James Whitcomb, CEO of multistate cannabis operator Parallel, published an open letter today decrying systemic inequities in the cannabis industry and pledging to support fundamental changes to make the industry more equitable. The letter highlights a failure by Parallel and other multistate operators (MSOs) to honor the “social responsibility” that comes with operating in the cannabis industry, which was built on tireless advocacy work and which exists alongside ongoing racist and classist drug-related persecution of disenfranchised communities.
In the letter, Whitcomb admits: “we did not take the time to honor the long-time cannabis producers … who laid the foundation for us,” that “we did not follow the path laid out by activists … who fought for our right to participate,” and “we did not understand the [industry’s] responsibility … to use legal cannabis as a tool for restorative justice.”
“As the new CEO at Parallel, I pledge that going forward, Parallel will be a model among all large cannabis operators in bridging the business with the social responsibility of our industry,” he writes.
Referencing the Minority Cannabis Business Association’s (MCBA) recent National Cannabis Equity Report — which analyzes inequity in the industry and provides a toolkit for recognizing and rising to the social responsibility that comes with working in cannabis — Whitcomb pledges to “commit our resources to help advocate for the fundamental changes the report highlights as necessary for the cannabis industry to become truly equitable.”
The letter also seems to confirm suspicions held by many independent cannabis operators that large trade organizations which cater to multistate brands are maneuvering to make the industry difficult to enter for smaller startups and legacy growers. “It’s time for us as a multi-state operator to stop hiding behind the veil of ‘safety and transparency’ that has led to … exclusionary, protectionist policies,” Whitcomb wrote.
Given that Parallel is itself a multistate brand, and one that counts billionaire chewing gum heir Beau Wrigley among its founders, some in the cannabis industry will likely view this move with a healthy degree of skepticism. When asked about this specifically, Whitcomb said, “We have a lot of work to do to win people’s trust. For people who are skeptical, I ask them to pay attention and hold us accountable. If we fall short of the commitments we are making, I want to hear about it.”
Amber Littlejohn, Executive Director of the MCBA, said in an emailed statement to Ganjapreneur, “I commend James and Parallel. This isn’t an MLK post on social media or even a single social equity investment. This is stepping up to lead and call for systemic change to create real equity instead of playing kingmaker to a handful of businesses in an otherwise captured market.
“Markets captured by a few will never out-compete the legacy market that doesn’t carry the extraordinary compliance costs of legal businesses,” Littlejohn said. “Good companies, with good products, who are truly committed to equity should have nothing to fear in opening the industry to others. In fact, they are leveling the playing field.”
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Tue / Feb 15th by Graham Abbott
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- Ganjapreneur
Source : Ganjapreneur
Link to original : Parallel CEO Apologizes, Calls Out Corporate Cannabis Lobbying in Open Letter
