Metropolis leaders in Kalamazoo plan to have a look at extra choices to extend the variety of marijuana companies owned by individuals of shade within the metropolis. This week, metropolis commissioners have been requested to have a look at some zoning modifications affecting marijuana companies. However some commissioners pushed again.
“We are able to do a lot better with together with the BIPOC group within the hashish area,” stated Commissioner Stephanie Hoffman.
Some metropolis employees responded they have been planning to current new concepts for amending the town’s social fairness coverage in marijuana dispensaries in June.
However Commissioner Estevan Juarez requested why that wasn’t already being carried out, stating that almost all of marijuana enterprise homeowners in Kalamazoo are white, and should not characterize the communities that have been most damage by implementing marijuana legal guidelines.
“My dad was imprisoned for marijuana gross sales,” Juarez stated. “He can’t get that point again. However then now we obtained the vast majority of white homeowners promoting marijuana up the wazoo – 50 {dollars} an oz, at occasions – simply to attract individuals in.”
Juarez stated the result was an instance of how systemic racism works.
“And if we don’t begin truly fascinated with that and taking motion at first of issues which are taking place to learn individuals who have been disproportionately affected, we’re simply, we’re a part of this vicious cycle,” Juarez stated.
Kalamazoo instituted a social fairness coverage concerning marijuana companies in June of 2020 that gave reductions on metropolis licenses for companies owned by residents from sure components of Kalamazoo, or who had a previous marijuana conviction.
However metropolis lawyer Clyde Robinson stated many potential enterprise homeowners nonetheless face obstacles elevating sufficient cash to get began within the business. Now, he says the town is contemplating an modification to its social fairness coverage that makes use of a number of the revenues from marijuana taxes to assist with startup funds.
The state says Kalamazoo is receiving $564,534.40 in marijuana tax disbursements this 12 months.
“We’re sharing in that bounty, if you’ll,” Robinson stated. “And that’s why we wish to come earlier than you with an amended social fairness coverage, in order to utilize that elevated capital.”
Metropolis employees plan to debate a doable modification to the social fairness coverage at an upcoming assembly of the fee’s committee of the entire. A date for that assembly hasn’t been set.
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