'Cannabis Manifesto' aims to be a resource for Black and Brown entrepreneurs

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'Cannabis Manifesto' aims to be a resource for Black and Brown entrepreneurs

黑料吃瓜网 Radio | By Brenda Le贸n

Published February 25, 2022 at 3:49 PM EST

Dr. Fred McKinney (right), founder of BJM solutions, an economic advisory firm based in Trumbull, speaks at a press conference announcing the creation of the Alliance for Cannabis Equity, which aims to be a resource for Black and Brown entrepreneurs in the field of cannabis around 黑料吃瓜网. Aaron Johnson of the Narrative Project sits behind him. 鈥淚f we鈥檙e serious about social equity in this industry, we gotta work at. It just doesn鈥檛 happen, just because you say it, he said.

Fred McKinney recalls a day in 1973 when he and his brother were stopped by police and charged with possession of a marijuana joint. After spending a weekend in a precinct, he considers himself lucky for having a lawyer, going to trial, and getting a second chance.

鈥淏ut if we hadn't had that chance, who knows where my life would have gone?鈥� said McKinney. 鈥淎 lot of people didn't get a chance after they were arrested for cannabis. I look at literally the millions of Americans who have been negatively impacted by cannabis since 1973.鈥�

Now, McKinney runs an economic consulting firm and he helped publish a 92-page document and website that offers an overview of how communities can enter 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 cannabis industry. The document was designed in collaboration with 黑料吃瓜网 business incubator and the state鈥檚 largest workforce development agency, which make up The Alliance for Cannabis Equity.

It鈥檚 a tool for questions cannabis entrepreneurs may have, as well as workers.

Kebra Smith-Bolden (right), a medical marijuana entrepreneur and the founder of a medical cannabis business in New Haven, listens during a presentation on the the creation of the Alliance for Cannabis Equity, which aims to be a resource for Black and Brown entrepreneurs in the field of cannabis around 黑料吃瓜网. The Manifesto focuses on providing BIPOC entrepreneurs and workers a trusted document and website that can be used to answer questions about the new recreational cannabis industry in 黑料吃瓜网. Speakers included Paul McCraven, Chief Operating Officer of ConnCORP, Dr. Fred McKinney, founder of BJM solutions, an economic advisory firm based in Trumbull, Joseph M. Carbon, President & CEO of The Workplace, and Aaron Johnson of The Narrative Project. — Kebra Smith-Bolden (right), a medical marijuana entrepreneur and the founder of a medical cannabis business in New Haven, listens during a presentation on the the creation of the Alliance for Cannabis Equity, which aims to be a resource for Black and Brown entrepreneurs in the field of cannabis around 黑料吃瓜网.

Entrepreneur Kebra Smith-Bolden said a guide like this could help many people like herself. Smith-Bolden founded a medical cannabis business in 黑料吃瓜网 in 2017. She鈥檚 a trained registered nurse and said she went through several certifications to be considered legitimate in the industry.

鈥淪o it was important for me as a black woman to show that I was educated in cannabis,鈥� said Smith-Bolden. 鈥淚 went to a 12-course program in Massachusetts and studied cannabis before they were even really doing that. I did things to legitimize myself.鈥�

Smith-Bolden is now hoping to obtain a state license for a new adult-use cannabis business she recently started.

State law says cannabis jobs and businesses must be created with workers and business owners who live and work in places affected most by the War on Drugs. The Cannabis Manifesto can be found at .

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from 黑料吃瓜网, the state鈥檚 local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de 黑料吃瓜网, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programaci贸n que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para m谩s reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscr铆base a nuestro bolet铆n informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

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