White says his bill goes a step further by instructing the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration, which oversees the medical cannabis program, to reserve at least one dispensary license, one cultivation center license and one testing lab license for businesses that are majority-owned by people who were previously incarcerated for drug crimes whenever new licenses are next approved.

“We have seen the significant disparity in terms of convictions and sentencing, particularly for people of color, for drug-related crimes,” White said. “This [bill] makes sure the people who are most impacted by the failed war on drugs, and the significant disparities we see in our criminal justice system, aren’t completely left out of what is now a multibillion-dollar industry in this country.” [Read More @ The Washington Post]