At FLUENT, we believe cannabis should be for everyone. This MLK day, we are honoring Dr. King’s legacy.
That means creating a space where every patient feels welcome, respected, and supported,no matter their background. It also means recognizing the bigger picture: cannabis has a long and complicated history in the United States, and the conversation around access, fairness, and equality still matters today.
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said:
“I have decided to stick to love… Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
What Does Cannabis Have to Do With Equality?
Actually, a lot.
For decades, drug policies and enforcement practices have had a disproportionate impact on communities of color. Many social equity programs point to the War on Drugs as a major factor in this, as it contributed to the mass incarceration of millions of people, often for cannabis related offenses and other drug related charges.
Even as cannabis becomes more accepted and regulated across the country, it’s important not to forget the past, and to continue supporting progress that creates more fairness in the industry moving forward.
Social Equity in the Cannabis Industry
Social equity programs exist to help repair the harm caused by past cannabis prohibition and enforcement. While these programs vary by state, there are three major approaches that are commonly discussed in the cannabis space:
1) Expungement of past cannabis convictions
Helping clear records for individuals who were penalized for cannabis related offenses that are now legal in many places.
2) Licensing and employment preferences
Creating pathways for people from disproportionately impacted communities to enter the cannabis industry as business owners and professionals.
3) Using tax revenue for equity focused programs
Reinvesting cannabis tax dollars into communities through education, housing support, healthcare initiatives, job programs, and more.
As cannabis becomes more accepted in society, it’s easy to focus only on the products and forget the history behind the plant. But real progress means keeping both in mind.
“As cannabis goes mainstream, it’s easy to forget the past.” – Fred “Fab 5 Freddy” Brathwaite. Hip hop pioneer and director of Netflix’s Grass is Greener, 2019
FLUENT Fact: A 2017 survey found that 81% of cannabis business owners in the U.S. were white, 5.7% identified as Hispanic, and 4.3% identified as Black. However, a more recent 2021 analysis reported that Black people only represent 1.2% to 1.7% of cannabis owners.
Our Commitment at FLUENT
At FLUENT, we’re committed to doing our part by focusing on what we can control every day:
- Providing the best service to every patient who walks through our doors
- Offering high-quality products at competitive prices all year round
- Creating a welcoming environment built on respect, care, and inclusion
- Continuing to learn, listen, and support a more inclusive cannabis community
We don’t just speak cannabis, we speak equality
#WeSpeakEquality
Source: Road to 2030: Federal Legislative Solutions to Social Equity in a Booming Cannabis Industry
