Indopedia All Things Marijuana
Though Maryland legalized medical marijuana in 2014, diversity concerns in the licensing process have drastically slowed the implementation of dispensaries throughout the state.
Maryland has enjoyed a long relationship with cannabis — one of the oldest in American history, in fact. Maryland was one of three states, along with Virginia and Pennsylvania, to allow hemp to be utilized as currency after the Virginia Assembly ruled in 1619 to require all farmers to grow the versatile crop.
Despite such early adoption, the state’s had a checkered past with the plant ever since colonial times.
Marijuana.com covered the diversity dilemma facing Maryland lawmakers last summer when the initial round of licenses were granted.
Maryland’s population is nearly one-third African-American, the highest concentration among states with legalized cannabis. Many are frustrated with the lack of minority leadership within the companies granted preliminary licenses in Maryland. It’s also worth noting that very few of the companies have female leadership, which is relatively uncommon in the marijuana industry; women hold roughly 36% of the executive roles in cannabis-focused companies….
