10 Years Strong: Jeanette Ward Reflects on MCBA’s Legacy and the Power of Collective Action
It’s been a decade since the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) first stepped onto the scene, and what a ride it’s been. As the organization marks its 10th anniversary, few people are better positioned to reflect on its evolution and impact than Jeanette Ward, one of MCBA’s founding members and an unwavering champion for cannabis equity.
Jeanette was there in the beginning—on the ground floor, bringing voice, strategy, and heart to an effort that many didn’t believe was even possible at the time: making sure that Black and Brown entrepreneurs were not only included in the cannabis industry but were positioned to lead it.
“I joined MCBA because I wanted to work with others who saw what I saw—that we were missing from the ownership table,” Jeanette shared during our recent sit-down. “It didn’t make sense. I had seen the impact of cannabis criminalization firsthand, and I wanted to be part of building something different.”
Her introduction to MCBA was no accident. Like many passionate advocates in this space, Jeanette found herself drawn to the organization after seeing its mission, focused squarely on increasing diversity in cannabis ownership and ensuring that those most impacted by the War on Drugs had access to the opportunities now emerging.
That clarity of purpose resonated deeply with her. “Someone told me to check them out, and once I did, I knew this was a group I wanted to be part of,” she said.
Jeanette wasn’t alone. In those early days, MCBA attracted a powerhouse lineup of policy minds and grassroots leaders: Jesse Horton, Shaleen Title, Jason Ortiz, Dr. Rachel Knox, Shanita Penny, and others who would go on to shape the future of equitable cannabis reform in the U.S.
“It was a really special moment,” Jeanette reflected. “We had this energy—people from drug policy, public health, and the community all coming together. And that collaboration created something that really moved the needle.”
That “something” included model policies that have since served as the blueprint for social equity legislation across numerous states. From expungement to licensing priorities and community reinvestment, MCBA’s fingerprints are all over modern cannabis policy.
For Jeanette, the work hasn’t stopped. Through her continued efforts with NuProject and her presence in cannabis policy circles, she remains committed to the mission that brought her to MCBA in the first place.
“It’s incredible to look back and see how far we’ve come,” she said. “And we’re not done. I hope that we can carry this same spirit—this same fight—into federal legalization. Because that’s where the real change will be felt across our communities.”
From a conversation over hot chocolate in Atlanta to helping lay the groundwork for a national equity movement, Jeanette Ward’s journey reminds us what happens when advocacy meets intention and when voices often pushed to the margins take center stage.
As we celebrate MCBA’s 10-year milestone, we honor not just the policies and programs they’ve shaped but also the people, like Jeanette, who continue to ensure the culture grows right.
