Let’s Talk About Weed, Incarceration, and Black Business.
- Nikki Porcher
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Only in America could a weekend symbolize both resurrection and redemption and still leave Black folks out of the conversation.
It’s Easter Sunday. It’s 4/20. And while some are dressed in pastels heading to brunch, others are at festivals or dispensaries celebrating what’s become one of the fastest-growing industries in the country. But for Black business owners, especially those impacted by the War on Drugs, this moment hits differently.
Because let’s be real. Weed made a lot of us criminals. And now it’s making a lot of other people millionaires.
Black people are nearly four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana-related charges than white people, even though we use it at the same rates. Those arrests led to broken families, lost jobs, and stolen futures. Now that cannabis is legal in over half the country, the industry is booming. But where are we in it?
Here’s the part nobody wants to say out loud. Black ownership in the cannabis industry is still under 2 percent. We went from being over-policed to being overlooked again.
The barriers are everywhere. Licensing requirements that cost more than some people’s homes.Laws that are hard to navigate without lawyers.A lack of access to capital and banking.And the ongoing stigma when we show up in cannabis spaces.
We’ve been told to "get in the game," but the rules were never written for us.
And on a community level, we need to stop tiptoeing around the topic. The cannabis industry is here. It’s real. It’s profitable. And if we don’t claim space in it, we’ll watch another industry build generational wealth without us.
So what now? What does redemption look like for Black business owners?
It looks like:
Automatic expungement for marijuana convictions. Black people shouldn't still be sitting in jail—or living with records—for something now being sold legally in storefronts. Expungement clears the path for jobs, housing, and entrepreneurship, giving people a real second chance.
Priority licensing and startup capital for those directly impacted by the War on Drugs. Those criminalized by the system deserve first access to the opportunities it now creates. Prioritizing licensing and funding ensures Black entrepreneurs aren’t shut out of an industry for which they paid the highest price.
Training, mentorship, and business education that prepares Black founders for every level of the industry. Success in cannabis isn’t just about having a good idea. It’s about understanding policy, compliance, supply chains, and sustainability. Long-term support means giving Black business owners the tools and knowledge to lead, not just participate.
This is not just a policy issue. It’s an economic one, a justice one, and a community one.
We can’t talk about buying Black without talking about backing Black cannabis businesses.
And if you’re looking for where to start, Black women are already working to change the game from the inside. Visit BuyFromABlackWomanDirectory.org to discover Black-owned businesses across wellness, advocacy, and cannabis, like, CAC Group LLC, a firm specializing in helping Black and Brown entrepreneurs navigate the cannabis industry.
Angela Mays is the founder and Blunt Accountant who helps businesses through licensing support and funding strategies. CAC Group assists business owners in entering the cannabis space with clarity and confidence because access without guidance isn’t enough. They’re in the directory, and they’re doing the work.
We say it all the time: When you support a Black Woman Business Owner, you're supporting a whole community. This is no different. The cannabis industry is here, and we deserve more than mentions. We deserve ownership, equity, and economic power.
The resurrection is real. Just make sure you rise with a plan.
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