The cannabis industry has a troubled history, especially with respect to the negative impact it has had on Black and Brown communities. However, there are individuals like Virgil Grant who are working tirelessly to promote social equity in the industry.
Grant is a well-known figure in the industry, the owner and operator of California Cannabis West Coast, a chain of dispensaries located in Los Angeles. He is also a founding member of Greater Los Angeles Caregivers Alliance (GLACA) and co-founder of Southern California Coalition and California Minority Alliance. These groups have been instrumental in pushing for legalization and social equity in LA’s cannabis industry.
Early Years
Before the legalization of cannabis, Grant was distributing cannabis throughout the housing projects in Watts, East LA, West LA, and Crenshaw. He was highly regarded for the quality of his products and soon found himself connecting with famous rappers like Eazy-E, Coolio, MC Eiht, and DJ Quik.
In 2004, Grant transitioned from the legacy cannabis market to the medical cannabis market, opening The Holistic Caregivers in Compton. He became a founding member of GLACA, which was one of the first organizations to focus on the safe access of retail for medical cannabis.
In 2008, federal agents raided Grant’s successful businesses, which landed him in federal prison for six years. After his release in 2014, he began working with advocacy groups like GLACA, the LA Cannabis Task Force, Cultivators Alliance, Delivery Alliance, and Manufacturers Alliance.
Measure M
Grant saw that these groups needed a single unified voice, and he became that voice, using his reputation, network, and connections with the City Council. His goal was to create a legal framework for cannabis taxation, enforcement, and regulation in the city of Los Angeles. This led to the birth of Measure M, which added the legal framework needed to get the city of Los Angeles’ cannabis industry up and running.
Measure M helped repeal the controversial Proposition D, which placed a 135-dispensary limit on the number of cannabis businesses that could operate in LA and blocked many previously-legal dispensaries from gaining licensing. From Measure M, the Los Angeles Social Equity Program was created, a three-tier program designed to provide licensing priority to people residing in zip codes that have been most affected by the failed War on Drugs.
Social Equity in Cannabis
Grant has been a vocal advocate for the rights of Black and Brown people in the industry, pushing for social equity at every turn. While social equity programs are gaining traction in many cities across the United States, Grant has been a vocal critic of their shortcomings, which have failed to provide adequate support for Black and Brown cannabis entrepreneurs.
Grant’s story is a reminder of the importance of equity and inclusion in the cannabis industry. It highlights the need for pioneers like Grant, who have dedicated their lives to fighting for justice and equality in the industry. To create a more just and equitable cannabis industry, we need to continue to support the work of activists and advocates like Virgil Grant. By working together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable industry that benefits everyone.
