With gross sales already in the hundreds of millions how do you include marginalized communities, historically (and currently) disproportionately effected by the “War on Drugs” and marijuana prohibition? This is a question has seemingly been on everyone’s lips and has led to legal problems and and legislative logjams all over the east coast. I think there is a better way.

Most legalization efforts and proposals rightly include a right to grow a certain number of plants at home. Across the country such plant counts generally range between 6 and 12 plants. Though some prospective gardeners have been chomping at the bit for years, most Marylanders will not have the space, time, know how or money to get such a project off of the ground. Those residents should be permitted to choose to contribute part or all of their allotted plant-count to the cooperative or cooperatives of their choosing.

These cooperatives should be permitted to grow, refine, test and sell cannabis and cannabis products. Co-ops could be focused on education, small business incubation, community building, plant diversity or just generating profits for its stakeholders. Marylanders should be given the option to allocate (or not) their plant count numbers based on what matters most to them.

Please let me know what you think about this idea in the comments below.