Kaliko Castille
FounderAmerican Cannabis Consumer AllianceKaliko Castille has spent over a decade at the intersection of cannabis policy, advocacy, and industry strategy. He began as a NORML intern and activist, helped build a cannabis PAC, launched a dispensary, and went on to lead marketing and business development at the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA).
He later served as President of the Board of Directors for the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA), where he helped spearhead the National Cannabis Equity Report, convened stakeholders to develop model legalization policies for state legislatures, and led federal lobbying for equitable cannabis policy — earning MCBA the Trade Association of the Year honor at the MJBizCon EmJay Awards during his tenure.
Today, Kaliko is the Founder of the American Cannabis Consumer Alliance (ACCA) and Principal Strategic Advisor at ThndrStrm Strategies. Named to MJ Ventures' 40 Under 40, his commentary has appeared in MSNBC, Forbes, Bloomberg, Rolling Stone, The Hill, The Washington Post, High Times, and the LA Times.
Social Equity in Cannabis: Lessons Learned and the Path to Reform
Social equity was meant to be the cannabis industry's correction to decades of harm. Years in, the results are uneven. Some cannabis equity programs
Social equity was meant to be the cannabis industry's correction to decades of harm. Years in, the results are uneven. Some cannabis equity programs have opened real doors, while others have stalled under licensing backlogs, capital gaps, and rules
Social equity was meant to be the cannabis industry's correction to decades of harm. Years in, the results are uneven. Some cannabis equity programs have opened real doors, while others have stalled under licensing backlogs, capital gaps, and rules that look good on paper but rarely survive in the market. This session takes an honest look at what's working, what isn't, and where the next round of reform must go.
This discussion moves past goo
Social equity was meant to be the cannabis industry's correction to decades of harm. Years in, the results are uneven. Some cannabis equity programs have opened real doors, while others have stalled under licensing backlogs, capital gaps, and rules that look good on paper but rarely survive in the market. This session takes an honest look at what's working, what isn't, and where the next round of reform must go.
This discussion moves past good intentions to evaluate outcomes with clear eyes. We'll examine the structural and legislative levers that can turn equity promises into lasting ownership, participation, and wealth.
