9 Leaves Mario Williams has been a proponent of civil rights and equitable access since the beginning of his legal career. As the legal marijuana market opens up across the country, additional hurdles are being recognized by minority entrepreneurs. Mario adds valuable insight about how access for all to the market isn't matching the growth of the industry.
“The sad and unfortunate reality for African Americans is that black-owned businesses are still two to three times more likely to be rejected for a loan than white business owners,” Williams said. “I think, in particular, this form of discrimination, along with the stigma that still follows the cannabis and smoking industry, makes entrepreneurial ownership within the industry particularly difficult for people of color who simply cannot afford to put up a substantial portion of their own money.”
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