‍Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) is the largest national trade association dedicated to serving the needs of minority cannabis businesses and communities. With a focus on policy, MCBA’s objective is to help the communities that have been disproportionately criminalized for doing this work and lower the barrier of entry in pursuit of an equitable, just, and responsible cannabis industry.

Cannabiz Media spoke with MCBA President Kaliko Castille to learn how the association uses the Cannabis Market Intelligence Platform to keep a pulse on the industry and identify where to focus their efforts.

Why Does MCBA Partner With the Cannabis Market Intelligence Platform?

MCBA relies on the Cannabis Market Intelligence Platformto track social equity licenses. “​​It's important for us to be able to take a look at where social equity applicants and licenses are,” Kaliko explains.

But tracking social equity licenses is something Kaliko advises the entire industry to be aware of. “It’s really important for people who are operators who want to do the right thing and want to have more minority operators on their shelves. They can use tools like the Cannabis Market Intelligence Platform to figure out who these people are and reach out because diversity is not just about ownership. It's a really big portion, but it's also about supplier chain diversity, hiring, and so many other ways.”

“I really do appreciate that you guys have been a partner with us on this and the work that you guys are doing to help move the ball forward,” Kaliko concludes.

How Can You Further MCBA’s Cause?

MCBA strives to help grow the association similar to NCIA. Through policy summits and lobbying, they are putting forth equitable policies that people can take to their legislators or regulators that double down on what’s already working rather than attempting to reinvent the wheel.

Kaliko gives an example. “Oakland, California is one of the very first localities to have a social equity program. And they have done things like give low interest loans and grants to entrepreneurs to make it easier for people to get access to licenses.”

As an all volunteer organization, MCBA doesn’t have chapters across the country or paid staff located in the states they are working in so ultimately it’s all about providing resources and a network. By finding people who want to connect with other like-minded advocates in their area to work on these issues by lobbying at the state and local level.

For more information about MCBA and to hear additional insights from Kaliko Castille, follow the link and listen to Cannabiz Media’s recent Cannacurio podcast episode featuring Kaliko as the special guest.

To learn more about how the Cannabis Market Intelligence Platformcan help you further MCBA’s mission by actively seeking out social equity operators to work with, schedule a quick demo.