Vic Mensa Calls for Cannabis Industry to Honor Cultural Roots in Corporate Spaces

As the legal marijuana industry expands, artist and entrepreneur Vic Mensa is urging business leaders to keep cannabis culture alive within corporate boardrooms. In a guest column, Mensa reflects on the deep connection between cannabis, music, and community, emphasizing that the plant's significance extends far beyond profit margins. "Culture doesn’t come quietly. It brings rhythm, memory, and truth," Mensa writes, highlighting the origins of cannabis culture in marginalized communities long before legalization and commercialization

Mensa's personal experiences in Chicago, where cannabis and hip hop are intertwined, underscore the plant's historical role as a source of unity, creativity, and healing. He recalls the pain of losing a mentor to violence over cannabis, a reminder of how criminalization disproportionately impacted communities that helped shape the culture. "The irony is that the same culture that celebrated the plant was criminalized for it," Mensa states, calling attention to the lingering effects of prohibition

With the mainstream acceptance of cannabis, Mensa questions who truly benefits from the industry's growth. He stresses the importance of ensuring that the voices and stories of those who built cannabis culture are represented in boardrooms and decision-making spaces. "Our community doesn’t need saviors, it needs seats. It needs the voices that defined this movement to shape where it’s headed," he asserts, advocating for ownership and leadership opportunities for those historically marginalized

Mensa also warns against prioritizing profit over the people and neighborhoods that sustained cannabis culture during its most challenging times. He calls for more diverse founders, partnerships that respect history, and industry practices that foster healing and equity. "If we stop at ownership and forget community, we’ve missed the point," Mensa argues, underscoring the need for a holistic approach to industry growth

The artist, who founded the Illinois-based 93 Boyz cannabis company, frames the preservation of cannabis culture as a matter of accountability and integrity. Mensa concludes, "Every brand, every artist, every entrepreneur standing on this ground owes something to the people who came before us, the ones who made it safe to dream out loud and paid a price so we could stand in the light." From the OG Lab newsroom perspective, Mensa’s call to action highlights the ongoing challenge for the global cannabis sector: balancing rapid commercial expansion with authentic cultural stewardship. As legalization spreads, industry leaders will be measured not just by profits, but by their commitment to equity and honoring the plant’s roots