Forbes: Biggie’s Own C.J. Wallace And Willie Mack Fight To Legalize Cannabis, Celebrate Black Culture And Creativity With New Lifestyle Brand

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By Javier Hasse

More than a year ago, I heard C.J. Wallace, son of Christopher “The Notorious BIG” Wallace, was getting into the cannabis industry. People told me his organization, Think BIG, was cool as hell. But after looking into it, I could not (for the life of me) figure out what it did. I think C.J. and his partner, creative genius Willie Mack, seemed to be still in the formative stages.

At the time, they had launched a limited edition line of cannabis with one of the leading companies in the space. However – they told me at the time, they knew Think BIG had to be about much more than just selling good weed. It needed to be about doing good.
Going BIG

Over a year has gone by, and C.J. and Willie’s lives have changed.

“A year ago, I didn’t really see what we’re doing now,” C.J. acknowledged during a recent conversation. “I understood the importance of reinvestment into all of the communities most harmed by the War on Drugs and an unfair criminal justice system. I knew the social equity piece and criminal justice reform aspect were going to be huge, key parts of our business. However, at the time, I think I really wanted to have a cannabis product out.”

As time went by, C.J. became increasingly aware of his privileged position as a black, cannabis entrepreneur with connections, a legacy, a name and a team. How many others could claim this? And so, he reckoned: this force had to be used for a greater good. “This past year has been a great learning experience… You have to evolve,” he explained.

And evolved they have. Think BIG is not just a cannabis company. In reality, Think BIG is a company focused on legalization and criminal/social justice reform.

“Our True North as people and business is global legalization of cannabis and hemp, because legalization forces hard conversations about the roots and enforcement of prohibition and numerous discussions on how to help the people most harmed by prohibition,” said Mack.

Essential Business

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everyone’s realities and priorities, and Think BIG is no exception.

Right before COVID-19 shut down New York, Think BIG spent a week traveling across the state to meeting with representatives from Governor Cuomo’s office; Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams; the Harlem Business Alliance; and other elected, religious and community leaders. Everyone was committed to cannabis reform and gave C.J., Willie and their coalition of legalization and advocacy partners Jason Ortiz, President of the Minority Business Cannabis Association and cannabis executive and Super Bowl champion Marvin Washington an opportunity to discuss their legalization policy platform…

Read at Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/javierhasse/2020/05/20/think-big/#10b1ab89126b

NewYorkTrend NYC: Cannabis & Entrepreneurship: Green Revolution 2018 in Harlem

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According to Business Insider, the market for legal marijuana is massive and exploding in a big way. Legal marijuana sales are predicted to hit $9.7 billion in North America in 2017, according to a new report from cannabis industry analysts Arcview Market Research, in partnership with BDS Analytics. “The Harlem community is poised and will be prepared to take advantage of the cannabis revolution. Our organization has hosted events to inspire and empower Black people to innovate and build better businesses. The Harlem Business Alliance is hoping to push the needle away from the devastating drug policies and toward generational wealth building with this budding industry. The economic opportunity is as huge as it is vital to the Harlem community, by creating new black-owned businesses and atoning for decades of systematic & disparate oppression through the war on drugs,” says, Regina Smith, Executive Director, Harlem Business Alliance.


The Cannabis and Entrepreneurship Summit is scheduled for June 21, National Black Theatre (2031 5th Avenue), 5-9PM. Tickets are available at https://greenrevolution2018.splashthat.com/ . Social media hashtags to follow the conversation: #hbagreenrevolution and #cannabisentrepreneurship.

The Cannabis and Entrepreneurship Summit will feature participation from: Amber Senter (keynote speaker, Supernova Women); Drug Policy Alliance; Minorities for Medical Marijuana: NY Minority Alliance; Minority Cannabis Business Association; Cannabis Cultural Association; Cannaclusive; Cannatech; BDTNDR; and, Women Grow.

