What is a Social Equity Program?
While traditional American rhetoric offers a great deal about equality, there is comparatively little mention of equity. In business, equity often refers to shares in or ownership of an organization. The Cannabis Control Commission of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, however, defines it as “the recognition and accommodation of differences to prevent the continuation of an inequitable status quo”. Social Equity Programs (SEPs) are focused initiatives designed to address inequality in the national cannabis market by incorporating both interpretations.
Inequitable Status Quo
The United States has seen a significant ideological shift about cannabis. The latest Gallup poll found 70% of Americans believing smoking cannabis to be “morally acceptable.” In a national pandemic, cannabis businesses nationwide have been declared essential businesses; in some states, cannabis has gone from the “Devil’s Lettuce” to a hip new ingredient featured on modern cooking shows.
Law enforcement remains relatively unaffected by the public’s attitude. Ever since President Nixon’s 1971 declaration of a “war on drugs” and the designation of cannabis as a Schedule I drug (deemed illegal due to presenting high risks for abuse without any viable medical use), the U.S. government has lavishly dedicated tax dollars to federal drug control agencies. A 2015 report estimated $9.2 million being spent daily (and $3.3 billion annually) to incarcerate people in federal facilities for drug-related offenses. According to the Drug Policy Alliance, 663,367 people were arrested for marijuana violations in 2018 — roughly one arrest per every 48 seconds. In 2019, just under $30 billion was spent on drug control.
Enforcement of such laws has always been disproportionately severe for minorities. A national report from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), found that black people are 3.64 times more likely than are whites to be arrested for marijuana possession, despite comparable usage rates. In some states — such as Montana (9.62x) and Kentucky (9.36x) — the ratios are significantly higher.