The Green Light Podcast

During this First Friday conversation, Marijuana Matters talks about how racial inequity is baked into the cannabis space. As a result, black people seeking to join the cannabis space often face tremendous barriers. To drive out this “darkness,” several media groups have sprung up to center BIPOC entrepreneurship and pathways into the cannabis industry.  Media is at the core of the equitable development of the cannabis industry. Stay tuned by following Marijuana Matters on these platforms:  @marijuanamattersdc (IG) Marijuana Matters (LinkedIn) @socialequitymatters (Facebook)

During this First Friday conversation, Marijuana Matters talks about Cannabinoids and Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). SCD affects approximately 8% of African Americans, and is characterized by chronic pain and episodic acute pain caused by Vaso occlusive crises, often requiring high doses of opioids for prolonged periods. Evidence is growing that cannabis may help people manage pain from SCD. However, only nine states include sickle cell as an approved health condition for medical marijuana. This conversation was moderated by Marijuana Matters Executive Director Courtney Davis, SCD advocate Demitrious Wyant aka AR the Prophet, and Cannabis Nurse Rebecca Abraham, CEO, and Founder of Acute on Chronic, LLC.  Stay tuned by following Marijuana Matters on these platforms:  @marijuanamattersdc (IG) Marijuana Matters (LinkedIn) @socialequitymatters (Facebook)

During this First Friday conversation, Marijuana Matters seeks to spotlight advocates who not only help to de-stigmatize the use of cannabis for persons with disabilities but also those who can tell the real story about how the plant helps with physical and mental health ailments. This First Friday conversation will include allies from the professional and community space. The session will be moderated by Marijuana Matters Program Director Simona Wright-James with Dr. Duclas, Cannabis Pharmacist, and Jewell Singletary, Lupus Advocate, with a closing live Q & A.    Stay tuned by following Marijuana Matters on these platforms:  @marijuanamattersdc (IG) Marijuana Matters (LinkedIn) @socialequitymatters (Facebook)

Meet Keisha Reed, Maryland-based CEO of Explore Maryland Cannabis.  Stay tuned by following Marijuana Matters on these platforms:  @marijuanamattersdc (IG) Marijuana Matters (LinkedIn) @socialequitymatters (Facebook) Want to learn more about Marijuana Matters? Connect with us at marijuanamatters.org.

Meet Amber Norwood, LA-based founder of PAIISE and co-founder of Weed the People.  Stay tuned by following Marijuana Matters on these platforms:  @marijuanamattersdc (IG) Marijuana Matters (LinkedIn) @socialequitymatters (Facebook) Want to learn more about Marijuana Matters? Connect with us at marijuanamatters.org.

Meet Sederia Gray, Southern-based cannabis founder of LunaSol (Mississippi).  Stay tuned by following Marijuana Matters on these platforms:  @marijuanamattersdc (IG) Marijuana Matters (LinkedIn) @socialequitymatters (Facebook) Want to learn more about Marijuana Matters? Connect with us at marijuanamatters.org.

Meet Stacey St. Louis, NYC-based cannabis entrepreneur and founder of Compact Comforts.  Stay tuned by following Marijuana Matters on these platforms:  @marijuanamattersdc (IG) Marijuana Matters (LinkedIn) @socialequitymatters (Facebook) Want to learn more about Marijuana Matters? Connect with us at marijuanamatters.org.

Meet Ashley Jelks, software engineer, yoga instructor, wellness practitioner, and founder of the High Priestess Herbal Wellness, a cannabis brand focused on helping people use herbal remedies like cannabis to improve their overall health. Stay tuned by following Marijuana Matters on these platforms:  @marijuanamattersdc (IG) Marijuana Matters (LinkedIn) @socialequitymatters (Facebook) Want to learn more about Marijuana Matters? Connect with us at marijuanamatters.org.

Tune into this conversation with Leah and Travis Maurer (activists and co-owners of the Weed Blog) about allyship in the cannabis industry.  Stay tuned by following Marijuana Matters on these platforms:  @marijuanamattersdc (IG) Marijuana Matters (LinkedIn) @socialequitymatters (Facebook) Want to learn more about Marijuana Matters? Connect with us at marijuanamatters.org.

We explore what allyship in cannabis can look like with Katrina Yolen (Chief Marketing Officer at Acreage Holdings).   Stay tuned by following Marijuana Matters on these platforms:  @marijuanamattersdc (IG) Marijuana Matters (LinkedIn) @socialequitymatters (Facebook) Want to learn more about Marijuana Matters? Connect with us at marijuanamatters.org.

