My Proposed Model Social Equity Equation for the Cannabis Industry

Abstract

What is social equity – specifically within the cannabis industry and why does it matter? First, I want to draw a distinction between the words equity and equality. Equity means dealing fairly and equally with all concerned while equality means of the same measure, quantity, amount, or number as another. Social equity programs are commonly misconstrued as programs that bring social equity applicants to the same point as normal applicants. Although ideally social equity programs could do that; they do not.

Social equity programs are designed to help communities, families, and individuals who have been impacted by the War on Drugs. Years of systemic racism, harsh drug sentencing laws, and disproportionate policing have all heavily contributed to the detriment of those in the cannabis industry. For example, nearly 80% of federal prisoners and roughly 60% in state prisons for drug offenses are African-American or Latino. Simply put, social equity programs are a significant step in helping those harmed by the War on Drugs re-enter the now legalized cannabis industry.