Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) officials said the organization has partnered with The Arcview Group, Weedmaps, and Parallel to initiate a cannabis equity report and digital research map.
The National Cannabis Equity Report and Equity Map seek to usher in a new era of social equity via critical data from social equity programming and other policies impacting equity in medical and adult-use markets.
Additionally, the Equity Map is viewed by the MCBA as a digital tool for advocates, lawmakers, and stakeholders to gather and track policies providing insight into barriers for minority operators on the state and municipal level.
“We created the Equity Report and Map to empower advocates and industry with data and tools to address barriers to entry and create real equity in the cannabis industry,” MCBA Executive Director Amber Littlejohn said. “Through the collected data, we can now take a closer look at what is being done, and where there is room for improvement to advance social equity efforts.”
The report determined that the number and efficacy of state social equity programs does not reflect the expressed commitment to achieving equity through cannabis; utilizing non-race criteria in social equity qualifications and definitions has not resulted in diverse cannabis markets; ownership bans for individuals with past cannabis convictions remains prevalent in state-legal cannabis programs; and inequities within existing medical markets create inequities in adult-use markets.
“For years, policymakers have been haphazardly throwing social equity provisions against the wall to see what sticks, albeit with good intentions,” Principal-Arcview Consulting and MCBA Board Member David Abernathy said. “With this seminal work, we can finally start to account for what’s worked and what hasn’t and use that knowledge to create more well-crafted and effective social equity provisions.”