Black Cannabis (or the lack thereof) with Aaron Bossett

<p>Washington’s weed industry is owned overwhelmingly by white people, but that shouldn’t surprise anyone who has been paying attention—the industry was designed that way.</p> <p>Unlike other states with MMJ and legal marijuana, Washington’s government has never even attempted to boost diversity in cannabis with any social equity programs. Seven years after legal pot first went on sale, lawmakers and the state’s top pot regulator have yet to create a cannabis equity program. Social equity should have been a priority as an attempt to send some of the benefits of the legal cannabis industry to the communities of color who were most victimized by the War on Drugs.</p> <p>Aaron Bossett joined The Black Cannabis Commission as an attempt to utilize the full potential of the community, to drive a new era of development, growth, and productivity. Initially, he believed the community based cannabis equity programs would provide universal access, and full participation in the culture, with full vertical integration as a sustainable job source for the community.</p> <p>However, Washington’s leaders appear to be going about this process with little or no buy-in from the minority communities they claim to want to help. Black people make up 3.7% of the state’s population, according to the 2019 census, but currently own only 1% of pot farms and processors and less than 4% of retailers, according to a survey from the state’s Liquor and Control Board (LCB).</p> <p>Aaron's frustration with the lack of progress establishing a social equity program has put him between a rock and a hard place. His response has been to create a branding and distribution company for Black owned businesses, as well as establishing a grassroots program absent of regulatory authority approval.</p> <p>Show Notes:<br /> A Fight Is Brewing Over Diversity in Washington's Legal Weed Market<br /> https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2019/11/27/42107458/a-fight-is-brewing-over-how-the-state-can-increase-diversity-in-the-legal-weed-market</p> <p>Guest:<br /> Aaron Bo