The Latino Cannabis Alliance (LCA) announced its official launch as a national coalition of U.S.-based Latino cannabis advocacy leaders to meet the growing need for organized Latino representation in the cannabis ecosystem.
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The LCA is dedicated to growing Latino political influence in the United States. They want to build bridges across Latino communities and strengthen collaboration with Latin America.
“Latino leaders have been central in the fight for cannabis legalization across the country. Yet our perspectives are too often missing in the rooms where decisions are made unless we knock the doors down ourselves,” said Jessica F. González, Esq., LCA President and Founder of Veridis Quo LLC and co-founder of the Rudick Law Group.
She is a longtime leader in the NJ cannabis legalization movement. Gonzalez spearheaded the creation of the NJ Cannabis Training Academy by the State as a consultant.
“We launched the Alliance to ensure the Latino community is respected for the power we bring to every table we sit at. And that our priorities are fully reflected in the cannabis reform landscape,” she added.
Latino Cannabis Alliance United for Guidance and Action
The Latino Cannabis Alliance will serve as a central forum for analysis, commentary, and guidance on Latino cannabis issues.
They want to cultivate meaningful relationships with Latino lawmakers and strengthen coalitions. The LCA also wants to build political, educational, and organizing infrastructure. They believe it necessary to mobilize Latinos engaged in cannabis policy or advocacy toward action.
“Latinos are the largest minority group in the U.S. And we fully intend on leveraging our vast people power toward sustained political action to reform cannabis laws, ensure our share of economic opportunity. And directly resist any attempt to demonize or minimize our contributions to the cannabis space or the U.S. at large,” said Jason Ortiz, LCA Vice President and Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Last Prisoner Project.
“Latino entrepreneurs have helped build this industry from the ground up, as workers, innovators, and culture drivers; yet we remain underrepresented in the rooms where policy is written and capital is allocated. The Latino Cannabis Alliance exists to change that. We are not asking for a seat at the table. We are building one, rooted in equity, economic power, and political influence,” said Ruth Jazmin Aguiar, LCA Treasurer and Municipal Cannabis Policy Advisor.
“When Latino communities are underrepresented, policy fails to reflect the realities our families and communities face across public health, criminal justice, and immigration…,” said Maritza Perez Medina, LCA Director of Policy and Director of Federal Affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance.
Building Infrastructure for Progress
“The LCA will build the social infrastructure to ensure Latino perspectives are not an afterthought. But a driving force in all decisions that affect us,” she added.
“Policy moves when people move. And people move when they see themselves in the story,” said JM Balbuena, LCA Secretary and Director of Community Engagement. “Through community-driven storytelling, we will amplify voices that have been ignored. And build cultural power that drives policy, access, and equity.”
“Cannabis research in the US is critically behind,” said Ishaq Ali, LCA Director of Education and Research. “We will be able to unite the brightest minds in our community toward creating the collective education our people deserve.”
“We are building an ecosystem where our people can see themselves reflected, get involved. And move into positions of influence,” said Gaby Collantes, LCA Director of Communications and Director of Client Strategy at Gold Standard.
Pushing for Descheduling and Home Grow Legalization
According to Gonzalez, they favor descheduling for federal cannabis/marijuana legalization.
“The only way to protect Latinos from the criminal and immigration consequences of marijuana criminalization is to deschedule marijuana by removing it from the CSA (Controlled Substances Act) altogether,” she noted in an email.
“The Latino Cannabis Alliance stands firmly in support of homegrow rights for all people. The ability to cultivate your own medicine is a matter of autonomy, dignity, and access. Values at the core of everything we fight for. For communities that have historically been priced out of legal markets, homegrow is access and access is power,” Gonzalez added.
