Green leaves, white faces

Hey, Ngaio. I am hella stoked that marijuana legalization is on the way. However, when I go to conferences and look at marijuana businesses, all I see are white faces. Are people of color going to get a chance to get a piece of the legal marijuana game?

—Tokely Carmichael

Good question. In 2014, Michelle Alexander, author of the book The New Jim Crow, said, “After 40 years of impoverished black men getting prison time for selling weed, white men are planning to get rich doing the same things. So that’s why I think we have to start talking about reparations for the war on drugs. How do we repair the harms caused?” Reparations would be cool, but I feel like people would be waiting forever for the government to pass anything close to a drug war reparations bill. Fortunately, some activists and ganjaprenuers have also noticed the whiteness of the green rush and have started taking steps to keep marijuana culturally diverse.

I was just at the Oregon Medical Marijuana Business Conference. I noticed more than one black person in the audience this time. That’s a good step. Steve DeAngelo from Harborside Health Center in Oakland gave two talks, and reminded people more than once that diversity should be viewed as a strength, not a grudging obligation. I also had a chance to meet Jesce Horton from the Minority Cannabis Industry Association (www.minoritycannabis.org) and talk to him about ways to create more diversity in the industry. They are doing great things. Check out my interview with him here: http://bit.ly/1HcE385.

Look, marijuana is still a gray-market industry, and law-enforcement officers go after minorities first, so some trepidation is completely understandable. I never tried to open a club because I didn’t want to be a target. However, I feel like now is the perfect time for more entrepreneurs of color to get involved in the fastest growing industry in America.

Happy spring! I want to grow some good old-fashioned outdoor marijuana this year. What should I do?

—Mr. Green Jean

First: Check your local rules and regulations to make sure you aren’t violating any laws. California NORML’s website has a good guide: http://bit.ly/1ARxOzk. Call your local city hall if you are confused. Nothing ruins a harvest more than the sheriff showing up just before you are about to reap the bounty of your work. Next: Make sure you have good dirt. Third: Put your plants in the dirt and care for them as if they were your favorite children. Give them water and food and shelter and keep them free of pests and pathogens. Sing to them. Train them to stand tall in the sunshine and to grow strong in the fall. Lovingly and tenderly cut them down when they are at their peak. Have fun. Invite me over to help you trim. Happy cannabis!