DC works to boost diversity in medical marijuana program

Add Washington DC to the list of U.S. marijuana markets trying to improve diversity in the industry.

The DC Council passed an emergency bill that gives minorities preference in the application process for medical marijuana licenses, The Washington Post reported. The legislation is awaiting the mayor’s approval.

In addition to the emergency bill, DC is working to award a dispensary permit in an overwhelmingly black neighborhood, according to the newspaper. Both moves would be welcome news in a market that has eight cultivation centers but only one black grower.

One of DC’s neighbors, Maryland, is involved in a lawsuit because regulators didn’t consider diversity in developing the state’s MMJ program.

Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and Oakland, California, are among the cannabis markets that have diversity requirements.