Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM) celebrated “Cannabis & Culture Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop” at the annual Diversity In Cannabis & Equity Mixer last Tuesday evening in conjunction with the annual MJBiz Conference. The event featured Martin Luther King III as their keynote speaker who looked back on his father’s legacy and highlighted the need for a strong labor force to empower the Black cannabis community, M4MM states.
A Place for Minority Cannabis Members to Network
“If we are able to create successful businesses and entrepreneurs, that is one of the steps that helps build the beloved community that Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King were talking about. My dad talked about eradicating what he defined as triple evils, poverty, racism and violence, and we believe that through peace, justice and equity you create that beloved community,” says Martin Luther King III in a news release.
“What we know is the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first steps and this cannabis industry is going to be huge, it’s already large. But it’s going to be huge and historically, when a new industry is created, the black and brown community and even poorer communities are left out or at least don’t get engaged until later on,” King continues. “Every movement that my family has been involved in, it started with just a few human beings.”
Roz McCarthy, Founder and CEO of M4MM, created the D.I.C.E mixer to give minority members of the cannabis space a place to network, build their community and feel welcome. “We got something right and we’re not going to apologize for celebrating us and being able to give us an outlet, to get together, feel good and talk to one another,” she says in the news release.
“A lot of the employees in the cannabis space look like us. They’re black and brown people that need support. I always encourage folks to network, and when you do, you’ll be surprised how things will open up opportunities you never expected,” adds McCarthy.
Martin Luther King III Stands With the Cannabis Industry
During King’s address to the crowd, he continued to warmly emphasize to not leave the worker behind. He also said he stands with the workers of the cannabis industry, M4MM states.
“We’re going to be here with the workers because the owners may do well. But for everyone to do well, the workers have to be treated fairly. Plan your work and work your plan. As we do that, we will create a remarkable industry, be a part of a remarkable industry that is helping you help others, help people with illnesses and if nothing else, it certainly causes you to chill out,” King says in the release.
