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As The Legal Pot Industry Booms, African-Americans Are Left Behind

Amanda Chicago Lewis investigated the effect of the War on Drugs on black entrepreneurship in the legal pot industry for six months. NPR’s Kelly McEvers talks to her about what is keeping black people from entering the lucrative legal pot industry.

By Kelly Mcevers

Ed Forchion, a pro-marijuana activist known as NJ Weedman, stands in front of his Weedman's Joint restaurant Monday, March 7, 2016, in Trenton, N.J. After years of legal fights over marijuana from coast to coast, NJ Weedman appeared to be going legit with a new restaurant in New Jersey's capital city. But after Trenton officials shutdown the attached cannabis "temple" Saturday night for operating too late at night, Forchion says he's headed back to court. — Ed Forchion, a pro-marijuana activist known as NJ Weedman, stands in front of his Weedman’s Joint restaurant Monday, March 7, 2016, in Trenton, N.J. After years of legal fights over marijuana from coast to coast, NJ Weedman appeared to be going legit with a new restaurant in New Jersey’s capital city. But after Trenton officials shutdown the attached cannabis “temple” Saturday night for operating too late at night, Forchion says he’s headed back to court.

Amanda Chicago Lewis investigated the effect of the War on Drugs on black entrepreneurship in the legal pot industry for six months. NPR’s Kelly McEvers talks to her about what is keeping black people from entering the lucrative legal pot industry.

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