D-Roc Palmer | Owner | Extremeterpz | Baltimore, Maryland
What needs to change about the Cannabis industry as it relates to equality/equity?
The industry must recognize the circumstances of each individual. Be open to diversifying by creating opportunities for everyone. It would be amazing to see more minority-owned companies, farms, labs, dispensaries, and other ancillary businesses. Entry into the Cannabis industry via growing, processing, and owning a dispensary, needs to be more feasible. Banks and other financial institutions need to be open to accepting Cannabis companies as legitimate businesses and provide loans and merchant transactions. We would like to see more people that have been incarcerated have an opportunity to be a part of the legal Cannabis industry.
Can you give an example of something equitable you’ve seen happen in the Cannabis space?
Most states are moving forward to create change within their communities. We need to understand that the laws and regulations are created by the people. The more we unite as a people, our voices alone can be loud enough to force the politicians to create change. People do not want to fight alone due to the years of fear-mongering around the plant, but with the unity of like-minded individuals, there is a great deal of power.