Minorities have struggled to break into the industry, however, even in places like D.C. which legalized medical marijuana in 2014. The District removed criminal penalties for possessing, consuming and growing cannabis in small amounts, but marijuana can only be sold from an established medical marijuana business.
Marijuana sales grew 30 percent last year, reaching $6.7 billion in North America, according to a cannabis research company. The D.C. Council is ensuring residents can financially benefit from the budding industry, particularly entrepreneurs of color.
New legislation that the D.C. Council will consider this fall, dubiously named the “Citizens with Intellectual Disabilities Civil Rights Restoration Act,” would change the way the next Leonard entering the system qualifies for care—and is protected—in the District.
The D.C. Council has given minorities a hand up in the city’s new marijuana business as D.C. Department of Health statistics show that many local African-Americans are struggling with marijuana abuse.
“I have a daughter, Madison, who will turn one-year-old next week,” White said at a news conference at the Community Educational Research Group in Ward 8. “Madison is learning things every day and we want to provide a strong educational foundation for her at this time. My wife Christy stays with Madison for now but soon she will have to go back to work. It has been a difficult to find reasonably [priced] child care but we have done that. However, many families in the District cannot do that and the child suffers.”
At the direction of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, the city’s Department of Motor Vehicles will begin allowing residents to choose a gender-neutral “X” identifier on driver’s licenses and other city identification documents on June 26.
On June 13, the D.C. Council unanimously passed the nearly $14 billion fiscal year 2018 budget on its second and final vote. Despite the unity, D.C. Council members Vincent Gray (D-Ward 7) and Trayon White (D-Ward 8) did have issues.
DON’T TRUST IT!!! A group of guys are going around the metro claiming they’re raising money for Roosevelt High School. The school district says it is a lie.
Rayceen Pendarvis moderates the annual #AskRayceen Community Forum this year focused on “The D.C. Government & You.” The panel includes D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, At-Large Councilmembers David Grosso and Robert White, Deputy Mayors Courtney Snowden and HyeSook Chung and DCPS Chancellor Antwan Wilson.
On Wednesday, Mayor Muriel Bowser touted new efforts to help child care providers open or expand facilities before leading story time at the newly opened Curious Explorers Child Development Center in NW Washington.
