Honoring Juneteenth in the Era of Cannabis

Juneteenth marks the moment freedom rang a little louder but the fight for equity didn’t end there.

June 19, 1865, isn’t just a date, it’s a living memory of delayed freedom.

Two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, the last remaining enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned they were free.

The day came late, but it came loud. Juneteenth is a celebration of resilience, of communities who took that long-overdue freedom and turned it into movement, culture, and legacy.

And now, as cannabis legalization sweeps the nation, there’s a new freedom narrative being written…

but not everyone is getting a fair page.

The Roots of Injustice Run Deep

Let’s be real: for decades, cannabis was used as a tool of oppression. Black and Brown communities were disproportionately policed, imprisoned, and stigmatized often for the very same plant that’s now being glamorized and monetized by billion-dollar companies.

While some states have implemented equity programs to address this imbalance, the reality is this:

those who were punished for cannabis are often being priced out of its new legal economy.

And as Big Pharma and major corporations swoop into the cannabis space, they often bring with them a wave of gentrification rebranding weed as wellness, stripping it of its cultural roots, and selling it back to the very communities it once harmed at double the price.

Communities That Embrace vs. Communities That Police

In states and cities where cannabis culture is celebrated and decriminalized, we see family-owned dispensaries, infused dining experiences, smoke-friendly community yoga cannabis is woven into everyday life.

But in places still gripped by stigma, cannabis users are whispered about, legacy growers are left out of policy conversations, and access is limited not by law, but by bias.

This matters.

Because when communities support cannabis as a tool for healing, connection, and entrepreneurship especially among those historically harmed we see freedom take real form.

What Happens When Weed Goes Corporate?

Picture this:
You’ve spent years building a small batch edible company.
You’ve perfected your recipes, built trust with your community, and poured your savings into licensing.

Then comes a multi-million dollar company with glossy packaging, celebrity investors, and a marketing budget the size of your entire operation.

This isn’t a hypothetical.
It’s happening, and it’s part of what many now call the “gentrification of cannabis.”

Legacy Matters: The Power of Supporting Pioneers

So what can we do?

We can support legacy operators, the growers, creators, and community leaders who were here before legalization made headlines.

These are the pioneers who took risks, who held it down when it wasn’t cool or profitable or even safe. They’re not just businesses, they’re living testament to the fact that cannabis was always about more than getting high.

It was about healing, creativity, resistance, and sometimes, just getting through the day.

This Juneteenth, supporting these businesses is more than a purchase.

It’s a statement.

Cannabis Isn’t a Trend It’s a Tradition

The relationship between Black culture and cannabis spans music, art, protest, and peace. It’s been a tool for expression and a balm for generational pain. That story shouldn’t be erased because it’s not palatable to mainstream branding.

Instead of whitewashing weed, we should be uplifting the real people behind it, especially those who’ve fought, and still fight, for their place in this space.

Juneteenth Is a Reminder: Keep Pushing

Support family-run dispensaries.

Buy from brands with equity-built backstories.

Follow creators, growers, and influencers who prioritize community over profit.

Demand that regulations make room for real people, not just well-funded newcomers.

Juneteenth reminds us that freedom can be delayed, but it can’t be denied as long as we keep showing up for one another.

So this June 19th, light one up not just in celebration but in solidarity.
Because cannabis culture without equity isn’t freedom.
And freedom without community isn’t worth the smoke.