Massachusetts legal cannabis industry leadership remains predominantly white and male
Despite regulatory commitments to diversity, senior positions in Massachusetts' legal cannabis industry were 84% white and 82% male at 18 months, with women of color particularly underrepresented.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The overall cannabis workforce (4,883 people) was 75% white, 7% Latino, and 6% Black, roughly matching the state labor market. But senior positions (403 people) were significantly less diverse: 84% white, 2% Latino, 5% Black, and 82% male. Women of color had markedly low participation in leadership roles.
Key Numbers
4,883 total workers: 75% white, 7% Latino, 6% Black, 65% male. 403 senior positions: 84% white, 2% Latino, 5% Black, 82% male.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional analysis of race/ethnicity and gender from mandatory registration forms submitted to Massachusetts regulators for all workers in licensed adult-use cannabis businesses from October 2018 to April 2020. Negative binomial regression assessed factors associated with senior positions.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis criminalization disproportionately harmed communities of color. Legal markets were intended to create economic opportunities for those communities, but early data suggests leadership benefits are not reaching them.
The Bigger Picture
The gap between overall workforce diversity and senior-level diversity suggests that while entry-level jobs may be accessible, the wealth-building opportunities in cannabis leadership are concentrating among white men.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Only 18 months of data from one state. Registration forms may not capture all diversity dimensions. Does not assess reasons for disparities or effectiveness of specific equity programs.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are social equity programs improving diversity over time?
- ?What specific barriers prevent people of color from reaching senior positions in the legal cannabis industry?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Senior positions: 84% white, 82% male vs 75% white, 65% male overall
- Evidence Grade:
- Complete registration data from state regulators provides reliable snapshot, but limited to one state at an early industry stage.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022 with data from October 2018 to April 2020.
- Original Title:
- Racial Equity in Cannabis Policy: Diversity in the Massachusetts Adult-Use Industry at 18-months.
- Published In:
- Cannabis (Albuquerque, N.M.), 5(1), 30-41 (2022)
- Authors:
- Doonan, Samantha M(4), Johnson, Julie K(3), Firth, Caislin(3), Flores, Alyssa, Joshi, Spruha
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03817
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Was the overall workforce diverse?
The overall workforce (75% white, 7% Latino, 6% Black) roughly matched state demographics, but senior positions that offer wealth-building opportunities were far less diverse (84% white, 2% Latino, 5% Black).
Were women of color represented in leadership?
No. The study found that senior-level participation was "markedly low for women of color," suggesting compounded barriers of race and gender in cannabis industry leadership.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03817APA
Doonan, Samantha M; Johnson, Julie K; Firth, Caislin; Flores, Alyssa; Joshi, Spruha. (2022). Racial Equity in Cannabis Policy: Diversity in the Massachusetts Adult-Use Industry at 18-months.. Cannabis (Albuquerque, N.M.), 5(1), 30-41. https://doi.org/10.26828/cannabis/2022.01.004
MLA
Doonan, Samantha M, et al. "Racial Equity in Cannabis Policy: Diversity in the Massachusetts Adult-Use Industry at 18-months.." Cannabis (Albuquerque, 2022. https://doi.org/10.26828/cannabis/2022.01.004
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Racial Equity in Cannabis Policy: Diversity in the Massachus..." RTHC-03817. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/doonan-2022-racial-equity-in-cannabis
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.