When it comes to talking about minority business owners in the cannabis industry, longtime Democratic operative Hashim Coates wants to make sure Black Brown and Red Badged is front and center of the conversation.Â
The group, founded in 2019, represents Black and brown red badge holders, shorthand for those who own a licensed cannabis company. In February, BBRB hired Coates as its executive director.
We caught up with him to discuss his roots in the Colorado political scene, his vision for Black- and brown-owned cannabis businesses and his interest in the cannabis industry.
Colorado Politics: How did you come to be involved in the world of politics? Where did that all start off?