New York City community organizations are teaming up with elected officials on a resource to help prospective cannabis business owners navigate the industry, apply for licensing, and get legal assistance, News12 reports. The Bronx Cannabis Hub will focus its efforts on assisting individuals most impacted by the war on drugs.
The partnership is an effort between the Bronx Community Foundation and the Bronx Defenders. New York Sen. Chuck Schumer (D) joined the Hub on Sunday and expressed his support.
“[Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act] is not just about ending criminalization, but ensuring that people who were harmed are recompensed before big businesses or big banks. It ensures that social justice is a part of any legislation we pass.” — Schumer, during his remarks, via the Bronx Cannabis Hub
Schumer last week filed a bill to end cannabis prohibition federally.
In a statement, cannabis attorney and founding collaborator of the Hub, Cristina Buccola said “to be able to put my own stamp of approval on the resources coming through the hub is really tremendous to me.”
During her remarks at the event, she added that “communities that have been disproportionately impacted are also communities that have been redlined and don’t necessarily have access to private finance and private banking.”
Executive Director of Drug Policy Action Kassandra Frederique noted that “the same people who called the cops on Tyrone because he was smoking downstairs in front of their high-rise building… are the first people running to the front to be social equity applicants.”
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