Social Equity Denver: What’s Next For The City’s Marijuana Industry?

The year-long discussion we’ve been having about social justice and racial equality has sparked much-needed change. The cannabis industry, in particular, is making ongoing attempts to make its domain more inclusive and favorable to all. Recently, Denver introduced three bills that seek to reform marijuana regulation in the city. This push for social equity aims to promote fair access to the industry.

The passing of these bills is contingent on Denver’s City Council ruling. The Denver Department of Excise and Licenses is responsible for bringing these bills to life, and Denver’s Finance & Governance Committee recently advanced this legislation. Eric Escudero, a spokesman for the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses, states that this proposal would give rise to the biggest changes to marijuana rules and regulations since cannabis was legalized in Colorado. The underlying goal of these bills is to encourage diversity in the industry.

After all, a recent study found that nearly 75 percent of licensed cannabis business owners in the city are white. Similarly, 68 percent of employees are white. Meanwhile, just shy of 13 percent of owners are Hispanic or Latino. The same goes for employees, with only 12.1 percent of Hispanic or Latino residents making up the industry. Hispanic and Latino inhabitants represent 30 percent of Denver’s population, so these figures are startlingly low. These numbers get lower and lower when you look at the marijuana industry’s Black community.

Sarah Woodson, The Color of Cannabis

Roughly six percent of owners and employees are Black, making it evident that Denver’s cannabis scene is primarily white. According to Sarah Woodson, the executive director of The Color of Cannabis, these disparities can be attributed to the way laws have and continue to be written. She also blames the lack of access to capital for these inconsistencies. With Colorado’s cannabis sales hitting an all-time high, Woodson brings into question who’s benefiting from these increased profits.

Woodson maintains that while Black men remain in jail for marijuana possession, white business owners continue to reap the benefits of Denver’s prosperous cannabis industry. Truman Bradley, the executive director of the Marijuana Industry Group, subscribes to these same notions. Bradley believes that social equity applicants will play a prominent role in removing obstacles. What’s more, he’s excited to see how these new bills will open up opportunities for “folks to participate in a licensed industry.”

Eric Escudero – Photo from Twitter

Eric Escudero is equally enthusiastic about these developments, stating that Black people will receive the same perks that the godfathers of the industry have long benefited from. Woodson also supports this agenda, claiming that Black residents need financial opportunities that foster generational wealth. Denver’s City Council has yet to make a final decision, but they’ll be considering the proposal soon. If City Council members are proactive and aggressive, Escudero says a vote could happen in April. If so, hope, reform, and social equity Denver are well on the horizon.