Canadian CANNAINVESTOR Magazine August / September 2019 | Page 47

Troy Dayton, CEO of The Arcview Group adds: “The global cannabis market is exploding, and Latin America is very much a part of the story. From the thriving export industry in Colombia to the legalization pioneer in Uruguay, Latin American investors and operators will play important roles in the global cannabis industry for years to come. In Colombia, for example, some expect the industry to eventually be bigger than the coffee, flower and banana industries together. The positive socio-economic impact that the legal cannabis industry is bringing to Latin America is undeniable and we are excited to help advance it by connecting global capital with opportunities in Latin America.”

A Social Responsibility Investment Call

The war on drugs has targeted unfairly the Latino population. The vast majority of federal sentences for marijuana crimes went to Hispanics last year, according to new data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Hispanics were massively overrepresented with 77 percent of federal marijuana sentences, despite making up less than 30 percent of the U.S. population.

Diversity and inclusion in the emerging legal cannabis industry around the world is mandatory, is not only fair with the communities that have been devastated by the war on drugs but also is a clear path to mitigate the levels of poverty that Latin America is facing.

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