Social Equity: Up in Smoke

Social Equity: Up in Smoke

“Social Equity: Up in Smoke” is a series under the WebJoint umbrella that I had the privilege of creating. The documentary is meant to highlight the downfalls of Los Angeles’s cannabis social equity program. To help counteract the negative effects the war on drugs had on communities in LA, the city decided that those living in low-income neighborhoods or those convicted of a non-violent drug charge would have priority when applying for cannabis retail licenses like dispensaries and deliveries. Unfortunately, the rollout did not go as expected due to technical, logistical, and administrative problems.

Corey Rogan and Raheem Giddens share their stories as applicants of Los Angeles’s Social Equity program for cannabis retail. From dealing with shady investors to attempting to submit their application on a malfunctioning portal, their stories are just a few of the many that reflect the current status of LA’s social equity program. Community leaders, Kika Keith and Madison Shockley, join the documentary to explain the intricacies of predatory investors, a glitch-filled submission portal, and a massive coverup by the city of Los Angeles.