High Times has partnered with the National Hispanic Cannabis Council and El Planteo to launch the Latino Power 100, an annual list recognizing Hispanic and Latino leaders influencing the cannabis industry worldwide.
Nominations open Friday, August 21, and run through September 11. The initiative marks the first formal recognition program specifically focused on Latino contributions to cannabis, an industry where representation data has historically been limited.
Anyone can submit nominations, including self-nominations, for candidates working anywhere in the global cannabis sector. The open submission process aims to capture leaders across cultivation, retail, advocacy, policy, and ancillary businesses.
Why Latino Representation Matters
Latino entrepreneurs and workers have long been present in cannabis cultivation and distribution, yet they remain underrepresented in legal market ownership. A 2021 MJBizDaily study found that Hispanic-owned businesses comprised just 5.7% of cannabis licenses in states that tracked demographic data, despite Latinos making up 18% of the U.S. population.
The disparity extends to leadership positions. While Latinos constitute a significant portion of the industry's workforce, particularly in cultivation and manufacturing, they hold fewer executive and board positions at major multi-state operators.
High Times has expanded its recognition programs in recent years. The company previously launched the Women in Cannabis List and other diversity-focused initiatives as the industry grapples with equity questions stemming from decades of disproportionate drug war enforcement.
The Selection Process
The three partnering organizations will review nominations to compile the final list of 100 leaders. El Planteo, a Spanish-language cannabis media outlet with operations across Latin America, brings international perspective to the selection process. The National Hispanic Cannabis Council, a trade association founded in 2020, focuses on increasing Latino participation in legal cannabis markets.
Criteria for selection have not been publicly detailed, but similar recognition programs typically weigh factors like business impact, advocacy work, innovation, and community influence.
The timing coincides with Hispanic Heritage Month preparations, which runs September 15 through October 15 in the United States.
What's Next
The inaugural Latino Power 100 list is expected to be published later this fall. High Times has not announced whether the list will include ranking or simply recognize 100 leaders alphabetically.
As international cannabis markets expand across Latin America, including recent legalization efforts in Mexico and growing medical programs in Colombia, Peru, and Argentina, the list could spotlight leaders driving both U.S. and international market development.
Nominations can be submitted through High Times' website starting August 21.
This article is based on original reporting by hightimes.com.
