Social Equity and Cannabis

It’s no secret that prohibition of cannabis in the United States has disproportionately and adversely impacted people of color. As a result, many of these people have been deprived of opportunities by virtue of being arrested for marijuana possession. This is a disturbing fact, especially considering that marijuana is now legal in many of the same states that these folks are still serving prison time in. It is well-documented that marijuana has been used as a key proponent for mass criminalization in our country; hundreds of thousands of people (the majority of whom are Black or Latinx) have had their lives impacted by these arrests each year. Unfortunately, it is largely not people of color who have been reaping the benefits of this highly profitable new legal industry. 

However, many states and cities have implemented social equity programs (SEPs) in connection with the legalization of medical and adult-use cannabis. These programs attempt to ensure that people of color, and especially those with non-violent marijuana offenses prior to legalization, can be afforded the opportunity to succeed in this new industry. Even so, the Massachusetts cannabis industry still significantly lacks diversity. This is a major concern within the industry, particularly in the context of the historic inequities of cannabis prohibition and law enforcement.

The Green Apple Dispensary is a proud supporter of The Last Prisoner Project, an organization that strives to ensure that no one remains incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis convictions in modern day. There are an estimated 40,000 individuals who remain imprisoned due to cannabis’ unfortunate inclusion in the unethical and ineffective “war on drugs”. As the Commonwealth’s first certified and operational black-owned cannabis business, it is our duty and privilege to support these types of programs that are making a difference and bringing justice to those who have been previously harmed by the illegalization of cannabis.