Illicit Market Summit bans press, includes locals who were incarcerated
Uncomfortable situations
Editor’s Note, M.C.; This week’s NCIA Boston conference has created controversy and some heated response after local media were blocked from attending an “Illicit Market Summit” featuring Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commissioner Britte McBride, members of law enforcement and reps for big cannabis corporations. We’ve admittedly been one of the biggest critics of McBride and the NCIA over the media ban. Sean Berte, a Boston resident who was imprisoned for growing cannabis participated and felt differently, empowered by the forum. We asked him to write up his experience at the summit. Berte will also be an in-studio guest on Sunday’s“The Young Jurks” live show and podcast.
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By Sean Berte
Whenever someone asks me to speak or attend an event in the cannabis space I understand why even if it isn't explicitly said people need to hear how disastrous prison can be without relying on tv shows or movies. My goal has always been to do whatever I can to make sure those incarcerated for marijuana had opportunities in this emerging industry. What that entails is very difficult for me, even today. To make any difference whatsoever I usually have to revisit the most painful part of my life so that complete strangers understand the real world consequences of failed public policies. In order to do that effectively I must wear my heart on my sleeve. It never gets easier telling people how devastating it can be to be incarcerated for weed.
About a month or two ago I was approached and asked if I would attend a roundtable discussion about how to address the illicit marijuana market. When it was explained to me what it was and who would be attending I had very strong reservations about attending. I was assured it would be a civil discussion(it was) and that my voice mattered. My first question was if the panel I was going to be on was diverse and it was very diverse. It was comprised of Black entrepreneurs, Minority business organizations, nonprofits shining a light on those still incarcerated, members of the LGBTQIA community, and me a formerly incarcerated entrepreneur. We were all on the same page from the very beginning; no more criminal penalties or civil penalties. More opportunities need to be offered for those marginalized groups who want to participate in this industry and quickly.
For longer than I’ve been alive there have been people making decisions within our government that have affected me and my family. I didn’t realize this until I was incarcerated. Ever since my release I haven’t been able to wrap my head around why these decisions were ever made in the first place. For someone who does not understand how policies are created it soon became more frustrating trying to enter a market I was once barred from entering. But along the way I kept hearing the same mantra over and over again, “if you're not at the table you're on the menu.” Ultimately it was that that got me to participate in this event. I’m tired of getting eaten up.
One thing I promised myself was that I would go with an open mind and really listen to everyone. Imagine how hard that is when the room was filled with law enforcement agencies of all types and I associate their badges with the most serious disruption my life has ever seen. What I, and the rest of the panel I was part of, stood for during this event was more opportunities for marginalized groups. Because our panel was smack in the middle of the day we ended up changing some of the language used by other participants. The effect we had was noticeable. It will always be hard for me to be in a room with law enforcement. There is always going to be an element of distrust because of the association I’ve had with them for over 25 years. However, being locked in a room with someone they’ve put behind bars and being forced to listen to what their enforcement of bad policy has done to an otherwise law abiding citizen, had to have had some kind of effect on them as we never heard any of them calling for incarceration of anyone participating in the illicit market.
There were plenty of business owners with legitimate gripes about the illicit market. Counterfeit brands, counterfeit lab results, and various other regional market problems that do have an effect on consumer safety because unfortunately it is not just growing and selling flower anymore. The vape crisis earlier this year shone a whole new light on marijuana which was once viewed as harmless. Yes, I understand it still is, but to those outside of the incredibly small cannabis community marijuana can now kill even if we know it was vitamin E acetate and MCT oil. My hope, by participating, was that we could stave off fines and criminal enforcement to get most of us into the market as legitimate business owners and valued employees.
I got a seat at the table and took it. I absolutely suffered imposter syndrome the entire time. For a trade organization that lobbies for business interests I think it was commendable that they put this summit together and included people like me. I can scream at a street cop about how he ruined my life but that will just land me back in jail. I can voice my frustration with the system on social media but that soon becomes an echo chamber. There is no wrong or right way to advocate for what you believe in but this felt very effective to me and for that I am grateful to the NCIA.
Sean Berte is a Boston native, a former BOP inmate and partner at EVG Farms (a locally owned marijuana company that will concentrate on retail sales). Since returning from prison his goals have been centered around industry inclusion of the people most harmed by prohibition.