EDITOR'S NOTE
Greetings CANNAHEALTH Readers,
We are elated to release this month issue of CANNAHEALTH, which focuses on Minorities! As African-American women we decided to enter the cannabis industry without giving a second thought to any obstacles we would face concerning our ethnicity or even being women.
The greatest obstacle in this industry that we have faced is changing the mindset of people. Despite the clinical, scientific and patient outcomes, some healthcare professionals, providers, and legislators are still apprehensive and skeptical of medicinal cannabis. All we can do is continue to educate them with the facts. This is why CANNAHEALTH is so helpful. It aims to educate in so many different ways and from all angles.
Unfortunately, not everyone's experience will be similar to ours. The truth of the matter is there is a lack of minority representation in the cannabis industry. Research shows that African-Americans were disproportionately arrested and incarcerated during the war on drugs. Now that cannabis is seen as a legitimate business, advocates argue that minorities should also reap the profits.
For years cannabis has been a misfortune of the minority community, sending young people to jail. Cannabis could now be a benefit to these communities, but minorities have been left out. Sadly, African-Americans seeking to enter the cannabis industry as growers or retailers face an array of obstacles. Researchers say many states block convicted drug felons from this industry, disproportionately hurting minorities because of historically higher conviction rates. Others have set high investment requirements.
We as African-American people must continue to educate ourselves, stay persistent, and bring awareness to these issues. This issue focuses on the history of cannabis and cultural influences. We hope you enjoy reading this issue. Thank you for your continued support!
Brittany Whiters RN, MSN Ciara Jenkins RN, BSN
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