To see one example of how we are working with our partners to bring equity to the industry, click on the executive summary for details.
SOCIAL EQUITY STORY
We are passionate advocates of the Massachusetts Social Equity Program. The program focuses on those most impacted by the War on Drugs, marijuana prohibition, disproportionate arrests and incarceration, and provides education and entry across four areas: entrepreneurship, entry, and managerial-level workforce development, and ancillary business support.
OUR CONNECTION TO THE WAR ON DRUGS
George Friedlander, one of our Co-Founders and our Chief Cultivation Officer, was arrested while travelling by train in 2013 by the DEA in New Mexico for possession of 15 pounds of cannabis. In 2019, he joined the first cohort of the Social Equity program, which led to a valuable education in the legal industry here in Massachusetts.
Desmond Hyde, one of our Co-Founders and our Vice President of Business Development, was charged for possession of cannabis during a wrongful search of his vehicle in 2014. This inspired him to join the effort in redefining how cannabis is treated in our society by participating in the Social Equity Program and co-founding Ember Gardens.
Joseph Hoffman’s father had multiple arrests related to cannabis and Joseph had one of his own in 2012. Joseph is a certified Boston Social Equity applicant and a full-time member of the management team at the Newbury Street retail location.
Partner Organizations
Organizations that we are partnering with to support our goals and mission…