MCBA Presents: The Daily Dose

Daily Dose Ep. 20 - Missouri Marijuana Regulators Close To Announcing Chief Equity Officer

Today on the show MCBA Board President Kaliko Castille covers an article from Missouri Independent [https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/13/missouri-regulators-say-theyre-close-to-naming-marijuana-chief-equity-officer/]: Missouri regulators say they’re close to naming marijuana chief equity officer https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/13/missouri-regulators-say-theyre-close-to-naming-marijuana-chief-equity-officer/ [https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/13/missouri-regulators-say-theyre-close-to-naming-marijuana-chief-equity-officer/] Here's the background:  Missouri's Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS) is set to appoint a chief equity officer for its marijuana program by February 6th, a position meant to ensure the social and economic equity requirements of Missouri’s new marijuana law are met.  The chief equity officer will be responsible for leading communication about the program, conducting reviews for microbusinesses, and promoting educational programming around the licensing process and available support and resources for individuals applying for microbusiness licenses.  The officer will also establish targeted technical assistance programming to communities impacted by cannabis prohibition and compile an annual report on compliance.

Daily Dose Ep. 19 - Virginia GOP Guts Social Equity Provisions in Latest Marijuana Legalization Bill

On today's show we cover a headline from Marijuana Moment [https://www.marijuanamoment.net/virginia-gop-lawmaker-files-marijuana-sales-bill-for-2023-eliciting-mixed-advocacy-reactions/?mc_cid=2c5fde33f6&mc_eid=1ef3f07d1d]: Virginia GOP Lawmaker Files Marijuana Sales Bill For 2023, Eliciting Mixed Advocacy Reactions https://www.marijuanamoment.net/virginia-gop-lawmaker-files-marijuana-sales-bill-for-2023-eliciting-mixed-advocacy-reactions/ [https://www.marijuanamoment.net/virginia-gop-lawmaker-files-marijuana-sales-bill-for-2023-eliciting-mixed-advocacy-reactions/] Here's the breakdown:  A Republican Virginia lawmaker has filed a bill to create a regulated marijuana market in the Commonwealth, but it’s drawing mixed reactions from advocates, some of whom view it as a giveaway to large, multi-state operators at the expense of equity for people harmed by the war on drugs.  The bill proposes to remove language that calls on regulators to develop standards on prioritizing social equity applicants.  Instead, regulators would need to consider ways to prioritize any applicant who intends to operate in a historically economically disadvantaged area, rather than those who are from such an area.  The group Marijuana Justice Virginia said the proposed legislation “erases any commitment to addressing the harm of marijuana prohibition that continues to specifically target Black Virginians.”

Daily Dose Ep. 18 - Will judges start easing up on prior marijuana convictions?

Today Precious covers a headline from Marijuana Moment: Federal Sentencing Commission Proposes New Marijuana Guidelines For Judges That Would Treat Past Convictions More Leniently HTTPS://WWW.MARIJUANAMOMENT.NET/FEDERAL-SENTENCING-COMMISSION-PROPOSES-NEW-MARIJUANA-GUIDELINES-FOR-JUDGES-THAT-WOULD-TREAT-PAST-CONVICTIONS-MORE-LENIENTLY/ [https://www.marijuanamoment.net/federal-sentencing-commission-proposes-new-marijuana-guidelines-for-judges-that-would-treat-past-convictions-more-leniently/] HERE'S THE BREAKDOWN:  The US Sentencing Commission (USSC) has proposed an amendment to update sentencing guidelines to suggest that judges treat prior marijuana possession offenses more leniently. As it stands, federal judges are directed to take into account prior convictions, including state-level cannabis offenses, as aggravating factors when making sentencing decisions. The new USSC proposal doesn’t seek to remove marijuana convictions as a criminal history factor entirely, but it would revise commentary within the guidelines to “include sentences resulting from possession of marihuana offenses as an example of when a downward departure from the defendant’s criminal history may be warranted.” The commission is seeking public comment on the proposed revision, specifically inviting input on “whether there is an alternative approach it should consider for addressing sentences for possession of marihuana.”

Daily Dose Ep. 17 - MCBA Updates!

On today's show, Precious provides some more information about Minority Cannabis Business Association's mission and some exciting updates: * New MCBA Board Member class has been elected! Will be announced soon.  * 1st member meeting of the year on 1/19 @ 5pm ET. Sign up as a member today [https://minoritycannabis.org/memberships/]! * 2023 Small Business Education Series kicks off on 1/25 @ 2pm ET: Building a Cannabis Business Plan * Sign up for an MCBA Member Committee [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeXjGbU-cRzC9XFVqBB1guqPbUxlsPqKv49AXX5_UIzIhcSMQ/viewform?usp=sf_link] * Submit a business tip [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfN6thr9FE005ao1ZH18TPBzBgweQwEb20m32KWvWpcYAi8ng/viewform?usp=sf_link]!  * Fill out MCBA's Member Survey [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesGkfli7kCYGOenkOgTa-QJC3xlHAg7lVHJmWcxMrnOY7Z5g/viewform?usp=sf_link] * We're back on Instagram, give us a follow!!!: @MinCannBusAssoc [https://www.instagram.com/MinCannBusAssoc/] * Donate [https://members.minoritycannabis.org/donate_to_mcba] to help us continue to represent minority entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry!

Daily Dose Ep. 16 - Adult Use Marijuana Sales Start In Connecticut!

On today's episode we cover adult-use sales beginning in Connecticut with this headline from CTInsider: Legal recreational marijuana sales start in Connecticut https://www.ctinsider.com/business/article/Legal-recreational-marijuana-sales-starting-in-17707137.php [https://www.ctinsider.com/business/article/Legal-recreational-marijuana-sales-starting-in-17707137.php] Here's the breakdown:  Connecticut has started retail sales of recreational cannabis for adults over 21, becoming the 21st US state to legalize the drug. By the end of the first day of sales, the state had generated more than $250,000 in revenue, according to the Department of Consumer Protection. Regulations allow as many as 40 dispensaries to open across the state by the end of the year. State regulators reported that as of the first day of sales, at least one social equity business was among the retailers open for adult-use cannabis sales. Sales start less than a week after Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont moved to erase and nearly 44,000 cannabis convictions.