Thursday, May 6, 2021
Equity getting lots of attention, but still much work to do, as social justice becomes centered in marijuana reform efforts
I flagged in this post the great Drug Enforcement and Policy Center (DEPC) event that took place last week titled "Social Equity 2.0: Lessons From Recent State Developments." Though I may be a bit biased, I think this 90-minute event was a spectacular review by spectacular speakers of the importance and the challenges of centering social justice and equity issues in modern marijuana reform. But do not take my word for it, and everyone can now watch the full event via the video link on this page. In addition, Jimi Devine at The Village Voice did this thorough review of the panel discussion under the headline "The Time Has Come for Cannabis Equity." Here is how the review gets started:
As cannabis legalization enters its newest phase with social equity dominating the conversation, Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law hosted an advocate and regulator-packed panel to map out a path to Social Equity 2.0.
The Tri-State was well represented on the panel. Incoming New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission chair Dianna Houenou spoke to how the issue had been embedded from the start in her new state agency. Minority Cannabis Business Association President Jason Ortiz spoke about the current effort in Connecticut to put equity front and center in the conversation.
The pair were joined by Illinois governor J. B. Pritzker’s senior advisor for cannabis control, Toi Hutchinson, and former Massachusetts Cannabis Commission member Shaleen Title. Both have championed the issue in their respective states over the years. Politico’s Natalie Fertig led the conversation.
Meanwhile, I have see a lot more significant coverage of equity issues in all sorts of distinct media in recent weeks. Here is a sampling:
From the AP, "Marijuana social equity: Seeds planted but will they grow?"
From Brookings, "State cannabis reform is putting social justice front and center"
From MJBizDaily, "New York’s marijuana social equity program eyed as possible game changer"
From Self, "What Will It Take to Build a Truly Equitable Cannabis Industry?"
https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/marijuana_law/2021/05/equity-getting-lots-of-attention-but-still-much-work-to-do-as-social-justice-becomes-centered-in-mar.html