Sean “Diddy” Combs, Kimberly “Lil’ Kim” Jones and Cameron “Wiz Khalifa” Thomaz are among the 50 honorees included in the fourth annual “Cannabis 50” list. Determined by MGO, an American business advisory firm, the list recognized innovators, disruptors and advocates building a better future for cannabis.
“You will also see [that] in this year’s “Cannabis 50” there are many more entertainers and musicians. In previous years, we saw many more pro athletes, but it seems mainstream cultural icons are really entering the industry,” MGO Director of Partnerships and Influence Lorna Donohoe told Forbes.
Alongside Tyson, Combs, Jones and Thomaz, the list recognizes Big Freedia, Montel Williams and Mike Tyson.
“The cannabis industry is a community that is unique to any other type of industry where competitors can become partners and friends. Everyone is focused on one central mission, promoting the benefits of plant-based medicine,” Tyson 2.0 Chief Brand Officer Mike Tyson told Forbes.
Additionally, the “Cannabis 50″ list highlights the work of major distributors, nonprofits, researchers, educators and advocates. Among those listed are Viola Cares, a national nonprofit founded by former NBA player Al Harrington, and Cannaclusive, an organization created to facilitate inclusion in the cannabis space.
“In the U.S., those most affected by the lack of representation are the ones driving diversity and social justice in the cannabis industry,” Cannaclusive’s Mary Pryor said.
“Though cannabis is not for the faint of heart, BIPOC entrepreneurs are still entering the industry — especially in newly legal states — and social equity is at the core of their business model.”
