Tara Zrinski

Weeding Out Opportunities for Social Equity if PA Legalizes Adult-Use Cannabis

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Weeding Out Opportunities for Social Equity if PA Legalizes Adult-Use Cannabis

From New York to New Mexico, Social Equity has been a priority in legalizing Adult-Use Cannabis and the responsibility to right the wrongs induced by the War on Drugs falls squarely on the shoulders of the government. 

The difference between NY and NM is that New York sewed the seeds of social equity into the law and New Mexico deferred definition of social equity mechanisms to an advisory committee , spending the better part of a year polling, surveying and studying best practices, while giving multi-state operators and “Big Marijuana” a head start for growth. 

“Our studies show that 40% to 42% of all Adult-Use Cannabis will be derived from out-of-state purchases, particularly Texas,” Duke Rodriguez, CEO of Arizona-based Ultra Health, told the Santa Fe New Mexican.

With no cap on licenses and land ownership, legacy operators and disadvantaged entrepreneurs lack the capital and resources for start-up costs. According to the New Mexico Cannabis Control Division, NM has granted priority to Minority license holders (Black, Asian American, Native American, mixed race and other), representing 33% of the industry. And although it’s obvious that a head start for small farmers and minority owned small businesses is necessary in a market expected to reach $400 million annually within five years, there is concern that the NM industry is doing a disservice to the community by not explicitly laying it out in the legislation. 

Even with the progressive discussion about micro-licensing, co-ops and reinvesting 40% of cannabis tax into low income communities, New Mexico might have done better by offering social equity opportunities prior to the passage of its AUC legislation. 

In comparison, the New York law provides for automatic expungement for previous convictions that engage in “activities that are no longer criminalized.” New York is also the first state to offer initial dispensary licenses solely to entrepreneurs with marijuana convictions through the Seeding Opportunity Initiative. 

According to the official New York Cannabis Conversations website, “the Office of Court Administration have expunged approximately 300,000 records and suppressed another approximately 100,000 from background searches as they await expungement.” The initiative also offers access to funding and resources to help prop up these businesses in the long run.

For states like Pennsylvania, who have yet to adopt Adult-Use Cannabis legislation, we have the chance to learn from both NY and NM when implementing laws that can provide opportunities for minority communities harmed by the War on Drugs.

If you are interested in getting involved in this important work in Pennsylvania, please reach out to Tara Zrinski, P3 Campaign Director via email at Tara@alltogethernowpa.org.

To learn more about All Together Now PA’s Pot Profits for Pennsylvanians campaign, visit alltogethernowpa.org/p3. 

Claiming a Piece of the P.I.E.S: What PA can Learn from Social Equity in the NY Cannabis Market

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Claiming a Piece of the P.I.E.S: What PA can Learn from Social Equity in the NY Cannabis Market

Everyone loves pie but, in this economy, it never seems like it gets divided up fairly. Twenty one states and Washington D.C. have legalized Adult-Use Cannabis (AUC), but social equity policies have varying degrees of success in providing a slice of entrepreneurial possibility to legacy operators. 

Pennsylvania has yet to legalize Adult-Use Cannabis, which puts us in a unique position to learn from other states, like our neighbors in New York, who are offering up valuable lessons…

Since AUC legislation passed in 2021, Forbes identified a potentially fatal flaw in New York’s regulatory structure that could jeopardize the good intentions of the approved social equity program that reserves Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) licenses for applicants, or family members, who have been convicted of a cannabis related offense. This isn’t the only problem, though. There are questions as to how these CAURD licensees will procure or maintain inventory with no clear path to financing.

In a free market that depends on competition to weed out the most vulnerable entrepreneurs, it seems that the very people the law was meant to help are left just out of reach of their slice of the pie. 

The legacy community, pejoratively known as the “black market”, represents cannabis entrepreneurs operating under the radar. With the looming threat of incarceration, the legacy market operates under self-regulated authority for its own self preservation. While this kind of market can be characterized by gang violence, turf wars and untaxed cash transactions, the same market rids itself of bad actors, frowns upon selling to minors and prides itself on the quality of its bud. 

Out performing its regulated counterpart by three times, the legacy market should be acknowledged for its success- success that neither the war on drugs nor regulation could destroy. The question remains– how can the intention of legislation incentivize and partner with the legacy operators to transition to a successfully regulated market? 

A group of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) advocates with the National Cannabis Industry Association is hoping to bake a new social equity solution called P.I.E.S. into the mix. P.I.E.S. is an acronym for Pairing (existing marijuana operators with partners), Incubating(allocating resources, mentorships and technical assistance to launch successful businesses) , Excel (beyond launch to withstand startup challenges within first 3 – 5 years) and Seed (capital and inventory to cover initial startup cost). This program will provide a larger slice for legacy operators in disadvantaged communities most harmed by the War on Drugs. 

As the Pennsylvania legislature gears up to launch its own AUC legislation, proponents have the opportunity to advance meaningful social equity policies before free market capitalistic tendencies bend toward profiteers and multi-state organizations. At the end of the day, we need a policy that will right the wrongs of the war on drugs and keep pot profits on the plates of Pennsylvanians.

