabis legislation across the country is failing to address social justice issues. In Massachusetts, only 2 percent of business licenses are owned by minorities despite strong social justice provisions in its law. Link to capstone project: https://equityincannabis.business.blog/2019/12/22/locked-out-thanks-to-state-policies-minorities-are-being-left-behind-by-the-cannabis-industry