State officials in Missouri have pledged to launch a demographics survey of cannabis business owners for the first time in a move aimed at addressing criticisms of underrepresentation of the Black community.
According to the Missouri Independent, during an outreach event on June 22, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ Chief Equity Officer Abigail Vivas said she would advocate for a survey enabling licence holders to volunteer their demographic information.
“Considering the spirit of the constitution…I think that data is important,” she said.
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It comes as the state prepares to launch the microbusiness cannabis programme, aimed at giving access to communities who have been most impacted by cannabis criminalisation.
The programme was a response to criticisms that there are very few Black-owned cannabis businesses in the state, a fact the industry’s leaders hope this new survey will show.
As part of the initiative, 48 microbusiness licences will be granted this Autumn, with applications open from July 27 to August 10.
