Maryland’s young cannabis market has struggled to become more diverse, with a glaring lack of representation of people of color among all tiers of the industry.
But state regulators say they are taking some definitive steps to try and provide more people of color and women with access to the growing and lucrative sector.
William Tilburg, executive director of the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, began a public meeting of the regulatory body Thursday by acknowledging ongoing discussions and protests about racism and police brutality prompted by the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis. Tilburg said diversity and equity are important to the work the MMCC does in Maryland, and he highlighted some of the steps the commission is taking to bring more diversity into the industry, which has already had its fair share of controversy related to racial inequities.
The “first important step” Tilburg mentioned was the ongoing evaluation and awards process for 14 new cannabis grower and processor licenses, which were made available as part of a concerted and legislatively-mandated effort to increase ownership diversity in the state industry.