Still, there’s room for improvement, the participants noted during a panel discussion at MJBizCon.
The panel – dubbed “Clash of the Titans” – focused on the culture wars that have long characterized divisions between the activists of the pro-cannabis movement and the industry’s corporate executives.
“Big business cannot survive without what cannabis culture has brought to the table,” said Wanda James, owner of Denver-based Simply Pure, a vertically integrated cannabis company.
So even as we make progress, I still can’t bring myself to rejoice yet. In the days after the 2020 election, news articles and social media posts celebrated the legalization of recreational cannabis in multiple states: Montana, Arizona, New Jersey, and South Dakota. Then in late 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level. (The bill remains stalled in the Senate.) But while decriminalization and legalization are the first steps toward equality, they are not a complete solution.
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.
Wanda James looked at the 300-plus attendees of the inaugural NJ Cannabis Summit and asked a simple question.
“How many of you consume cannabis?”
For James, the CEO of Simply Pure and an applicant for one of six Alternative Treatment Centers in New Jersey, openly talking about cannabis isn’t just a lifestyle issue – it’s vital to growing a successful industry.
“Do you want to be known as a former NBA player who’s now in the cannabis business or a cannabis business leader who used to be an NBA player?”
Al Harrington didn’t hesitate before answering.
“A cannabis business leader who used to be in the NBA,” responded the Elizabeth native, former first round NBA draft pick and 16-year veteran who is now a marijuana entrepreneur with his sights set on a homecoming.
“All eyes are on New Jersey right now in this industry. Nationwide, and even to our brothers and sisters in Canada, we’re all looking to see what New Jersey is going to do. To be completely honest with you, there has not been a state yet that has passed legalization or adult use that has gotten it right,” said Wanda James, owner of Simply Pure marijuana dispensary in Denver.
A small crowd gathered outside Viola Extracts’ cultivation facility for a morning press conference on the banks of the Detroit River July 13. Inside, however, the warehouse was mostly empty.
More than a month prior, on May 29, Detroit police executed a search warrant and arrested six workers inside the facility. Police officers, in conjunction with U.S. Border Patrol agents, confiscated more than 100 lbs. of cannabis. The six were arraigned June 1 in Michigan’s 36th District Court.