D.C. Marijuana Bill Would Encourage Formerly Incarcerated People To Work In Legal Industry

A Washington, D.C. councilman introduced a bill this week that would expand opportunities for formerly incarcerated people to participate in the medical marijuana market. Councilman Robert White (D) said on Monday that there’s “no reason why those who’ve paid their debt to society should be locked out of this industry any longer.” In addition to ending the ban on industry participation by most people with felony convictions, his bill, which currently has four cosponsors, would establish two programs meant to encourage cannabis business ownership by so-called “returning citizens.” One would provide an “application fee waiver, technical assistance with the application, and assistance with applying for any required license” for those seeking a marijuana license for a businesses with at least 51 percent ownership by formerly incarcerated individuals. The other would offer “assistance in developing a business plan and a plan for raising capital for approved applicants” for businesses with at least 51 percent “returning citizen” ownership. This week I’m introducing a bill to repeal the prohibition on returning citizens working in the #Cannabis Industry. There is no reason why those who’ve paid their debt to society should be locked out of this industry any longer. pic.twitter.com/tkJOCugzlw — Councilmember_RobertWhite (@CMRobertWhiteDC) October 12, 2020 The legislation would also repeal a section of current city code that says: “No director, officer, member, incorporator, agent, or employee of a dispensary, cultivation center, or testing laboratory who has access to the medical marijuana at the dispensary, cultivation center, or testing laboratory shall have a felony…

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Source : MJ moment
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