Listen in on this conversation with Travis Moyer (Chief Legal Officer at Fyllo) about what allyship can look like in the cannabis industry.  Stay tuned by following Marijuana Matters on these platforms:  @marijuanamattersdc (IG) Marijuana Matters (LinkedIn) @socialequitymatters (Facebook) Want to learn more about Marijuana Matters? Connect with us at marijuanamatters.org.

Tune into this important conversation about allyship with Kate Steinberg (Corporate Social Responsibility Analyst at Curaleaf).  Stay tuned by following Marijuana Matters on these platforms:  @marijuanamattersdc (IG) Marijuana Matters (LinkedIn) @socialequitymatters (Facebook) Want to learn more about Marijuana Matters? Connect with us at marijuanamatters.org.

Join our conversation with Jason Klarreich (CFO at JW Asset Management) about allyship in the cannabis industry.  Stay tuned by following Marijuana Matters on these platforms:  @marijuanamattersdc (IG) Marijuana Matters (LinkedIn) @socialequitymatters (Facebook) Want to learn more about Marijuana Matters? Connect with us at marijuanamatters.org.

Listen in on this conversation with Rosie Mattio (Founder and CEO of Mattio Communications) about what it means to be an ally in the cannabis industry.  Stay tuned by following Marijuana Matters on these platforms:  @marijuanamattersdc (IG) Marijuana Matters (LinkedIn) @socialequitymatters (Facebook) Want to learn more about Marijuana Matters? Connect with us at marijuanamatters.org.

What does it mean to be an ally in the cannabis industry? What does that have to do with social equity? Can you make a meaningful impact even if you don't have a large platform or following?  Beginning in July, we're going to explore these topics with leaders who have chosen to step into the ally role within the cannabis industry. Stay tuned by following us on these platforms:  @marijuanamattersdc (IG) Marijuana Matters (LinkedIn) @socialequitymatters (Facebook) Want to learn more about Marijuana Matters? Connect with us at marijuanamatters.org.

Listen as Sailene Ossman drops some incredibly inspiring and helpful information about cannabis entrepreneurship, the therapeutic nature of cannabis, and ending the stigma associated with cannabis use - especially for women and mothers.  Follow Sailene on the following platforms: @theofficialsailene (IG) Glowing Goddess Getaway (FB) sailene.com Want to learn more about Marijuana Matters? Connect with us at marijuanamatters.org.  

Listen as Rafi Crockett - social equity advocate, former National Expungement Week organizer, producer of upcoming documentary Higher Power, and ABC Board member - shares insight into D.C.'s approach to social equity. Rafi breaks down what recently approved and proposed legislation means for the DC residents most impacted by cannabis criminalization.  Follow Rafi's film, High Power,  on the following social media platforms: IG: @higherpowerfilm  FB: @higherpowerfilmdc http://www.igg.me/at/higherpowerfilm You can support our work and learn more about Marijuana Matters at marijuanamatters.org. 

In this episode, we have a critical but often neglected conversation about environmental justice in cannabis with Neffer “Boom” Kerr. Boom is a speaker, author, and advocate working to promote social equity in the cannabis industry.  Follow Boom on the following platforms: Neffer-Oduntunde Osunbunmi Adesanya-Kerr (FB) To be Blunt with Mila and Boom (bi-monthly show on FB) @itstheboomshow (IG) Want to learn more about Marijuana Matters? Connect with us here.  

Cannabis licenses are expensive, and regulations are often designed to exclude BIPOC entrepreneurs - especially those with cannabis convictions or little capital. If you choose to go ancillary, those obstacles don't have to stop you from generating wealth in this industry. Today's guests are Shawnee Williams and Lynette Johnson, co-founders of Illinois Equity Staffing, a diversity, equity, and inclusion-centered recruiting firm serving the regulated cannabis industry.   Listen as Shawnee and Lynette talk about how they entered the cannabis space and launched their business without touching the plant or spending thousands of dollars on licensing. Find Illinois Equity Staffing on Facebook and Instagram.

Alphonso “Tucky” Blunt will go down in history as the first person in the world to receive a social equity license for a legal cannabis business. Join Marijuana Matters as we listen to his incredible journey from the unregulated to regulated cannabis space.  Follow Tucky on Instagram and Twitter! Special thanks to Phresh Ingredient for mixing this episode.