With the passage of prop 207, legal cannabis sales for recreational purposes become a new norm for Arizona residents. The legal cannabis market is a multi-billion dollar industry with a projected worth of $73 billion globally by 2027. That’s why it is important for local residents of Arizona to look for partnerships that benefit local communities within Arizona instead of foreign corporations.

Social Equity Partners’ mission is to assist Arizona residents who were convicted of non-violent cannabis felonies to apply for adult-use marijuana dispensary and cultivation establishment licenses through the program offered by Social Equity Partners. Their goal is to offer Arizona residents with cannabis convictions extensive support in receiving a license and establishing a cannabis business through the Social Equity Program. The founder Thomas Lopez was convicted in 2001 by the State of Arizona with a felony for marijuana possession. He understands the obstacles of what it takes to have personal and professional growth after a criminal conviction which is why he founded Social Equity Partners.

Under the ELEVATE brand label, one of the services that Social Equity Partners offers is access to their fully conceptualized dispensary. ELEVATE is a boutique dispensary with the aim to modernize and deliver the highest-quality marijuana products, with locations planned for Sunnyslope, Glendale and Tempe. ELEVATE aims to serve the local communities of Arizona as a small independent business that keeps money in the community instead of generating profits for foreign corporations while forgetting about the concerns of the local citizens.

Applicants will receive assistance with developing a broad web presence, social media campaigns, and professional branding once accepted into partnering with Social Equity Partners. They will also have access to their pool of local investors who are local community members looking to provide capital for starting dispensaries that benefit local residents instead of funneling money into corporations.

Social Equity Partners will be there to offer assistance during the application process for Arizona residents who are applying with felony cannabis convictions by helping them complete the application, create a compelling business plan, and verify financial requirements.  The goal for Social Equity Partners is to ensure that all funding remains local and stays in the community. With this partnership, they believe that applicants have a chance to positively impact their neighborhoods and take part in reinvigorating local economies with locally-based investors’ support.

With a partnership like Social Equity Partners, applicants will have access to full support from land-use lawyers, Realtors, and permitting specialists to help with identifying a site for your cannabis business. Their real estate brokers and lawyers understand the legal requirements for zoning laws for spaces all over Arizona and will help assist partners with finding the right property for their needs. Their partnership increases the likelihood of eligibility for the Social Equity Ownership Program with their proven funding and business plans already in place.

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The California market is “budding” (pun intended), and there is a new player on the team; Laze Cannabis. As one of the latest products to hit the California recreational marijuana market, Laze is officially brought to you by Just Mary, Greenwood Distro, and entertainment mastermind, Hazey Taughtme™️. The parties came together to form the first childproof one ounce can with a patent-pending lid. Laze will offer consumers an inside look at making a black-owned cannabis brand through a web series to be announced in the upcoming weeks.

Better known as “Haze,” Steven Palmer is a builder, strategist, entrepreneur, and social justice advocate. He aims to expand the cannabis industry for people of color, creating a larger market share in one of the country’s fastest-growing sectors.

“I build brands. I connect the dots. I teach. I create.” Haze said. 

Background on Haze

A native of York, Pennsylvania, Haze, otherwise known as Hazey Taughtme, is the CEO of Haze Ent. It is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading brand managers. Haze is the founder/owner and the publicist for multiple companies, including Miracle Mile Studio, Black Cannabis Magazine, Laze Cannabis, and Royal Danks.

Haze has been instrumental in building the career of popular speaker and community activist Freeway Rick Ross. Like so many other clients, he has helped transform Freeway Rick Ross’ image from former drug kingpin to cannabis entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and community social justice advocate. Haze himself had experienced some of the pain Freeway Rick Ross had experienced, enduring prison and moving through the criminal justice system, and emerging as a new person. Haze helped manage Freeway Rick Ross’s image change, including speaking tours, book deals, film promotions, etc.

As a businessman, manager, and marketer, Haze has been at the forefront of creating opportunities for people of color in the cannabis industry. He works closely with the National Diversity & Inclusion Cannabis Alliance (NDICA) to increase aspiring entrepreneurs’ awareness and opportunities.

Haze has also worked closely in the entertainment industry. He’s been a music enthusiast since he was four years old, and he aspired to become an artist himself. At the age of 18, Haze wrote and sang with a group of three boys from the Harlem Boys Choir. Growing up, his father encouraged him, “If you want to pursue a music career, you also have to play an instrument.” Haze took to playing the piano and keyboards for several years. “Even today, knowing how to play an instrument gives you an advantage in the industry,” he explains.

Haze’s work ethic is the stuff of legend. He’s continuously serving his clients, partners, companies, and anyone else who’s actively working with him, working from 7 AM until midnight each day, and doing it all over again the next day. He claims he doesn’t have much of a personal life but is simply motivated to help create the most significant value and buzz for his clients that he possibly can. Before COVID-19 turned the year 2020 upside down, Haze put together a cannabis/CBD wellness experience for the Super Bowl party this past February for rapper and mogul Diddy.

The sky is the limit for Haze and Laze Cannabis and we look foward to watching this dynamic partnership come to life!