Of the tens of thousands of groups nationwide licensed to grow or sell marijuana, no more than two percent are minority-owned businesses, according to a nonprofit advocacy group.
“That’s not representative of the country we live in,” said Roz McCarthy, founder of Minorities for Medical Marijuana. The Florida-based advocacy group has chapters in 25 states, including Missouri.
The group is hosting a weekly training program at the University of Missouri starting Saturday that is aimed at helping black and Latino entrepreneurs as well as veterans and small business owners get involved in Missouri’s medical marijuana industry. Registration is open through Friday.
Reasons for disparity in the legal marijuana industry include lack of access to financial capital and state regulations barring people with past marijuana convictions from joining legal businesses, McCarthy said.
Studies have shown that black and Latino people were disproportionately incarcerated in connection with marijuana over past decades even though other groups used the drug at similar rates.
“You’re talking about people making millions in a brand new industry around a plant that disproportionately placed black and brown people in jail,” McCarthy said.
It takes considerable financial capital and know-how to break into the legalized marijuana industry. Entrepreneurs often hire consultants to help them navigate state regulations, spend at least $1 million to build secure, high-tech growing facilities and pay thousands in licensing and annual fees.
Miranda Richardson is one of about 40 people from St. Louis and across Missouri registered for the camp with the hope of overcoming those obstacles.
“This whole industry is an opportunity to right the wrongs done to our community,” she said.
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