For all that it is worth, Black People are finding themselves having to take a backseat on the growing billion-dollar legalized marijuana industry. For years, many blacks have cultivated and sold marijuana on the “black market” when it was unlawful to possess or sell in any form. If the truth be known, it was a vehicle that many Blacks used in their community as a resource of financial opportunity and survival when there were very few or no other options because of the oppressive and targeted racial discrimination against Black folks that had been incarcerated and NEVER given a second chance to re-integrate into the job market with decent paying jobs.

Many Black men have had their criminal records hold them back from future opportunities due to their drug convictions from the possession and distribution of marijuana. However, in the most recent trend for marijuana to be legalized for medicinal or recreational use in most states, there has been a concerted effort by the elected powers in every community to ensure that Black People do not qualify to take advantage of a legalized process of which many them had lost their liberty and livihoods from the possession and business opportunity that marijuana brought them.

Why is that the case? Why is it that every time there are billion dollar opportunities, only the white elite can afford to own and participate in the enterprise? Why is it that Blacks can never own an opportunity such as buying into a lawfully operated marijuana dispensary, but can go work for a white person or foreigner that the local government has deemed as acceptable to actually own the enterprise, which is now going to be set up in black neighborhoods and take money from the community.

We should be sick of this slave mentality and reality by now. We should take these politicians to task, and demand that they leave room and opportunity for Black People to compete, own and operate in a profitable industry, that many of them went to jail for, but has now been deemed legitimate for the wealthy elite non-black folks.

Many local communities require a non-refundable application fee of between $40,000-$80,000, and if the application is disapproved for any reason, the fee is forfeited. That is troubling when the city may announce that it is only allowing 60 marijuana dispensaries in the city or designated area, but will accept hundreds of applications, knowing that only 60 will be ultimately approved, with everyone else having just contributed to the city with absolutely nothing in return for the application fee investment. How many Black folks have money like that to just give away. After an application is accepted, the applicant must also show they have $400,000 to $800,000 in liquidable assets in order to qualify.

We know that the way crooked politicians work. Many are paid off to allow their friends and colleagues to get in on the opportunity, while denying the community they represent to take advantage of the economic opportunity. We should use the power of the ballot to re-call these political, self-serving buffoons and send a strong message that political and economic slavery is no longer acceptable. How long with this foolishness of poverty and economic bondage go on? How long will Black People continue to be comfortable with being denied, oppressed, abused and held in a second-class citizen status?