Page 14 - The Indian EYE 031524

COMMUNITY OP-ED MARCH 15, 2024 | The Indian Eye 14

Building a legal, equitable cannabis

industry that works for us all

Legal cannabis remains the right choice for New York City. This budding,

emerging industry offers a once-in-a-generation chance for those

disproportionately impacted by the so-called ‘War on Drugs’ to build wealth,

especially in our Black and Brown communities

ERIC ADAMS

hen we came to office two
years ago, we had a clear
Wvision: protect public safe-
ty, revitalize the economy, and make
this city more livable for hardworking
New Yorkers. And building a legal,
equitable cannabis industry is part of
every part of that vision.
Legal cannabis remains the To support the legal cannabis market, New York City must have the tools necessary to stop the illegal market from growing even further (File photo)
right choice for New York City. This
budding, emerging industry offers ebrate the opening of the first legal in line for the economic opportuni- market from growing even further.
a once-in-a-generation chance for dispensary in Brooklyn owned by a ties that legal cannabis offers in the These illegal shops take money out
those disproportionately impacted Black woman. Matawana Dispensa- future. of the registers of legal businesses,
by the so-called ‘War on Drugs’ to ry is an example of how we can build Through the city’s Cannabis while simultaneously posing both a
build wealth, especially in our Black an equitable cannabis industry that NYC initiative, we have support- public safety and a public health con-
and Brown communities. For too rights the wrongs of the past. Leeann ed the opening of 26 legal cannabis cern — selling counterfeit products
long, these communities faced high Mata, the owner of Matawana Dis- shops across the five boroughs, and, that are unsafe and often targeted
rates of drug-related incarceration pensary, was justice-impacted by the every day, we are working to create towards kids.
and were denied economic oppor- previous ‘War on Drugs,’ but turned a more thriving, equitable, and legal We know that New Yorkers are
tunities. But thanks to the equitable, her pain into purpose. Now, she is a cannabis industry. fed up with illegal storefronts and
legal cannabis industry, they have a proud small business owner in the Our commitment stems from a their unlawful business practices. Le-
chance to get in on the industry from borough she calls home. moral obligation to make sure that galization is about following the law,
the ground up. We know, however, For many years, people of color the people who were adversely af- not a free pass to sell unregulated
that it’s not enough to just support in our communities were routinely fected by cannabis criminalization cannabis products.
the opening of new legal canna- targeted when it came to cannabis get their fair share of this emerging That’s why our administration is
bis shops — we must have Albany law enforcement. Cannabis crim- market. But these legitimate busi- working with all our partners in Al-
grant local authorities the power to inalization was used to harass, ar- nesses are facing stiff competition bany and New York State to get the
close down the illegal operators that rest, and prosecute so many of our from shops that are not following the local authority to shut down illegal
threaten the economic success of le- brothers and sisters. And that’s why rules. smoke shops.
gal shops and put the safety of our New York City is making sure that To support the legal cannabis
communities at risk. the New Yorkers who were harmed market, New York City must have Eric Adams is the Mayor of
Last week, I was proud to cel- by the mistakes of the past are first the tools necessary to stop the illegal New York City, NY

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