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Maryland’s had a rocky start getting its medical cannabis program up and running. Although it passed in 2013, the program stalled after initially requiring that the only growers allowed to grow and distribute cannabis be academic centers. No one stepped up to the plate (including Johns Hopkins University—more on them in a bit), so last year the legislature chose 15 finalists to grow cannabis and another 15 to process it. Turns out every candidate they selected was white, which, you know, happens quite a bit in the industry, and no, it’s not cool.
According to the Cannabist, the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Cheryl Glenn, stepped up to sponsor a House bill that added five more grower licenses and five more processor licenses. Glenn pointed out that the state’s cannabis law notes that racial diversity should be considered. “Passing this bill will show the country that this is not an issue that we’re going lock African Americans and other minorities from participating in this business venture,” Glenn said before the House vote. “Less than one percent of the licenses held in the entire country are held by African Americans and other minorities.”