Nicole Buffong, National Event Manager for Minorities for Medical Marijuana- Interview Series

Nicole Buffong is a longtime cannabis advocate who currently serves as the National Event Manager for Minorities for Medical Marijuana among many other advocacy-related roles, including the Chamber of Cannabis. She has lobbied for and raised awareness of cannabis, social equity and other criminal justice reform measures everywhere from Carson City, down to Georgia and all the way to the steps of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. on numerous occasions and almost everywhere in between.

How did you initially get involved in cannabis advocacy and what were the cornerstone moments in your journey to being the national cannabis activist that you are today?

My introduction to cannabis advocacy began with a diagnosis of HIV. At the time I was living in Georgia a state that did not provide safe access to cannabis as medicine. A cornerstone moment was when I made my first viral video announcing that I was living with HIV and chronic kidney disease.

The next cornerstone moment happened later that year when I met Roz McCarthy, founder of M4MM and she asked me to launch the chapter in GA. The role of State Director helped me to find my voice and a platform to begin my advocacy.

The next pivotal moment for me was moving to Nevada. After 2 years of fighting for patient rights to safe access in Georgia, I realized that moving to a legal state was the next step in my advocacy. The same year I was a guest speaker at a legalization rally in Trinidad and Tobago, my first international speaking opportunity. 2019 was also the year that I would try Ayahuasca for the first time, prompting me to change my title from Cannabis Advocate to Plant Medicine Advocate.

The move cross country would change my life in profound ways.

How did you end up becoming National Event Manager for Minorities for Medical Marijuana and what do your duties entail in that role?

We have to start at the beginning of my work with M4MM 7 years ago. In 2017 I launched the M4MM chapter in Georgia. In 2019 I launched the chapter in Nevada. In 2021 was asked to manage the western region for the organization, covering 9 states including Nevada. By the end of 2022 Roz asked me to be the National Program Director, managing our 10 National Community programs, after a few months we realized that this role was not the right fit for me. And so I transitioned into National Events Manager. In this role, I oversee all of the conferences, expos and festivals that the organization attends annually. This includes speaker application deadlines, marketing material, logistics on site and coordinating volunteers for each event. Essentially this role is to ensure that the organization shows up in excellence to serve our community. When we attend these events, the goal is to recruit new members to the organization, which is free. We are not recruiting members for financial gain, the goal to educate and empower our community on how to use cannabis as medicine and how to become a part of the legal billion dollar global cannabis and hemp industry.

Why is the work of organizations such as M4MM so important in the big picture?

This industry has a diversity and inclusivity problem. M4MM is the largest grass roots cannabis and hemp advocacy group in the country. M4MM fights for sensible cannabis and hemp policy globally. There are other organizations that have been established over the years to lobby for the same. M4MM stands a part from the rest because of its founder Roz McCarthy. This woman of color has used the M4MM to elevate other leaders of color within the space and created a platform that allows its members to join for free ensuring they receive the resources needed to succeed in this space.

M4MM addresses the disparities that have been forced on black and brown communities because of the prohibition of cannabis. And M4MM understands the importance of educating and empowering those communities to learn about how to use the plant as medicine and how to build general wealth by becoming an owner in the cannabis industry ecosystem.

In short if you want to see a more diverse and inclusive cannabis industry, we have to start now. Find your tribe, find those that align with your ethos and support those non-profit groups with your time, capital and or network of resources. I also love ACHEM and the work they are doing within our communities globally.

As a strong advocate for further medical patient and social equity measures alike, what have been some of the highlights of your very extensive career in cannabis activism?

When Social equity was mentioned for the first time in Nevada state statute in 2021, because of the work that M4MM and The Chamber had done to get that language included. It was a sign of our hard work paying off. Every time we host an expungement clinic, the joy that I have when someone gets the help they need to move on with their lives. Finally, I have spoken on many stages, about all sorts of topics. But the highlight of my career so far was speaking at a legalization rally in Trinidad & Tobago in 2019. I consider Trinidad my home, and it is actually my mothers birth country. But when I am there it feels like home. It was my honor to be invited by an NGO in Trinidad called Cannabis And You (C.A.Y.), consisting of advocates in Trinidad who are fighting for sensible Cannabis & Hemp policy.

Where are some areas of improvement in the cannabis industry, regulation and law that yourself and M4MM will continue to advocate for?

I will always continue to advocate for full legalization, the release of our brothers and sisters in prison for something that is legal in many states, and expunging records of those that are forced to carry the weight of a criminal charge on their record . And as an organization, M4MM will continue to advocate for Health Equity, Social Justice and sensible Public Policy that includes social equity objectives.

Just recently with the consumption lounge licenses, Nevada finally implemented a legitimate social equity program into its state industry. Where do you see social equity programs and implementations going in other states or possibly on the federal level?

This is a loaded question. Until we have new leaders in Congress on the federal level, I see social equity going nowhere. It will always be one side rejecting any conversation around social equity or social justice. Until this country can acknowledge that white supremacy still has an effect on the potential of black wealth and that in order to level the playing field, reparations are due. Each individual state has to create workgroups comprised of the individuals that have been most disenfranchised and harmed by the prohibition of cannabis. Then develop programs that can support those communities with pathways to the legal industry.

What are your views, and possible concerns, on the rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. It would almost certainly be beneficial that cannabis companies don’t have to suffer as much under Tax Code 280E anymore, but would this rescheduling secretly be a double-edged sword?

My concern is that it does not do enough for social justice. It is great that the industry owners, majority white men, will get a tax break. But what about the grandfather sitting in prison serving a life sentence, because he was caught smoking a joint or growing a plant 30 years ago. My other concern is that rescheduling does not eliminate the criminal penalties around Cannabis. Families can still be torn apart and communities of color still negatively impacted because the plant remains on the Controlled Substance Act.

I am hoping that it will allow more money and interest to flow through the research community. But I am hoping not at the expense of the patient. If only Big Pharma can afford the research project funding, where does that leave the independent researcher who is doing it for the science and not for profit. I am a huge advocate for supporting the small craft grower, and would never want to be subjected to only Big Pharma, government grown medicine. The challenge is how do we keep the small craft organic farmer alive when only deep pocket players will be allowed to play the game. I want cannabis de-scheduled, as it does not belong on the CSA. The rescheduling of cannabis does not do enough to repair the harm that this government has done to communities of color and patient advocates over the last 55 years. The rescheduling confirms that the government was wrong all this time and that Nixon knew the truth and put cannabis at a schedule 1 drug for his own political benefit. “Sorry” is not enough and neither is rescheduling.

It is so obvious that Biden is using this as ploy to get younger voters back in his good graces. The irony is that his own legislative initiatives from 30 years ago is what decimated those same communities. And now he is trying to backpedal to win votes. What is even more concerning is that whoever wins the Whitehouse in November will determine just how long this process will take to be implemented. I am sure it will take years before we see any regulation structure executed.

Thank you for the great interview, readers who wish to learn more should visit Minorities for Medical Marijuana.