As a long-standing cannabis marketing firm, we know that forwarding the movement resulted in a lot of ugly social injustices – the consequences of which still exist to this day.

So if you want to acknowledge and speak up against the wrongs of cannabis criminalization, now’s your chance to donate to social justice this Thanksgiving.

How to Donate to Social Justice This Thanksgiving

Sure, you can peruse the internet and find a myriad of organizations doing great work. We encourage you to do so. But we thought we’d get you started by highlighting five that are doing some really good work here:

NORML

As the name implies, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) is focused on the decriminalization of cannabis. They’ve been at it since 1970 and are still fighting to normalize responsible cannabis use.

Because they’ve been around for so long, they have a solid and impressive record. They’re leaders in state and federal law reform and continue to advocate for consumers at every turn. They also work tirelessly to counter old school narratives about marijuana (Reefer Madness, anyone?) through cannabis education efforts.

Last Prisoner Project

Despite widespread legalization, almost 40,000 lives are still negatively impacted by outdated cannabis laws – incarcerated and imprisoned without hope of release. The Last Prisoner Project is committed to freeing and rehabilitating every last one of them through advocacy, intervention, and awareness campaigns. And if donating funds isn’t viable for you this year, you can always join their letter-writing program to connect with and support someone who is incarcerated.

Nu Project

While taking a toke or settling back with an edible this Thanksgiving, keep in mind that while the legal cannabis industry is thriving, not everyone is reaping the benefits. There are communities – mostly brown and Black – still facing equity hurdles such as capital, education, and connection. Nu Project supports these communities through programs that help them to build generational wealth.

Americans for Safe Access

Despite all logic, there are still states that haven’t legalized cannabis. In these places, patients and researchers have to relocate if they need to access medical cannabis. The objective of Americans for Safe Access is to ensure safe and legal access for everyone in all 50 states. Donating to this organization is a step toward recognizing cannabis as legal medicine that meets safety standards and can be covered by insurance.

THE WELDON PROJECT

You may have heard of THE WELDON PROJECT because it has some high profile supporters such as Snoop Dog. The project was founded by Weldon Angelos who had his own experience with a low-level cannabis case. Today, they are committed to providing financial aid and forwarding social change social change for all those imprisoned on cannabis-related offenses.

The List Continues…

If you’re looking to donate to social justice this Thanksgiving, the above five organizations are all great options. But they are certainly not the only organizations forwarding the needle on a socially just cannabis future.

So if you’re in a position to donate this Thanksgiving, consider doing so. And to stay up to date on the latest in the cannabis industry, keep checking back with our blog.

The post Donate to Social Justice This Thanksgiving appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.

Think of it as a new marijuana tax to boost diversity. It’s part of a more comprehensive plan to help people and communities that have been disproportionately affected by marijuana prohibition and enforcement.

And if implemented, it will raise millions of dollars to assist disadvantaged groups succeed in the cannabis industry.

Blazing Trails in Michigan

When voters approved the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act back in 2018, the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MMRA) created the Racial Equity Advisory Workgroup.

The work group has met monthly since last July. It’s composed of state lawmakers, representatives of minority-focused industry and broader business groups, representatives of municipalities with high minority populations, lawyers with experience in equity and racial disparity issues, and those with experience in finance, real estate, and banking. The new plan is their brainchild.

“This is a really, really progressive initiative,” said attorney Barton Morris of the Cannabis Legal Group in Royal Oak. He also chairs one of the work group’s five subcommittees. “It’s going to make Michigan a leader in our industry, throughout the entire country.”

And it’s high time (no pun intended) that diversity become a primary focus. Data collected in December by the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory shows that only 3.8% of those with an ownership interest in licensed recreational marijuana businesses in Michigan are Black. Only 1.5% are Hispanic or Latino.

So the work group is getting down to brass tacks with this new initiative to be a leader on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the country.

New Marijuana Tax to Boost Diversity

The agency’s work group has recommended reinstating a 3% excise tax on medical marijuana sales that was repealed in 2016. 30% of the proceeds would go to a social equity capital investment program.

Money could be used to provide loans or grants to social equity license applicants to aid with startup costs, training, and technical assistance.

On the recreational marijuana end, they suggest creating a new 1.5% tax on transactions between license holders, such as sales between producers and retailers. 20% of those proceeds would go to a social equity investment fund, while 30% would go to the licensee’s host city, 20% to their county, 20% to their school district, and 10% to medical marijuana research.

That’s Just the Beginning Though

Among the work group’s other suggestions are:

• An agency-hosted crowdfunding platform to connect investors and marijuana businesses located in economically disadvantaged communities
• Requiring larger marijuana companies to purchase a certain percentage of supplies and services from disadvantaged companies
• Reallocation of some current funding to increase the presence of Black and brown-owned businesses in the cannabis space
• Training sessions with bilingual content to help social equity license applicants comprehend the licensing process and the challenges of growing a marijuana business
• A new microbusiness license permitting 300 plants obtained from licensed growers, as well as use of licensed processors.

Of course, implementing some of these recommendations will require action and approval by the Legislature. But it’s a major move in a positive direction.

Plus, the executive director of the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency is in the process of developing a permanent equity and diversity working group to turn these recommendations into reality.

Embrace Social Justice

As cannabis marketing experts, we’re strongly in favor of a new marijuana tax to boost diversity. We want to see everyone succeed in this industry.

So if you find yourself shelling out a little more for your marijuana, just know that you’re serving as an agent of change… for the better.

And if you currently have a cannabis business and haven’t reviewed your marketing strategy in a while, it could be time. Contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help.

The post New Marijuana Tax to Boost Diversity appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.