MINORITIES FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA – NEW JERSEY JOINS NJCBA STRATEGIC ALLIANCE TO ENSURE MINORITY REPRESENTATION IN NJ’S CANNABIS INDUSTRY

Trenton — The New Jersey CannaBusiness Association (NJCBA) today announced that Minorities for Medical Marijuana – New Jersey is joining its strategic alliance with some of New Jersey’s most prominent economic justice advocates. The alliance, created in May 2021, is meant to ensure minority representation in the state’s cannabis industry.

Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM) is a 501c3 that focuses on providing advocacy, outreach, research and training as it relates to the business, social reform, public policy, and health/wellness in the cannabis industry. The organization is committed to cultivating a culturally inclusive environment where diversity of thought, experience and opportunities are valued, respected, appreciated and celebrated. M4MM stands on four pillars of excellence: health equity, social equity, social justice, and public policy & legislation in adult recreational cannabis and medical marijuana industries.

“The New Jersey cannabis market continues to take shape, with more licenses being awarded every month,” said NJCBA President Edmund DeVeaux. “This growth makes it even more important that the state ensure that people of color are part of the economic fabric of the cannabis industry. M4MM’s record of advocacy on this issue speaks for itself. We are honored to have them join the alliance and look forward to working with them and our partners on ensuring the inclusion of minority stakeholders in New Jersey’s cannabis industry.”

“Providing true social justice and equity in the cannabis space is about both righting the wrongs of the past and ensuring minority communities are not shut out of the industry’s future,” said M4MM State Co-Director, Nichelle Santos.

“Working with our alliance partners, we aim to create a New Jersey cannabis industry and culture that both embraces and benefits those who previously paid the heaviest price for cannabis involvement,” said M4MM State Co-Director Gaetano Lardieri. M4MM-NJ thanks the NJCBA for welcoming us and uniting with us in this endeavor.”

“The Camden Business Association is excited to expand our NJCBA Strategic Alliance collaboration with such a wonderful organization as M4MM.” said Camden Business Association VP, Nichelle Pace. “We have a long relationship with the M4MM national team and the amazing work of Roz McCarthy and look forward to working with NJ Director, Nichelle Santos. Ms. Santos brings leadership and a powerful voice of advocacy for minority entrepreneurs that will strengthen the alliance. We couldn’t be more excited about the work we can accomplish as a collective to ensure the cannabis industry in New Jersey is equitable, profitable, and flourishing for New Jersey communities of color.”

Partners in the alliance include:

• Camden Business Association
• Essex County Latino Chamber of Commerce
• Gloucester County NAACP
• New Jersey State Chapter of the NAACP
• Salvation & Social Justice
• Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey

Working under the motto that good economic policy is the policy of inclusion, the alliance works to ensure that minorities, minority-owned and small businesses are not left out as the state’s cannabis industry expands.  The organizations share information, conduct business networking sessions, and provide the Cannabis Regulatory Commission and Legislature with ideas to help shape the cannabis economy in New Jersey.

About The New Jersey CannaBusiness Association

The NJCBA’s mission is to promote jobs and growth in a sustainable and responsible cannabis industry. Starting with the pioneers in the medical cannabis market to the emerging players in the adult-use space, the NJCBA’s focus is to make certain that decision makers and regulators understand and respect the needs of the CannaBusiness community and that our community remain responsible corporate citizens.

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