Black-owned dispensaries near you
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Black-owned dispensaries near you
You can find a Black-owned dispensary in almost every legal cannabis state. However, in a country where people of color are four times more likely to be arrested for cannabis consumption than white people, the representation of Black-owned dispensaries compared to white-owned dispensaries is bleak. The gap reveals a more profound and systematic problem reflecting how the War On Drugs continues to stifle equitable access to cannabis business opportunities among Black Americans and other minorities.
Despite the barriers faced, existing Black-owned dispensaries are a bright spot in the cannabis industry that provide an opportunity to equal the scales of injustices carried out by the War on Drugs. Localized grassroots efforts are slowly helping break down barriers through cannabis legislation, financial grants, and award programs specifically designed to help people of color open up their own dispensaries.
To help shine a light on these pioneering businesses, Leafly's dispensary experts put together this guide to help you support and find Black-owned dispensaries near you.
What are some popular Black-owned cannabis brands?
Shopping Black-owned cannabis brands is a great way to support Black cannabis businesses. Many Black-owned cannabis brands sell their products at dispensaries. Some of the most popular Black-owned cannabis brands include:
How can I support Black cannabis businesses?
The best way to support local Black-owned cannabis businesses is simple: buy Black-owned cannabis products, become loyal patrons of those products, and don’t forget to spread the good word. You can also support Black cannabis businesses indirectly by supporting efforts that help Black people disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs, like supporting local decriminalization and expungement legislation.
Buying from Black-owned dispensaries
What percentage of dispensary owners are white?
A highly-cited research survey from 2017 by Marijuana Business Daily found that 80% of dispensary owners who participated in the survey identified as white, while only 10% identified as Hispanic, Latino, or Black. In 2021, Leafly's Seeds of Change report showed that despite Black people representing 13% of the population, they account for only 1.2%-1.7% of business owners in the cannabis industry.
Why order from a Black-owned dispensary?
Shopping and ordering from Black-owned dispensaries is a great way to support Black entrepreneurs. By intentionally choosing to shop at Black-owned dispensaries, you're helping contribute to a more diverse cannabis industry now and in the future.
How does changing cannabis laws impact black-owned dispensary owners?
Cannabis laws have a direct impact on Black dispensary owners. For example, the states that have passed cannabis expungement laws have the highest concentration of Black-owned dispensaries. On the other hand, some states have legalized marijuana in some form but have not passed legalization that overturns or expunges past criminal records regarding cannabis.
The absence of meaningful cannabis reform legislation like expungement prevents people with a criminal record from being able to work in the industry - even if the crime at hand is cannabis-related. Because the War on Drugs has historically and unfairly targeted Black people and people of color, this has resulted in a gap regarding black-owned cannabis dispensaries across states where cannabis is legal.
Frequently asked questions
Why shop at a Black-owned dispensary?
How many dispensary owners are Black?
How can you support Black-owned businesses?