Tara Zrinski is the Campaign Director for the Pot Profits for Pennsylvanians (P3) Campaign. She joins All Together Now PA with a dynamic background as a local legislator in Northampton County, community organizer for environmental non-profits and adjunct professor of Philosophy at DeSales University and Northampton Community College.

Holiday Pardons for Cannabis Convictions

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Holiday Pardons for Cannabis Convictions

It has been months since President Joe Biden announced pardons for small possession federal cannabis felonies and urged State Governors to issue their own state level pardons. Although Governor Wolf has prioritized criminal justice and pardon reform throughout his administration and granted thousands of pardons through the PA Marijuana Pardon Project, less than 10% of the project’s applicants will end up receiving pardons for one reason or another.

Of the 3,539 applications submitted, representing 2,600 individuals, only 231 will receive a final public hearing later this month. Another 434 applications will be held for review, but the majority of these applications were denied due to other disqualifying crimes on applicant’s records.

“It is the hope of Governor Wolf that the next administration will continue working to improve this process and give people with these offenses their rightful clean slates, until marijuana becomes legal in Pennsylvania.” stated Wolf’s deputy press secretary, Emily Demsey.

Some are asking Wolf, “why wait?!” feeling the governor should demand the Board of Pardons hold a public hearing to consider the idea of a general pardon for those with low-level marijuana offenses.

An online petition supporting a call for social justice has over 1000 signatures. The original petition, issued in July by the Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity had at least 11 Counties calling on Governor Wolf, Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman and Attorney General Josh Shapiro, as well as appointed members of the Board of Pardons –Harris Gubernick, John Williams and Marsha Grayson– to forgive previous marijuana convictions so these Pennsylvanians can start rebuilding their lives.

As Governor Wolf’s term approaches its end on January 17th, 2023, he has the ability to use his executive power to push for small possession pardons. This decision could benefit tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians whose employment, housing and entire lives remain impacted by their criminal records for activities that are currently legal in 20 states, and will soon be legal in Pennsylvania.

Tara Zrinski is the Campaign Director for the Pot Profits for Pennsylvanians (P3) Campaign. She joins All Together Now PA with a dynamic background as a local legislator in Northampton County, community organizer for environmental non-profits and adjunct professor of Philosophy at DeSales University and Northampton Community College.

More than Smoke Signals: Biden Signs Cannabis Research Act into Law

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More than Smoke Signals: Biden Signs Cannabis Research Act into Law

By Tara Zrinski

On Friday, December 2, 2022, President Joe Biden took steps to make good on his October promise to review scheduling for marijuana by signing the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (H.R. 8454). This landmark bill passed with bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress and is the first time an administration has deviated from policy aligned with advancing the War on Drugs, making a detour towards addressing the social justice impacts caused by that war. 

In October, Biden issued federal pardons for criminal charges on simple possession and urged Governors to do the same at the State level. With mixed reactions of celebration and criticism, his pardons forgave thousands of convicts, but didn’t free them from incarceration.

Aaron Smith, the co-founder and CEO of the National Cannabis Industry Association, called Biden’s announcement this week, “unprecedented” stating he believes,“it’s imperative that we finally harmonize state and federal laws so that Main Street cannabis businesses can supplant underground markets and nobody is ever again put behind bars for a nonviolent marijuana crime.”

As a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is in the same classification as cocaine and heroin, which “makes no sense,” according to Biden. While Schedule II drugs like Adderall, Oxycodone, Dexedrine and even Fentanyl are recognized for having medicinal properties, cannabis is not recognized in this classification. Easing restrictions to research and speeding up the application to approve marijuana related studies is another step towards rescheduling marijuana.

According to the most recent poll from the Pew Research Center, 58% of people polled in October 2022 believe Adult Use Cannabis should be legalized, while only 10% believe it should be federally prohibited.

 

Tara Zrinski is the Campaign Director for the Pot Profits for Pennsylvanians (P3) Campaign. She joins All Together Now PA with a dynamic background as a local legislator in Northampton County, community organizer for environmental non-profits and adjunct professor of Philosophy at DeSales University and Northampton Community College.

To learn more about All Together Now PA’s Pot Profits for Pennsylvanians campaign, visit Alltogethernowpa.org/P3.

Read about our Cannabis Ambassador volunteer position here!

Stories From the Community: Omar Goodwin

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Stories From the Community: Omar Goodwin

Omar Goodwin, 45, is one of many people whose lives have been turned upside down by the War on Drugs. In 1998, he was arrested for small possession and, even though his case was thrown out, the arrest remains on his record. 

“Anytime my record is pulled by police officers, they go into a negative mode because of the past arrest,” said Goodwin, “I’ve always had to prove myself, bring in extra paperwork to prove there was no conviction.” 

Although Adult Use Cannabis will be made legal in PA in the near future, the minor possession offense from when he was barely an adult negatively impacts his employment, housing and relationships to this day. “If I get pulled over now, the police judge me on that,” said Goodwin. He is still waiting to get his record expunged. 

