I am looking for a true story from the perspective of someone whose parents run a cannabis farm or dispensary. This person should have seen firsthand how their parents were impacted because they were unable to get insurance coverage for their farm or business.

The youth of this generation have a unique perspective which I want to highlight during an upcoming series of blog posts. We have seen how after the Parkland school shooting, it was the high school students who had the courage to advocate for gun reforms. We have seen how the present DACA crisis has prompted dreamers to speak out concerning the need to recognize the contributions of immigrants to this country. Dreamers didn’t choose to migrate to the US and Parkland students didn’t choose to become casualties of failed gun reform legislation.

Children of cannabis farmers didn’t choose to be associated with the stigma of the cannabis industry. Their perspective on the cannabis industry is going to be different from their parents. We want to know how families are being impacted. A cannabis business owner cares about the financial implications of running a business without insurance. Their children care about the human impacts to their family. Their parents may advocate for laws that will allow their business to be successful. Their children may advocate for changes to the law which allow their parents to be treated fairly. Both the parents and their children want the cannabis industry to be afforded the same rights as other businesses. The children however have a unique perspective which can convey how legislation impacts the lives of people rather than purely a business’s bottom line revenue.

As a young adult whose parents work in the cannabis industry you have a unique perspective and a unique story to tell. Your story can convey the impact that not being able to purchase insurance has on your family. Focus on the following questions:

What is your family’s business?

Are you involved in it in any way?

Can your family get insurance for their business?

Has your family business ever experienced a loss that could have been covered by insurance?

At that time did you wish you had insurance?

Do you feel that not being able to get insurance is somehow unfair?

Do people treat your family differently because of the business your parents are in?

Do you think your parents’ business should be treated like other businesses?

Have you seen other families who run similar businesses impacted in your community?

Did they have an uninsured loss? How did they handle the situation?

What specific challenges do cannabis business have when they operate without insurance coverage?

Do you feel that the treatment of cannabis farmers relative to farmers who grow other crops is particularly unfair? If so how are they treated unfairly?

Would you advocate for the fair treatment of cannabis businesses? Why or why not?

Tell me your story and what insurance providers should understand about the needs of those who work in the cannabis industry. I’ll begin featuring your stories in subsequent blog posts as I begin to discuss the needs of cannabis growers and dispensaries.