Kiana Hughes | Elevated Education and Chicago NORML

 In Mary Jane Blog, Meet the Puffragettes
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“My life has prepared me for this calling: to use my education, talents, and experiences to advance cannabis education and advocacy.” –Kiana Hughes

Kiana Hughes is serious about applying her education, experience, and expertise to creating academic quality training courses and content. As the owner of Elevated Education, LLC, she uses over 16 years of curriculum development and 5+ years of cannabis education and advocacy experience to facilitate cannabis career education classes; write exhibits for cannabis licensing applications; develop curriculum for colleges and universities, and engage communities of color to educate them on the cannabis plant and industry.

As a founding board member and Education Director for Chicago NORML, she created and facilitated cannabis industry training for people from disproportionately impacted communities in and around Chicago. In her current role as Deputy Director, she advocates for social equity in the cannabis industry, drafting legislation and campaign proposals and lobbying at the state and federal levels. She is well-respected member of the cannabis community who is often sought after to design and facilitate outreach initiatives that empower women and people of color to enter the cannabis industry and learn about the cannabis plant. 

Kiana holds a master’s degree in Communications and Training and is a graduate of Oaksterdam University’s cannabis business program.

What social justice and/or criminal justice reforms do you want the U.S. to make around its drug policy, particularly around cannabis? 
As the daughter of a man, who was largely absent and incarcerated because his addiction was treated like a criminal act rather than a medical/mental health condition, it is very important for me to be involved in this industry and to work towards social justice reforms. I would like to see the U.S. take a real look at the ways in which people of color have been harmed and disenfranchised by the War on Drugs. I want people of color to be able to benefit from the legalization and overall social acceptance of this plant. I want to see more states taking a stance and making sure communities and families disproportionately affected by the failed War on Drugs are able to enter this industry and have a chance to right a decades-long wrong.
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