Platicas Elevadas : Are Cannabis Companies Forgetting About Spanish Speakers?
My mom introduced me to weed. A fact that she absolutely hates to admit now, but one that is undeniable.
You see, I’ve told this story before. How my mom’s tincture cured many bruises and sprains through out my childhood. How I would watch her pull out this ugly, muddy alcohol bottle that was filled with weed. How I didn’t understand then what exactly this medicine was. But medicine it was, just ask my mom.
My mom, who is staunchly against recreational cannabis use, has always been my biggest inspiration. Her hard work and perseverance is really the foundation for everything I have ever done. Her opinions and input I hold in high regard.
Except When it Comes to Weed…
I understand that while my mom may have been exposed to cannabis and its usage, there is very little educational material out here. In fact, my mom isn’t even aware of the history of marijuana in this country, and the part Mexicans played. It’s not her fault, most cannabis material in the US is in English. Despite the large number of Spanish speakers, it seems cannabis companies are not prioritizing bilingual educational material.
Close to 20% of the United States Population is Hispanic
As we stand, over 18% of the population identifies as Hispanic. Making Hispanics the second largest minority group in the country. There are a whopping 50 million Spanish speakers across the country, 13% of the US to be exact.
Spanish is the most common non-English language spoken in the US. Latinos are taking over in film, music, business. Yet, resources are scarce. Why? When Latinos account for a $1 trillion in spending power, and growing.
Not only was weed criminalized because of Latinos (Mexicans), but due to this criminalization, many POC have been incarcerated, berated, and disproportionally affected.
Cannabis companies: READ. THE. ROOM. You have a huge responsibility to educate your local residents about cannabis. There is no reason why dispensaries like Zenleaf (who has a location in Pilsen) have no Spanish translated information on their website. It makes zero sense that you are headquartered in Chicago, yet don’t acknowledge the largest minority group in your own city.
In Illinois, you can shop at dispensaries with a TVDL (Temporary Visitors Driver’s License). But you can’t access written information about products, menus, in Spanish. With the most recent celebration of 5 de Mayo, and with its huge impact on the streets of Chicago, it should be a wake up call to companies. Spanish speakers are here, and the demand for resources will not just go away. Especially when it comes to helping these very same Spanish speakers apply for a medical cannabis card and find products that could help their quality of life.
Platicas Elevadas: Our First Discussion
Considering that cannabis was first legalized medicinally, it doesn’t make sense that we still do not have Spanish language resources readily available. With dispensaries popping up in Pilsen, Little Village, Brighton and Humboldt Park, we must demand resources for our elders. For those who could and should benefit from cannabis, but who do not speak English.
What we know now about cannabis is an extensive list of benefits. So much knowledge that we should pass on to our Spanish speaking communities, but we aren’t. This needs to change. In order to educate those, like my mom, about cannabis and it’s usage, we need to provide materials that they can read and that they have access to.
That is why I have decided to host the FIRST health and resource fair centered around women and cannabis. Bringing together Spanish speaking cannabis professionals and curious Spanish speakers together to answer questions, and to openly discuss cannabis use in a safe space.