The history of cannabis in the United States is marked by the exclusion and persecution of people of color, particularly Black Americans. Cannabis prohibition, along with institutional racism, have led to bar many Black people from entry into this multi-billion-dollar industry.
According to MJBizDaily, only 10% of cannabis business owners/founders identify as Hispanic/Latino or African-American. There is much to still be done, from prison reform to social equity, in order to achieve a more balanced representation. However, this is still a growing number of Black Americans who are making their mark at every layer of this dynamic industry – from operations to activism to research and more.
