From the perspective of the Virginia Minority Cannabis Coalition (VMCC), a sustainable and equitable cannabis industry cannot be built through a single, rigid entry point that only favors well-capitalized actors with long timelines. True equity requires multiple pathways to participation, designed for people at different stages of readiness, financial capacity, and lived experience. Many minority, legacy, and small-business participants cannot afford multi-year waits, seven-figure startup costs, or prolonged regulatory uncertainty, yet they possess the cultural knowledge, community trust, and operational skill that the industry depends on.

Creating tiered licensing, phased entry models, cooperative ownership options, and near-term revenue opportunities ensures that participation is not delayed indefinitely or reserved for those with generational wealth. Without flexible on-ramps and realistic timelines, equity becomes performative rather than practical. VMCC believes that an inclusive framework—one that allows immediate, short-term, and long-term participation—is essential to repairing past harms, stabilizing local economies, and building a cannabis market in Virginia that reflects the diversity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit of its communities.