The second annual Black CannaConference & Expo is taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 18-20, 2021. It is the only national conference for BIPOC cannabis professionals, including entrepreneurs and consumers of color.
Black CannaConference & Expo
Less than 4% of all cannabis businesses are Black-owned, and white men make up 70% of top executives at the largest 14 cannabis companies. In fact, Black executives make up only 7% of the cannabis C-suite. In addition, Black people are four times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession.
It’s Probably Not Your Grandma’s Cup of Tea
“It used to be that if you tell grandma that you’re in the cannabis business she’d be getting your bail money together, so that is some of the work we have to do.”
Event organizer and entrepreneur, Kristi Price
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
It’s true. There is some hesitancy to join the cannabis industry, but awareness is the first step. The role of cannabis is undoubtedly changing. The Black CannaConference & Expo aims to open a door to connection and education, and in doing so, further establish legitimacy for the cannabis industry.
Sessions will be Both Educational and Accessible for Beginners and Experts
There will be sessions for learners of all levels. Topics range from Cannabis 101 to capital and funding. Additionally, other sessions will discuss dispensary operations, cultivation and extraction, CBD and wellness, Black politics, equity and inclusion, farming and hemp, ancillary and tech, and career and professional development.
The Idea Came from a BIPOC Executive Who Noticed Inequalities in the Cannabis Sphere
Kristi Price thought of the idea to create a conference after she held an online gathering that left people wanting more. Therefore, Price used her vast experience as a marketing executive for brands like Nike, Red Bull, and Guinness to create her own media company, KRMA Media Inc. Furthermore, her goal was to address some of the inequalities she saw beginning to occur in the cannabis space.
“There are no business-to-business media or conferences that target people of color in this space and people of color have a very different experience with the plant, both in terms of the criminal justice system and from the diversity and inclusion perspective.”
Price via Times-Picayune
The Expo is Expected to Bring a Huge Crowd
Photo by Alex Motoc on Unsplash
Hundreds of BIPOC cannabis founders and professionals will gather to network and share their solutions, experiences, and expertise. The speaker lineup includes Al Harrington, the Founder/CEO of Viola Brands, Dr. Ashley P. Doucette, MD/MPH, an Adult and Forensic Psychiatrist at Doucette Consultants, and also Akele Parnell, Head of Equity Partnerships at Lantern.
The Black CannaConference is expected to attract over 2,000 vendors. To learn more or buy your own ticket, visit: https://www.blackcannaconference.com.
More Content
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BACKWOODS AND HIP-HOP
TERPENES FOR ANXIETY: 3 TERPS IN CANNABIS WITH STRESS-RELIEVING PROPERTIES
RAPPER WEED: WHICH RAPPERS HAVE CANNABIS PRODUCTS IN THE MARKET? WHO ACTUALLY HAS THE FIRE?
18 COMPANIES THAT DON’T DRUG TEST THEIR EMPLOYEES FOR WEED
7 TIPS FOR MARKETING CANNABIS AND CBD ON TIKTOK AND INSTAGRAM
