Black Cannabis Week: Philly Entrepreneurs Ignite Social Justice Movement Around PA’s Marijuana Laws

As Pennsylvania inches closer to legalizing recreational cannabis, Philadelphia entrepreneurs and advocates are seizing the opportunity to ensure social equity in the emerging industry. Black Cannabis Week is at the forefront of this movement, which launched in 2018 to educate Black and Latino communities about benefits and opportunities in the cannabis sector.

Initially focused on medical marijuana, the event has evolved to discuss the potential of adult-use cannabis legalization in Pennsylvania as well as demands for equitable legislation and social justice reforms.

“We are demanding social justice, demanding equitable legislation, which is something we did not have for our medical marijuana program,” said Cherron Perry-Thomas, co-founder of Black Cannabis Week, reported the local NPR station WHYY. The event seeks to empower local entrepreneurs, particularly those from communities disproportionately impacted by past marijuana laws, and to help them prepare for the potential opportunities in a legalized adult-use market.

Empowering Communities Through Education And Advocacy

The week-long event features a range of activities, including policy discussions, job fairs, a film festival, even a fashion show with the focus is on making the cannabis industry more inclusive. Kristal Bush, a lead organizer, emphasized that the format is more interactive than traditional conferences, with events designed to engage and educate attendees in innovative ways.

The push for social equity in cannabis goes beyond just creating opportunities for new businesses. Organizers are also advocating for legal reforms to help individuals with prior marijuana convictions, who are often excluded from the industry. “We think this is a civil rights issue,” Perry-Thomas explained, adding that the industry’s growth could offer one of the last chances for communities harmed by the War on Drugs to gain justice and economic empowerment.

Potential Of Pennsylvania’s Adult-Use Market

According to estimates from the Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office, if adult-use cannabis is legalized in PA, the state could generate between $400 million and $1 billion in tax revenue. However, advocates argue that without equitable laws in place, much of this wealth could bypass communities of color, who were disproportionately affected by past marijuana criminalization. Organizers of Black Cannabis Week are working to ensure that this doesn’t happen, advocating for laws that support local, minority-owned businesses and expungement programs for past marijuana convictions.

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