Cannabis equity: A way to fill the wealth gap?

The Council of State Governments Eastern Regional Conference, Council on Communities of Color presents the latest installment of its ongoing micro-summit series. Now called “The Movement Summit” series, its next discussion will be “Cannabis Equity: A Way to Fill the Wealth Gap?”

Presented in conjunction with, theBEnote.com, CCC’s Movement Summits offer insights, analysis, and solutions on how a burgeoning cannabis industry could help boost the economic fortunes of underserved communities — if the sector is made accessible. This panel will take place via Zoom on Friday, April 16, 11am – noon ET.

Movement Summits are being produced all year in partnership with the B|E Note. They are a unique convening of state and local policy makers, experts, and thinkers in search of equitable governing solutions.

“Cannabis Equity: A Way to Fill the Wealth Gap?” will be an expert session examining where the booming cannabis industry is in relation to Black and Brown populations, especially in the wake of generations of mass incarceration of those groups for what has now become a popular and increasingly legalized form of medicine and adult use.

More than 43 percent of the U.S. population now lives in a state where cannabis has been legalized or decriminalized on some level. As legalization spreads, cannabis is expected to gross $85 billion by 2030, in addition to billions made in other aligned products such as hemp and CBD. But the high cost of permits, licensing, and doing business in the sector is prohibitive to underfunded Black and Brown entrepreneurs eager to enter the industry, making it almost exclusively White — despite the fact that Black and Brown communities have suffered the most from generations of criminalized cannabis.

How can policymakers help open the sector up to BIPOC participation? And can cannabis’ high growth opportunities really translate into major economic development opportunities for underserved and over-incarcerated communities?

REGISTER TODAY and join us for this important discussion. Panelists will offer expert insights, guidance, and strategy.

Registrants will receive a Zoom access link upon registration. Audience members will be able to ask questions by chat. Audience members are encouraged to discuss and share the panel on social media at #MovementSummit.

Organized by The Council of State Governments Eastern Regional Conference, Council on Communities of Color, and partnered with theBEnote.com.