The California Cannabis Equity Alliance demands stronger Social Equity focus
The organisation is trying to make Cannabis more social.
Karl HoffmannOctober 3, 2026
California has long received criticism for not being an inclusive social justice space and for taking the steps some other states have taken with regard to inclusion. Now, a group of social justice leaders from across the state who form the California Cannabis Equity Alliance are planning a protest that will put their demands and wishes on the state. This Monday, May 17th at 9:30 am PST, on the western steps of the State Capitol, the group will meet and present their "vision for economic justice and fairness" in the state's cannabis industry. Speakers at the event include Kika Keith, president of the Social Equity Owners and Workers Association in Las Angeles; Malaki Amen, Executive Director of California Urban Partnership / Institute for MORE in Sacramento; Nina Parks, Director of Equity Trade for Original Equity Group in San Francisco; Lanese Martin, director of The Hood Incubator in Oakland; Cesar Casamayor, The People's Dispensary in Fresno; and Amber Senter, Director of SuperNova Women in Oakland. "California has made some strides in reinvesting cannabis tax revenues to support youth programs and address severe trauma, but the state continues to ignore the business development problems posed by its legacy of racialized marijuana policy enforcement," said Malaki Amen, executive director of the California Urban Partnership, according to a press release. "The real truth here is that the state cannot claim to support the black and brown children of drug war survivors; especially when it is deliberately transferring billions of generational wealth away from their families." State funding for enforcing cannabis operations that are in error currently stands at $ 89 million in California, which is much higher than funding allocated to social justice programs. Currently, California's social justice budget is only $ 15.5 million. Social justice programs can help those affected by the war on drugs or those disproportionately represented in the industry get a head start and get into the industry. The focus in California, according to the coalition, is still on wealthy, non-marginalized investors. "At a time when the state's marijuana tax revenue has grown from around $ 500 million to just under $ 1 billion annually, we continue to see funding for a new drug war in California spike," said Kika Keith, president of Los Angeles resident Social Equity Owners and Workers Association. "Justice demands that California stop funding a new drug war. We need the state to provide the capital and environment necessary for social equity operators to have a fair share of the legal cannabis industry . " While this action comes from a private group outside the government, it already has some government support. Senator Steven Bradford, a Democrat from Gardena, will be present at the demonstration in support of Social Equity and the California Cannabis Equity Alliance. He is also the author of SB 1294, the bill passed in California that set the initial framework for funding social justice in the state. Anyone interested in joining in and helping support this effort is welcome to join the California Cannabis Equity Alliance on Monday, May 17th at 9:30 am PST on the western steps of the Capitol Building. Participants will be asked to wear a mask during the demonstration and more information will be available soon on how to participate live or virtually. As the demand for social justice and a focus on people of color and other minorities gaining access in the cannabis industry continues, groups like the coalition are calling on lawmakers and those in power to make changes so more people have a chance to get into legal life Get in on cannabis.
