Community Representation & Equity In Cannabis Industry
Camden City Announces Ad Hoc Cannabis Committee To Explore & Ensure Community Representation & Equity In Cannabis Industry
The Cannabis Ad Hoc Committee comprises some of Camden’s most prominent business, economic development, community, education and social justice advocates to ensure Camden takes a “Camden First” community approach to the state’s emerging cannabis industry.
Community Submitted Content
CAMDEN, NJ – On Tuesday, May 11, 2021 the City of Camden passed resolution MC-21:7946 on the formation of a Cannabis Ad Hoc Committee with some of Camden’s most prominent business, economic development, community, education and social justice advocates to ensure Camden takes a “Camden First” community approach to the state’s emerging cannabis industry.
As stated in the resolution: The City believes that it is in the best interests of the City of Camden that valuable input be received from Officials of the City of Camden, the residents of the City of Camden as well as the local business, education and medical communities, in determining whether the City of Camden should exercise its right to allow such services to be conducted in the City of Camden and also to determine what the scope of those services should be as well as the types and number of licenses that should be allowed for license categories for Class 1 through class 5 in the City of Camden.
Nominated and confirmed committee Members include:
- Chair – Nichelle Pace, Vice President, Camden Business Association
- Vice Chair – Sheilah Greene, Parkside Business Community in Partnership
- Secretary – Tameeka Mason, Executive Director, One Camden
- Maritza Alston, IRS/Finance Professional and Education
- Captain Vivian Coley, CCPD
- Dwaine Williams, City of Camden Affirmative Action Officer
- Community Members
- City Officials
Working under the motto that good policy guidance is the policy of inclusion, the ad hoc committee members, members of city council, and the Mayor’s office are committed to ensure that Camden residents, businesses, and community stakeholders are included in the process.
The committee will host both virtual open public meetings and in-person meetings, including meetings in each ward, as well as tap into cannabis equity advocates and experts across the state to provide the ad hoc committee and the community with guidance and ideas to ensure equity for Camden’s residents and businesses.
It’s with great honor that I serve my city as Chair of this ad hoc. As Vice President of the CBA, I have been testifying, learning, and collaborating with organizations such as the NJCBA, NAACP, Minorities for Medical Marijuana, Women Grow, and the NJ Drug Policy Alliance and others, to ensure that our Camden community and constituents, which is 96% Black and Brown New Jersians, have voices with stakeholders, officials, and industry advocates throughout the state of NJ.” Says newly elected ad hoc committee chair, Nichelle Pace. “It is my mission to serve and stay engaged through partnerships and collaboration to ensure that this industry does not get built on the backs of the communities that have lost wealth, life, and liberties for decades. I will continuously call upon all diverse NJ community and legislative leaders to collaborate and ensure that those aforementioned communities are considered first, not last, in pushing for the economic equity of those who have been disproportionately impacted like our Camden community.
About The Camden Ad Hoc Committee on Cannabis
The Camden Ad Hoc Cannabis Committee was formed by the City of Camden to coordinate, plan, and collaborate with the Camden community at large on how best to approach, implement, and manage the recently passed cannabis legislation, including the new recreational and current medical cannabis landscape.
The committee is tasked with ensuring equitable processes, inclusive community input, data collection and equitable outcomes for the residents of Camden, and centering equity in creating comprehensive recommendations to the City of Camden.
The Ad Hoc Cannabis Committee will lead an inclusive and comprehensive collaborative effort with Officials of the City of Camden, the residents of the City of Camden as well as local businesses, and educational, faith-based, and medical communities.
The committee will work with all of the aforementioned stakeholders in determining how the City of Camden should exercise its right to allow such services to be conducted in the City of Camden.
Priority and focus will be placed on creating equity and opportunity for Camden City Residents while aligning the Camden community’s needs and benefits for neighborhoods city-wide.
