That was the scene of the first legal recreational cannabis purchase in New York last week.

More than a year after the state voted to legalize marijuana for recreational adult use,

this first licensed recreational dispensary is open for business. It's run by a nonprofit

called Housing Works which provides resources to unhoused New Yorkers and those living

with AIDS. They're the first beneficiaries of the state's plan to give dispensary licenses

to people who've been disproportionately impacted by drug laws. Non-profits with the history

of serving those currently or formerly incarcerated are also included in the law. It's an example

of a state trying to provide restorative justice through marijuana law, but in many states,

governments have failed to deliver on their promises of providing restorative justice and achieving

some measure of social equity through the weed industry. So who gets to profit from legalizing

weed? Can restorative justice and legalization coexist? That's what we're exploring today

on the 1A Podcast where we get to the heart of the story. I'm Jen White. You've got

a lot to get into after the break. Stay with us.

Let's get right into the conversation with Amanda Chicago-Lewis. She's an investigative

reporter covering the marijuana industry and she joins us from New York. Amanda, thanks

for coming back. Great to be here. Also with us from Michigan is Barton Morris. He's

the principal attorney at the Cannabis Legal Group. Barton, great to have you back.

Thank you. Good morning. And with us from Massachusetts is Shaline Tidal. She's an attorney

and founder of the Nonpartisan Think Tank Parabola Center. She's also the author of Fair and Square,

how to effectively incorporate social equity into cannabis laws and regulations. Shaline,

thanks for joining us. Thank you for having me. Amanda, how are things in the legal cannabis

industry right now? You know, I think one of the greatest things people don't understand

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