Rapper Vic Mensa Wants To Open Cannabis Dispensary, Cultivation Facility Focused On Equity In Bronzeville Or Hyde Park – Block Club Chicago

CHICAGO — As the state and city gears up for the sale of recreational marijuana at the start of the new year, Chicago rapper Vic Mensa wants to see the legislation be more than just an opportunity for lawmakers to balance the budget.

Mensa sees it as a chance for elected officials to right the wrongs the war on drugs has had on black and brown lives across Chicago and Illinois. But for that to happen, he wants to see black and brown people at the table, not just as employees but as entrepreneurs learning the skills to eventually open their own dispensaries. 

That’s why he’s partnering with friend, poet and activist Malcolm London to open a dispensary and cultivation facility near Bronzeville or Hyde Park.

As part of the plan, Hyde Park native Mensa and London are envisioning a dispensary with a greenhouse facility that would make way for cannabis cultivation while also teaching community members how to start their own business.

RELATED: Weed Will Be Sold In Chicago Jan. 1 As Black Caucus Attempt To Stall Pot Sales Fails

“Our goal is to break into the industry and use that to bring people along with us … by passing along the skill set to people in the community to build their own businesses,” Mensa said. 

Beyond the cultivation of cannabis, Mensa wants the site to serve as an indoor urban garden where kids can learn to grow produce that will be sold at farmers markets. Mensa, whose nonprofit Save Money Save Life works to address gun violence and other issues in underserved communities, hopes teaching children to plant, cultivate and harvest food will improve access to fresh foods on the South and West Sides.

“We all know the impact that the war on drugs and the criminalization of marijuana … has had on our black and brown communities on the South Side and West Side,” Mensa said. “I’ve had countless friends and family members ensnared in a cycle of litigation, probation, incarceration and parole that oftentimes started with a weed charge and developed into a monkey on their back that has followed them around for the rest of their life.

“With this, we aim to integrate the community in a way where we are teaching cultivation skills, urban farming to kids and up cycling into teaching adults how to run their own growth.”

London said they want to provide entrepreneurial guidance to people who have been incarcerated because of marijuana convictions. 

“We want to work with and work for those who are directly impacted,” London said. “We want to provide tangible skills, a pathway of economic development, financial literacy and teach folks how to be viable in this business.”

As public opinion and laws shift around cannabis, Mensa said it’s “imperative that young black people be part of the process.”

“You look at the industry nationwide, it is largely devoid of the people who have suffered the most from the criminalization of this plant,” he said.

Now that there’s a change, Mensa said the state has an opportunity to fulfill its promise on the social equity component of the new law.

Mensa said that while immediate license holders for recreational marijuana are white, he is “hopeful the state will make good on the promises” and have a “truly inclusive process” that includes the black community in the next round of licenses.

Ahead of a Chicago City Council vote, the Black Caucus aimed to stop the recreational sales until July 1 because of a lack of minority representation in the lottery system that saw all white owners selected.  

Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) said he wouldn’t approve any dispensaries in his ward unless license holders had a minority partner. 

Despite the Black Caucus effort to delay its enactment, the ordinance was narrowly defeated in a heated City Council meeting last week.

London said he was proud of the Black Caucus for taking a stand. 

“The Black Caucus’ concern is the same concerns that I have,” London said. “Historically, when there is an incredible opportunity, there is never equal access. And so for an industry that has this much potential … you get skeptical of who has the power to do and be successful.

“I’m proud of any politician … trying to make sure [this] does what it is intended to do, which is to serve the black and brown folks from disadvantaged communities.”

Despite the current situation, London is hopeful black and brown people will have a “genuine, equal opportunity in securing a license statewide.”

As they apply for the license, Mensa’s first goal is to bring the greenhouse, urban farming and entrepreneurial education component to the South Side. Long term, the two want to expand this model to other locations in the state and nation to empower black and brown people disenfranchised by the criminalization of marijuana. 

“Above all, I want to see black people be given a real shot and have a real opportunity to build something from the trauma that we’ve experienced surrounding marijuana,” Mensa added.

“We are just young artists trying to make a change in the world, specifically at this moment, make a change in this industry,” he said. “The goal is to teach people how to fish.” 

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