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We recommend the following for consideration: The Medical/Recreational Marijuana bill should ensure the medical marijuana industry will include both medium and small sized businesses by prohibiting a monopoly of large-scale cultivation licenses. Imposing strict anti-monopoly restrictions for small businesses and consumers should be instituted which will also support local economy growth. We recommend a horizontal business model which would include a business classification system. We highly recommend applicants must satisfy a minimum of 2 year state residency requirement.

Expanding the marketplace to include diversity as an emphasis thereby; requiring each license applicant provide a “diversity plan” defined as a strategy promoting or ensuring diverse groups ­participation in medical marijuana license holder ­ownership, management, workforce, and operation through contracting and employment opportunities.

A “diverse group” is defined as a ­certified disadvantaged, minority-owned, ­women-owned, service-disabled, veteran-owned or veteran-owned small business and an “operator” as an individual directly overseeing or managing applicant or permittee’s day-to-day business functions and ability to direct both “on- and off-site” employee activities.

Diversity Plan: An applicant shall include with its application a diversity plan that promotes and ensures the involvement of diverse participants and diverse groups in ownership, management, employment and contracting opportunities, including individuals from “diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds and communities; women; veterans and individuals with disabilities.” (Florida Legislation)

Equity Applicant Program: We recommend creating an equity applicant business participation program with rules, regulation and language easily adoptable by participating local cities, counties, and municipalities.

Reporting: Submit an annual report summarizing the participation and utilization of diverse groups in the activities authorized under medical/recreational marijuana program. (Pennsylvania Legislation)

We recommend each respective state responsible for implementing the program, including developing rules, processing applications, and issuing patient ID cards and licenses create a budget to support the appointment of a diversity advisory consultant who will advise and give recommendations to the compassionate care office and licensing authorities on the development of standards and regulations pursuant including best practices and guidelines that supports overall diversity. Two years after the law takes effect the Diversity Advisory Consultant will issue a report including recommendations regarding diversity ownership, management and operation through contracting and employment opportunities. (Maryland Initiative)

Marijuana use among youth is a serious issue we want to address in communities of color making sure they understand the differences/ramifications between adult medical marijuana use versus “black market” illegal under age use. The factors that drive the issue in different communities may vary considerably. For example, in one community, high school students may have low perceptions of the risks associated with use. However, this may not be an important risk factor in another community, where easy access to marijuana may be a serious factor. We recommend creating a budget for effective prevention strategies, interventions, and education linked to unique risk factors in communities of color. (Colorado Legislation)

Introduce a bill that would decriminalize the possession of marijuana. The bill would reduce the penalty to a fine not to exceed $100. Currently, an individual arrested for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana can still be sentenced to a maximum of 30 days in jail and fined up to $500. This long-overdue change would dramatically reduce the number of Floridians who have their dreams derailed by a criminal record. A 2013 study by the American Civil Liberties Union found that although blacks and whites use marijuana at nearly identical rates, enforcement is far from equal: blacks in Florida are 4.0 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession.

*We also recommend individuals with a felony criminal record for the possession of marijuana should be allowed to participate as an owner, grower, cultivator, and/or operator if their criminal conviction is over 5 years old.