Advocates are hopeful that 2021 will bring Federal cannabis legalization, but they know that a change in the law is not a magic antidote that repairs all the damage done by the war on drugs or the black and brown communities disproportionately impacted by unjust laws. Even if/when cannabis is legalized federally, there is still much work to do at the local level to ensure criminal justice reforms and social equity programs are properly implemented.

Meet some of the advocacy groups working to make sure that black and brown people have a place in the regulated cannabis industry:

Supernova Women

Supernova Women is an organization formed by and for women of color in 2015 with the goal of utilizing our diverse talents to empower our people to become self-sufficient shareholders in the evolving cannabis economy. Supernova is founded with the mission to foster community empowerment through education, advocacy and network building and has been working tirelessly to break down some of those barriers to entry in this industry. We pride ourselves on doing impactful, boots-on-the-ground work, and our entire board is comprised of active owners and operators in the cannabis space.

Learn more about Supernova Women here.

NuLeaf Project

NuLeaf Project’s (NLP) mission is to build intergenerational wealth via the legal cannabis industry for the communities disproportionately harmed by cannabis criminalization – Black, Indigenous, and Latina/o/x communities. NLP’s programs are designed to increase success outcomes for people of color in the cannabis industry either as business owners or professionals.

NuLeaf Project’s work is specifically designed to address three most common equity hurdles for all marginalized groups when starting a business or a professional career: capital, education/exposure, and connection. NLP provides funding for cannabis businesses, skill-building and mentoring for entrepreneurs and professionals, and national and state equity policy development and advocacy.

Minorities for Medical Marijuana

Minorities for Medical Marijuana, Inc. (M4MM) is organized as a non profit organization with corporate offices based in Orlando, Florida. The organization is structured as a 501c3 with a full Executive Team and Board of Directors who support the organization's overall goals and strategic direction. The organization was established in May 2016 and currently has 27 state directors throughout the country including a Northern California chapter based in Oakland. M4MM's mission is focused on providing advocacy, outreach, research, and training as it relates to the business, social reform, public policy, and health /wellness in the cannabis industry.

Minority Cannabis Business Association

Founded in late 2015, the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) is the first 501(c)(6) not for profit business league created to serve the specific needs of minority cannabis entrepreneurs, workers, and patients/ consumers. The organization currently serves members from across the United States. Its 15-member board of directors is comprised of a diverse group of cannabis industry veterans and activists from across the U.S.