A study by Denver regulators highlighted that marijuana company ownership in the city and county is predominantly white, spurring a debate over the value of the analysis itself and how to improve local business opportunities for people of color.
Among respondents, 75% of Denver cannabis business owners were white and only 6% of both cannabis business owners and employees were African American.
Hispanic, Latino or Spanish respondents represented about 13% of owners and 12% of employees.
“This study sadly confirmed what was widely suspected,” said Ashley Kilroy, executive director of the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses. “Just like what has been seen across the state and in other legalized markets across the U.S., Denver does not have a diverse marijuana industry.”
But one prominent local entrepreneur and minority activist blasted such efforts as merely paying lip service to a problem that is systemic and deeply rooted in racial injustice in the United States.
“This is all just bull**** to make white people feel like they’re doing something,” said Wanda James, president of Denver cannabis company Simply Pure.