Published October 5, 2020 | By Kristen Nichols

The legacy of systemic racism and the war on drugs is playing out in todays hemp industry, which remains dominated by white landowners and people with access to large amounts of capital.

The National Hemp Association recently launched a new effort to change that. The groups Standing Committee on Social Equity has gathered business leaders of color in the hemp sector and charged them with finding ways to bring more diversity and inclusion to the industry, and to educate people outside the hemp industry about low-THC cannabis and its role in communities of color.

Mbonu laid out the NHAs action plan including pushing for farmers of color to get the same kind of access to all the things that are supposed to be available to the agricultural community.

He plans to help farmers of color connect with buyers to increase profits and also focus on expanding opportunities in manufacturing and research.

Its not just about being the landowner, Mbonu added.

The group also plans to advocate for removing a federal requirement that drug felons be barred from hemp business ownership for 10 years, a requirement in the 2018 Farm Bill that disproportionately excludes some communities from getting licenses to grow hemp.

Its still hindering the very communities we are trying to uplift, and it makes no sense, Stark said.

To learn more about the National Hemp Associations inclusion plans, check out the exclusive video interview below.

Kristen Nichols can be reached at[emailprotected]

The rest is here:

Fighting remnants of the war on drugs: A look at the National Hemp Associations efforts to break down racist barriers - Hemp Industry Daily