Since that time, he has gotten a CDL license, started taking courses at LaSalle where he was employed as a bus driver, and in 2021, he started a course for Cannabis Business at Jefferson University. Goodwin would one day like to educate people on the uses of Industrial Hemp or own a Hempcrete business. 

“Cannabis is so important to legalize because people don’t know there is a difference between Hemp and Cannabis,” said Goodwin, “They are stuck in old stereotypes like it’s just about blunts.”

He believes in fighting for social and economic equity that not only provides entrepreneurs entrance into the cannabis industry, but helps sustain their business growth. He believes that those most impacted by the War on Drugs should not be harmed again through its legalization. 

Goodwin is active in All Together Now PA and will participate in a volunteer role as a Cannabis Ambassador. “People just don’t know a lot that people have been through– their lives have been turned around by arrests and felonies. Now with legalization, it’s hard to turn lives around.”


With adult use cannabis legalization on the horizon, we have to recognize and uplift communities and individuals who are still navigating a system that many others, especially large out of state corporations, are now legally profiting from, and provide them with opportunities to rebuild and have a stake in this new industry.

Presidential Pardons, Prisons and Pot Profits: No Room For Incremental Justice

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Biden’s attempt to overhaul marijuana laws just doesn’t go far enough

Opinion

Read the article in The Philadelphia Inquirer

President Biden’s announcement to pardon federal convictions for marijuana possession and call to remove Cannabis from Schedule 1 under the Controlled Substance Act did little more than virtue-signal a change of heart after a political career marked by complicity in the War on Drugs. 

Even the most staunch advocates for the War on Drugs can have a change of heart. Biden’s actions are not cause for celebration. 

Decriminalizing simple possession and reviewing the schedule doesn’t necessarily mean that people will not face future criminal charges for marijuana. Federal Law could complicate the current legal medical or adult-use programs. Now is not the time for incremental justice.

Now the window of opportunity to encourage legislation that will right the wrongs of Jim Crow policies, to prioritize social equity opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs and to prevent corporate monopolies from depriving Pennsylvanians of the benefits of a thriving rural-urban cannabis economy.

With 78% of Americans in favor of marijuana legalization, public opinion on the failure of the War on Drugs offers a unique opportunity for equity and justice but it will require much more bold action than a gesture like a federal pardon that fails to free those incarcerated. 

The War on Drugs has had the most damaging impact on Black and Brown communities. There is no room for incremental justice in righting the wrongs of the past 50 years of excessively punitive anti-drug legislation, mass incarceration and militarization of local police forces. 

In 2020 alone, there were 20,200 arrests for marijuana possession. A record of conviction has lifelong social and economic impacts, leading to instability in employment and housing. Incarceration as well as services for housing and food insecurity are costly to taxpayers. 

Presumably well intended, Biden’s actions fail to actually free those incarcerated for those charges, provide adequate resources for their reentry into society or recognize the impact that incarceration has had on marginalized communities. Now is no time for incremental justice. 

This is an opportunity, if not a moral imperative, for Pennsylvania’s legislature to dismantle the prison pipeline and enact restorative justice policies that invest in the communities that have been ground zero for the war on drugs. Records need to be expunged and arrests restricted to more serious crimes to minimize the collateral consequences of prior marijuana convictions. 

Thirty seven state legislatures, legalizing cannabis either as medicinal, adult-use or both, have taken up the gauntlet, but Pennsylvania is lagging on its moral responsibility to address the multi-generational trauma of disenfranchised communities that lies squarely at the feet of our Representatives and Senators.

With a projected $2.5 billion in cannabis industry revenue, PA legislators are looking for legalization but, if they are just chasing the profits leaking across our borders, we will miss a unique opportunity to right the wrongs of the past. 

Righting the wrongs will take the establishment of a cannabis regulatory framework that distributes the tax revenue back to the communities it harmed by establishing social equity programs that provide grants, education and support for disenfranchised entrepreneurs and disadvantaged farmers. 

We have an opportunity to unite rural farms and urban businesses, resulting in a huge economic boon that would help local economies thrive through job creation and protection of small farmers. The worsening farm consolidation trend makes the PA agricultural sector of the cannabis industry ripe for multi-state domination. Farmers with smaller homesteads and little capital will find it difficult to compete. So, while Pennsylvanians could benefit from this economic boon, without legislative protections for small farms and businesses, profits will go out of state. 

Adult-use cannabis legislation that incorporates social and economic equity policies must also reach across party lines and have a broad base of support. Local small farmers and small business owners need to build a supply chain that builds upon the experience of the legacy markets without the stigma previously attached by criminalization. 

Special attention in the legislation needs to prevent economic concentration and multi-state domination of cannabis markets so that the revenue can stay in state and build stronger local economies that keep pot profits in Pennsylvania. 

Now is the time for transformative justice.

Signed,

Tara M Zrinski, Campaign Director, Pot Profits for Pennsylvanians, All Together Now Pennsylvania

Cherron Perry-Thomas, Director of Social Impact, Diasporic Alliance for Cannabis Opportunities (DACO) & Founder of Black Cannabis Week