Smith says, “Cannabis is the hot buzzword, but it’s more than just a trending topic. It has been used as a tool to incarcerate and disenfranchise our community. Now as popular opinion shifts, it (cannabis) has the power to be economically empowering. If we aren’t paying attention and preparing our community for this shift, by working together and sharing knowledge, we will be left behind again. This event will be the first of many led by HBA and specifically for Black people in Harlem. By starting conversations like these, we can grow a community of Black entrepreneurs and prepare them early to not just participate in but to dominate in the cannabis industry.”

The Harlem Business Alliance has pledged its service as an advocate for the preservation and retention of Harlem’s business community for over 37 years. Programs include, but are not limited to: Harlem’s first co-working space; first adult stem program; 10,000 entrepreneurs served through programs and services; 2,000 entrepreneurs received one-on-one counseling and over 1,200 workshops. With HBA’s guidance, their client’s small businesses bloomed from concept to tangible product, street vendor to store owner and food enthusiast to food artisan. Disrupt Harlem Code Squad was launched in Fall 2015, the first hyper-focused program to connect young adults with entrepreneurship options via technology.  Lastly, the HBA acknowledges when you educate a woman, you educate a generation; this inspired the groundbreaking Lillian Project, a tailored entrepreneur incubator for native-born African American women.

The time is now. The Cannabis and Entrepreneurship Summit will unlock opportunities for black people. Scheduled for Thursday, June 21, 5:00-9:00 PM, National Black Theatre (2031 5th Avenue). Tickets can be purchased at https://greenrevolution2018.splashthat.com/ .  Follow on social at #hbagreenrevolution and #cannabisentrepreneurship.

READ AT NYTREND NYC

Amsterdam News: From incarceration to empowerment: cannabis market promotes Black entrepreneurship

By Jodi Sterling

In the midst of the debate on the legalization of marijuana, a Harlem-based nonprofit organization, the Harlem Business Alliance, will host a community event centered on advocating for Black entrepreneurs having a startup influence in the cannabis industry. The event, entitled Cannabis & Entrepreneurship: Green Revolution 2018, is scheduled to take place June 21 at the National Black Box Theatre from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will feature various organizations rooted in minority economic empowerment, including the Drug Policy Alliance, Minorities for Medical Marijuana: NY Minority Alliance and the Minority Cannabis Business Association.

The HBA’s initiation of the entrepreneurial event serves as an attempt to reverse the negative mainstream influence of marijuana in the Black community into a more profitable, empowering scenario. According to a recent New York Times report, approximately 4,000 people were arrested for marijuana possession in New York City in the first three months of this year, and 89 percent of the people arrested were Black or Hispanic. To change the norm of Black incarceration resulting from marijuana possession, HBA Executive Director Regina Smith hopes that Black entrepreneurs will have a leading presence in the cannabis industry as atonement for the consequential racial disparities from the war on drugs.

Because of Smith’s confidence in the legalization of marijuana in New York, she strongly believes that now is the time for Black men and women to receive entrepreneurial mentorship within the cannabis industry. “The idea was started by the young people at the organization,” she said. To Smith, not only can Black entrepreneurial involvement in the cannabis market promote employment opportunities, but also increased tax revenues can lead to “improving schools, generate generational wealth and increase the net worth in our community.”

In New York City, marijuana policing was reformed to have the NYPD issue summonses instead of arrests for the possession of recreational marijuana. Although the number of arrests have gone down, the summonses for low-level marijuana possession have increased. According to a report by WNYC, there were 21,024 summonses issued for unlawful possession of marijuana in 2017, which has increased by 14 percent since 2015. However, the city is taking action to decrease the number of summonses issued, especially in communities predominantly of color.

Wednesday, June 6, the Southeast Queens Marijuana Reform Town Hall hosted an informational meeting that centered on educating the public about marijuana policing. The event was sponsored to initiate action toward the 105th Police Precinct, which covers five surrounding neighborhoods, including Queens Village and Springfield Gardens, having the highest number of marijuana summonses in New York City since 2009. The event, along with the presence of the Drug Policy Alliance, Grand Council of Guardians and Legal Aid Society as well as the support of four Queens Council members, served as a steppingstone in elevating the discussion of reform toward marijuana enforcement.

