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2024 Election Coverage

Social equity & finance challenges in the cannabis industry

Budtender Taylor Altshule holds Cherry Pie marijuana at a California Street Cannabis Company location in San Francisco, Monday, March 20, 2023.
Jeff Chiu/AP
/
AP
Budtender Taylor Altshule holds Cherry Pie marijuana at a California Street Cannabis Company location in San Francisco, Monday, March 20, 2023.

Cannabis is big business, and more than $420 million dollars of medical and recreational use cannabis was sold in Maryland in the first eight months of the year.

When the General Assembly made recreational cannabis legal, it established a new Office of Social Equity, to assure that members of traditionally marginalized communities have access to the resources they need to establish businesses in this lucrative industry.

Joining Tom to discuss social equity in the cannabis business is Audrey Johnson, the executive director of Maryland's Office of Social Equity.

Next, Tom turns to Wendy Bronfein, the Co-Founder and Public Policy Director at Curio Wellness to discuss legislative initiatives to address finance and tax problems for the cannabis industry.

Audrey Johnson, Executive Director of the Maryland Office of Social Equity; Wendy Bronfein, Co-Founder and Director of Public Policy at Curio Wellness
Courtesy Photos
Audrey Johnson, Executive Director of the Maryland Office of Social Equity; Wendy Bronfein, Co-Founder and Director of Public Policy at Curio Wellness

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