Sarah Woodson poses for a portrait in Denver on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Woodson, the executive director of the advocacy group The Color of Cannabis, runs a 10-week business course to help students navigate Colorado's social equity application process and to connect them with marijuana industry leaders. Colorado's social equity program is aimed at correcting past wrongs from the war on drugs, which disproportionately affected minorities.
Hewing, 39, recently became one of only a few Black entrepreneurs to receive a business license in Colorado’s recreational marijuana industry. His goal is to run a company that delivers the very substance that stained his record.His opportunity is the result of personal ambition paired with Colorado’s effort to right past wrongs from the war on drugs.
Disappointment with the slow rollout of equity programs has taken on a deeper resonance at a time when the nation is undergoing a racial reckoning, brought on by cases of police brutality and punctuated last year by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Colorado’s program, which took effect at the beginning of the year, is open to all races, but the state Marijuana Enforcement Division says on its website the goal is to increase diversity, especially among owners. It also acknowledges “the effects of decades of criminal enforcement of marijuana laws on communities of color.”
Coming seven years after sales of recreational marijuana were legalized, it’s been a long wait, said Sarah Woodson, Hewing’s wife and executive director of the advocacy group The Color of Cannabis. The delays have left many potential operators and their financial backers in limbo, waiting for permission to open for business while start-up costs pile up.
So you’re implying that Black people can only own a business that sells dope? What kind of racist nonsense is that?
Black dealers matter
What bullshit, this is reversed racism at its best. On the other hand, “POC” and their bullshit blm wants equality, but doesn’t want to work for it, they want it handed to them for free. “Entitlement”, the right of all “POC” around the world, someone else has to earn it for them
This is backwards to me.. shouldn’t the goal be to help people build a foundation where they could achieve these things if they so choose? Everyone focuses so much on the outcome but not what it takes to get there.
“And and other people of color...” andand edits journalist typo
The same ones who always profited are the same ones who are making the rules now.
Also the criteria to get into the marijuana business disqualify so many people from the jump.
That’s because, being federally illegal still, it’s very difficult to get a business loan...so, either you gotta have money...or have access to investors. Not a recipe for equity if only the haves can afford to buy in.
AdrienneLaw Change the federal law so people can’t be rewarded with riches in one state and go to jail in another. That’s a joke right there and a tool to oppress people. joke
Uhh because you need to be politically connected to get a license. It's not an open market
Mr. Secretary McDonough: Good afternoon. As you can see from my attached documentation, I have been fighting this issue of changing my discharge due to systemic racism for over 2 years. Biden’s Secretary does not care about racism.
hahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhaa. i don't think black people selling drugs has ever been a problem for black people. i find this to be racist to say black people haven't had the oppertunity to open business. that's a lot of crap
Hmmm let’s create equality by having you in business with drug that makes people lazy, paranoid and stupid? Yeah that’s a great plan.
At some point it's not everyone else's fault.🤷♂️