READ AT THE AMSTERDAM NEWS

Digital Journal – Cannabis & Entrepreneurship Summit in Harlem, June 21

Harlem Business Alliance Prepares Community for Opportunity & Growth

 

Jun. 6, 2018 / PRZen / NEW YORK — According to Business Insider, the market for legal marijuana is massive and exploding in a big way. Legal marijuana sales are predicted to hit $9.7 billion in North America in 2017, according to a new report from cannabis industry analysts Arcview Market Research, in partnership with BDS Analytics. “The Harlem community is poised and will be prepared to take advantage of the cannabis revolution. Our organization has hosted events to inspire and empower Black people to innovate and build better businesses. The Harlem Business Alliance is hoping to push the needle away from the devastating drug policies and toward generational wealth building with this budding industry. The economic opportunity is as huge as it is vital to the Harlem community, by creating new black-owned businesses and atoning for decades of systematic & disparate oppression through the war on drugs,” says, Regina Smith, Executive Director, Harlem Business Alliance.

The Cannabis and Entrepreneurship Summit is scheduled for June 21, National Black Theatre (2031 5th Avenue), 5-9PM. Tickets are available at https://greenrevolution2018.splashthat.com/. Social media hashtags to follow the conversation: #hbagreenrevolution and #cannabisentrepreneurship.

The Cannabis and Entrepreneurship Summit will feature participation from: Amber Senter (keynote speaker, Supernova Women); Drug Policy Alliance; Minorities for Medical Marijuana: NY Minority Alliance; Minority Cannabis Business Association; Cannabis Cultural Association; Cannaclusive; Cannatech; BDTNDR; and, Women Grow.

Smith says, “Cannabis is the hot buzzword, but it’s more than just a trending topic. It has been used as a tool to incarcerate and disenfranchise our community. Now as popular opinion shifts, it (cannabis) has the power to be economically empowering. If we aren’t paying attention and preparing our community for this shift, by working together and sharing knowledge, we will be left behind again. This event will be the first of many led by HBA and specifically for Black people in Harlem. By starting conversations like these, we can grow a community of Black entrepreneurs and prepare them early to not just participate in but to dominate in the cannabis industry.”

The Harlem Business Alliance has pledged its service as an advocate for the preservation and retention of Harlem’s business community for over 37 years. Programs include, but are not limited to: Harlem’s first co-working space; first adult stem program; 10,000 entrepreneurs served through programs and services; 2,000 entrepreneurs received one-on-one counseling and over 1,200 workshops. With HBA’s guidance, their client’s small businesses bloomed from concept to tangible product, street vendor to store owner and food enthusiast to food artisan. Disrupt Harlem Code Squad was launched in Fall 2015, the first hyper-focused program to connect young adults with entrepreneurship options via technology.  Lastly, the HBA acknowledges when you educate a woman, you educate a generation; this inspired the groundbreaking Lillian Project, a tailored entrepreneur incubator for native-born African American women.

The time is now. The Cannabis and Entrepreneurship Summit will unlock opportunities for black people. Scheduled for Thursday, June 21, 5:00-9:00 PM, National Black Theatre (2031 5th Avenue). Tickets can be purchased at https://greenrevolution2018.splashthat.com/.  Follow on social at #hbagreenrevolution and #cannabisentrepreneurship. For media inquiries, contact Karen Taylor Bass, 917-509-3061, kt@taylormademediapr.com.

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Twitter: @HBANY

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About the Harlem Business Alliance:

The Harlem Business Alliance (HBA), was founded in 1980 by a group of prominent Harlem business leaders who recognized the void that had resulted from years of disinvestment and abandonment in Harlem and the critical need to mobilize the existing businesses and organizations to come together as a collective voice. Incorporated in 1990 as a class 402 501(c)(3) corporation, HBA has worked diligently to establish Harlem as an economically self-sustaining community. For more information, visit www.hbany.org.

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