Contact: press@uscannabiscouncil.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following a joint virtual event co-organized by the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) and the United States Cannabis Council (USCC) on cannabis legalization and what mayors can do to best advance social equity, AAMA 1st Vice President Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard and USCC CEO Khadijah Tribble joined forces to call on Congress to take action on pressing cannabis issues that are affecting cities across the nation, particularly those with large communities of color. 

"As a mayor, one of my chief concerns, as with all mayors, is public safety," said African American Mayors Association 1st Vice President and Mount Vernon, New York, Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard. "Current federal banking policy is making our cities less safe by forcing legal cannabis-related shops to run an all-cash business that is vulnerable to robberies and violent crime. Legal cannabis should be an engine for social equity, not a magnet for thieves. That’s why I urge our federal lawmakers to pass legislation that will allow our cities to reap the social equity benefits of legalization and ensure a safe, secure, and thriving cannabis industry."

“America’s cities were ground zero for the war on drugs. Today, they can be spaces for mending the past harms of over-criminalization and leveraging legal cannabis to advance social equity," said Khadijah Tribble, CEO of the United States Cannabis Council (USCC). "But Mayors like Mayor Patterson-Howard cannot create a safe and equitable local cannabis industry on their own. They need Congress to pass restorative justice policies and implement banking reforms that remove the ban and stigma against doing business with cannabis entrepreneurs."

According to recent reports, the Senate is on the cusp of reaching a lame-duck deal on banking and criminal justice reform-centered cannabis legislation that could include a mix of grants for state expungement programs, access to SBA loans, and allow banks to serve cannabis businesses.

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The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) is the only organization exclusively representing over 500 African-American mayors across the United States. AAMA seeks to empower local leaders for the benefit of their citizens. The role of the AAMA includes taking positions on public policies that impact the vitality and sustainability of cities; providing mayors with leadership and management tools; and creating a forum for member mayors to share best practices related to municipal management.

The US Cannabis Council (USCC) is the voice of America's regulated cannabis industry. Our business members include many of the largest cannabis companies in the nation, and our nonprofit members are leaders in cannabis policy, criminal justice reform, and more. By harnessing the collective power and reach of our 60+ member companies and nonprofits, we have become a leading force for ending federal prohibition and creating an equitable and values-driven cannabis industry. For more information visit https://www.uscc.org/