NATIONAL CANNABIS INDUSTRY SOCIAL EQUITY ALERT  “CHALLENGES, CHOICES AND OPPORTUNITY IN A BILLION  DOLLAR INDUSTRY”

Black Cannabis Equity Initiative and Minorities for  Medical Marijuana Host Pre 4/20 National Social Equity Zoom | Not  Looking For A Seat at The Table, But Bringing The Table To The

Community MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2021 | 1:00PM – 6:00PM (EST) DENVER — Long time social equity advocate John Bailey, Founder of the  Black Cannabis Equity Initiative (BCEI) and Roz McCarthy, Founder & CEO,  Minorities for Medical Marijuana announce a national social equity collaboration  today to advance the needle on social equity in United States by bringing  authentic transparency, awareness, accountability and opportunity to the social  equity conversation. These Black cannabis leaders have agreed to host a  national pre-420 social equity zoom entitled “Challenges, Choices and  Opportunity in A Billion Dollar Cannabis Industry”. This national social equity  zoom will be held on Monday, April 19, 2021 from 1pm-6pm EST. By peeling back  the curtain with concerned stakeholders, regulators, industry leaders and elected  officials from around the country, the two cannabis power players are  collaborating and working to bring others to the table to lift up more voices and accelerate the social equity conversation and journey that needs to happen  in America. “There will be more opportunities for cannabis products availability and Black  community participation in the next 18 months than we’ve ever seen in  legalized adult use “recreational” states. While legalization sparked what has now  grown into a billion-dollar industry worldwide, people of color were largely  excluded from ownership in legal cannabis, said Bailey. These new social equity  licenses in cannabis legal states present a rare and limited opportunity to make  real progress by providing local governments and states a framework for  which social equity applicants can access these opportunities.” Bailey went on further to say, “in order to be a successful cannabis business, our  communities must be united around the social equity message. There is a lot of  discussion and dialogue going on around social equity, but no clear definition or  shared best practices or examples. BCEI and M4MM will take the lead role in  bringing the Black community and stakeholders together on social equity clarity,  social equity definitions and moving the dialogue forward on social equity in  the cannabis industry in the US.” “In putting together this collaboration I was  looking for progressive people who were as passionate as myself  about social equity and had a history of positive community, governmental, and  business commitment to leveling the cannabis playing field. Roz McCarthy is the first person to come to mind. Roz and I have met over the  years and I have admired her work. In discussions we found there was some  common ground in our organizational efforts. We shared ideas on working  together on social equity corporate – community engagement in the cannabis  space, thus the pre-420 social equity zoom was born. We agreed there are so  many committed people around the country who believe in social equity, why not  join forces and try to pull them together to share information, expertise, time,  talent and hear about the crucial and important work being done.  This national social equity event will mobilize and engage industry leaders,  elected officials and concerned citizens in a collaborative social equity dialogue.  This cannabis social equity dialogue will attempt to bring and keep  the social equity conversation at the forefront of the current cannabis industry  agenda as we take a broader look at how we define, hold one another  accountable, and measure social equity. “This is a limited time opportunity for communities of color and the stakes have  never been higher,” said Roz McCarthy. “If the country decides to be effective and  efficient in the support of national social equity opportunities in the existing  cannabis industry, the Black community will have to lead the way. The Black  communities’ experience in the “War on Drugs”, Model Cities, Affirmative Action, the Great Society, and Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives makes us more  than qualified to provide guidance in this space.” Minorities for Medical  Marijuana (M4MM) the country’s largest community based nonprofit  organization provides advocacy, outreach, education, and training to  communities of color as it relates to social equity, social justice, health equity,  and public policy on a daily basis.CONFIRMED SPEAKERS TO DATE INCLUDE: HONORABLE KWANZA HALL, US Congressman GeorgiaHONORABLE PHIL WEISER, Colorado Attorney GeneralHONORABLE JAMEL HOLLY, NJ State AssemblymanHONORABLE SAM FRISBY, NJ County Commissioner-MercerHONORABLE MICHEAL B. HANCOCK, Mayor of Denver, COHONORABLE REED GUSCIORA, Mayor of Trenton, NJJOHN BAILEY, Founder & Convener, Black Cannabis Equity Initiative(BCEI)ROZ MCCARTHY, Founder & CEO, Minorities for Medical Marijuana(M4MM)ROBERT RABEN, CEO, The Raben GroupCHRISTIAN SEDERBERG, Partner, Vicente Sederberg & President, Cannabis Trade Federation(CTF)STEVEN HAWKINS, Executive Director, United States Cannabis Council(USCC)REV. CHARLES BOYER, Founder, NJ Salvation & Social Justice, Pastor, Bethel AME ChurchDR. LANCE MCCARTHY, CEO & Founder, Global 1000AMBER LITTLEJOHN, Executive Director, Minority Cannabis Business Association(MCBA)ED DEVAUX, President, NJ CannaBusiness AssociationDEVIN ALEXANDER, Co-Founder, Rolling Releaf & VP of the Massachusetts Cannabis Association for Delivery JIM MARTY, Nationally Recognized CPA & Accountant, BridgeWestDASHEEDA DAWSON, Chairperson, Cannabis Regulators of ColorPAULA F. SARDINAS, President & CEO, FMS Global StrategiesMALCOLM EVANS, President, CO Black Chamber of CommerceJOHN HARMON, President, Founder & CEO, African American Chamber of Commerce of NJFAYE COLEMAN, Pure GenesisASHLEY KILROY, Executive Director, Denver Department of Excise and LicenseLEO BRIDGEWATER, National Veterans Outreach, Minorities For Medical Marijuana(M4MM)ERIC FOSTER, National Policy Director, Minorities for Medical Marijuana(M4MM)TAHIR JOHNSON, Cannabis Consultant & CEO, The Diversity ReportJAMES E. JACKSON, Senior VP, Global Head of Cannabis, Mark Edwards PartnersMIKE LOMUTO, Community Organizer, National Cannabis Industry Association(NCIA DEI Committee)
KEVIN FORD, CEO, Uplift-Diversity and Inclusiveness TrainingJEREL REGISTRE, Managing Director, Curio Wellness WMBE FundRON HOLMES, CEO, The Majority Minority GroupVINCENT NORMENT, CEO, Marijuana Hall of FameERNEST TONEY, CEO BIPOCANNALEXANDER AUGUST KENNEDY, CEO, BlaqWall CapitalALDOPHUS PRUITT, President, St. Louis NAACPGIA MORON, CEO, Women GrowAnd More …..Anyone wanting to participate in this national social equity zoom can pre-register at: Register in advance for this 4/19 meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vd-6trj4jGNQerF-fPOTvgGVZ_mpoN8pz After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information  about joining the meeting.
For more information contact John Bailey at 720-629-0964 or johnbailey062@gmail.com