Cannabis Empowerment Day

News Article
Image description: A Black man and woman sit in the doorway of a store talking and smiling. On an orange background to the right, text reads, "Cannabis Empowerment Day 2022. Friday, August 12. 2-6 p.m. Chapman Square." End description.
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Media Contact:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Daniel McArdle-Jaimes
Office of Community & Civic Life
daniel.mcardle-jaimes@PortlandO… | 503-865-6661             

Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022

City of Portland Holds First Cannabis Community Event on Friday, Aug. 12 
Portland officials host press conference at Cannabis Empowerment Day to highlight cannabis policy advancements and statements by local cannabis entrepreneurs and influencers  
 

WHO: The City of Portland Cannabis Program team will be joined by City of Portland officials, Oregon elected officials, members of the Cannabis Policy Oversight Team (CPOT), cannabis industry advocates, entrepreneurs and community members during Cannabis Empowerment Day to celebrate industry-leading policy advancements made by the City of Portland and to continue ongoing efforts to destigmatize cannabis use, expand racial equity, and support Portland’s resilient cannabis industry.  
 
Scheduled speakers include:  

  • City of Portland Cannabis Program Manager Dasheeda Dawson  
  • City of Portland Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty 
  • U.S. Senator Ron Wyden Field Representative Grace Stratton 
  • U.S. House Representative Earl Blumenauer Communications Director Hillary Barbour
  • City of Portland Cannabis Policy Oversight Team Chair Travis Maurer  
  • City of Portland Cannabis Policy Oversight Team Member Al Ochosa
  • NuProject Executive Director Jeanette Ward Horton 
  • Green Muse Cannabis Business Owner Nicole Kennedy   

More than two dozen cannabis businesses and community organizations are exhibiting at the event. 

WHEN:  Cannabis Empowerment Day opens on Friday, Aug. 12 at 2 p.m., with a press conference starting at 3 p.m. 

WHERE: Chapman Square, SW 4th Avenue and Main Street, Portland, OR 97205 

WHY:  Portland’s City Council recently approved an additional $500K for first-in-the-country Cannabis Emergency Relief Fund and another $1.05M to ten 2022 SEED Grant Recipients.  

JOINT STATEMENT FROM PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL:

Image description: Photos of City elected officials Hardesty, Rubio, Mapps, Ryan, Wheeler. Text reads "Portland City Council is united in our efforts to destigmatize cannabis use, and support businesses that promote diversity and opportunity within the industry, and advance restorative justice. We hope Portlanders will come out this Friday to celebrate all things cannabis, including our many local businesses, workers, and the excellent policy work happening from the Office of Community & Civic Life." End.

“The Portland City Council is excited to support Portland’s first-ever Cannabis Empowerment Day! Oregon was the third state in the country to legalize the adult use of cannabis, marking an important step forward in righting the wrong of the failed “war on drugs.”  

Since legalization, Portland's Cannabis Program has blossomed within the Office of Community & Civic Life, and the City's Cannabis Policy Oversight Team has championed some of the most innovative policies in the nation, including the creation of the first Cannabis Emergency Relief Fund, offering a safety net for both cannabis businesses and employees who were not able to access federal resources during the COVID19 pandemic.  

In addition, Portland’s SEED Initiatives is the first U.S. government program to fund equity-centered community investment using local cannabis tax revenue. SEED prioritizes BIPOC- and women-led small business initiatives that reinvest in BIPOC communities. Since 2017, Portland City Council has awarded roughly $4.3 million to more than 40 grant recipients to administer education and workforce development, entrepreneurship, social justice and expungement programs in Portland. Today, cannabis programs in California and Illinois are mirroring Portland’s exact framework to center equity and empower community. 

Portland City Council is united in our efforts to destigmatize cannabis use, and support businesses that promote diversity and opportunity within the industry, and advance restorative justice. We hope Portlanders will come out this Friday to celebrate all things cannabis, including our many local businesses, workers, and the excellent policy work happening from the Office of Community & Civic Life.”  

Recent sobering statistics show how cannabis businesses continue to endure repeated theft, increased overhead, and inflation negatively impacting the local cannabis economy. What is more, Portland retailers are currently selling product at extremely discounted rates and cannabis industry experts caution that Oregon’s cannabis ecosystem is vulnerable. Multiple City officials, elected officials and the cannabis community want Portlanders to showcase their support during this challenging time. 

MEDIA DETAILS:  A group photo-opportunity is scheduled at 3:30 p.m.  

One-on-one interviews can be coordinated with City officials, elected officials, community organizations, and cannabis businesses prior to and after the 3 p.m. formal program.


About the Cannabis Program  
The City of Portland’s Cannabis Program oversees all regulatory, licensing, compliance, education, and equity initiatives for the City’s legal cannabis industry.  
 
A centralized cannabis regulatory office for the City of Portland helps businesses thrive and keeps our community safer. The Cannabis Program helps ensure Portland’s cannabis business community creates local jobs, supports public health and safety, employs a diverse workforce, invests in their staff and their communities, and provides consumers with safe, legal options to buy and consume cannabis.  
 
The Cannabis Program is an equity-centered regulatory management framework operationally designed to deliver on the reparative and restorative potential of the global cannabis decriminalization movement.​ The City's program continues to be an aspirational benchmark for local, state and federal jurisdictions demonstrating the cannabis industry's ability to impact systemic racism globally. ​ 
 
Check out the Cannabis Program Fact Sheet or visit the Cannabis Program website for more information: portland.gov/civic/cannabis

About Civic Life 
The Cannabis Program is housed within the Office of Community & Civic Life (Civic Life). Civic Life connects the people of Portland with their City government to promote the common good. Our programs create a culture of collaboration, expanding possibilities for all Portlanders to contribute their knowledge, experience, and creativity to solve local problems and make life better in the city we all share. portlandoregon.gov/civic

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