Women and Minorities Need Cannabis Reform Now: NCR Executive Director, Vice Chair Address MJBizCon Today

Las Vegas, NV – National Cannabis Roundtable (NCR) Executive Director Saphira Galoob and NCR’s Vice-Chair, Dr. Chanda Macias of the National Holistic Healing Center, will address convention-goers tonight at MJBizCon as members of the panel “Empowering Women in Cannabis.” The event begins at 5:00pm PT.

Galoob released excerpts today from her notes:

  • OUR LEADERSHIP – Though the recent MJBiz women and minority report is discouraging and shows how much work there is to do, we have already begun to bend the curve. At the NCR, women play significant roles. Our honorary co-chair, Kathleen Sebelius, board members like Dr. Chanda Macias and Kim Rivers and advisory board members like Leafly CEO Yoko Miyashita, inform our NCR Federal Framework every step of the way and we place social equity has a key pillar in our holistic approach to cannabis reform.”
  • OUR FRAMEWORK – For example, social equity programs should have an opportunity to take root and thrive and all the ramifications of comprehensive federal reform must be fully considered so that small, women and minority-owned businesses are not priced out of the market by unfettered interstate commerce and a flood of cheap foreign cannabis. We need to nurture opportunities for small businesses created by women and minorities and one way to do that is to ensure policies are put in place – at the federal level. To steward a truly inclusive industry, we must get it right from the beginning.”
  • OUR VISION – “The MJBiz report is a wake-up call for the industry, but also a byproduct of the bigger problem of access to banking and capital. That many jobs flow to men may stem from access to capital issues – more companies dominated by men can enter the space, pushing out smaller entrants, including women and minorities who often lack the private sources of capital and professional networks that often fund new ventures. Reforms like the SAFE Banking Act will help tilt the scales and result in more equitable opportunities for all.”

Galoob also mentioned her colleague Amber Littlejohn, who heads the Minority Cannabis Business Council. Amber recently penned the article linked here: https://thenewsstation.com/marijuana-reform-died-but-senate-dems-found-wedge-issue/.

See NCR\’s release here.