Cannabis Empowerment Week
A week celebrating, uplifting, and spotlighting all the aspects of the cannabis industry and the people, culture, and communities shaping the future of cannabis in Boston.
First launched in 2023, Cannabis Empowerment Week is an annual initiative led by the City of Boston's Cannabis Industry Development Team. We spotlight and explore the evolving cannabis industry through education, storytelling, community engagement, and public programming.
Each year, the week focuses on a different aspect of the industry through the lenses of equity, policy, entrepreneurship, social consumption, wellness, hospitality, workforce development, and community impact. We also create opportunities for residents to engage directly with the people and conversations shaping the future of cannabis in Boston.
Over the years, Cannabis Empowerment Week has taken many forms, including educational workshops, business spotlights, video campaigns, networking opportunities, industry walkthroughs, public forums, and community-centered events designed to educate, connect, and empower communities across the City.
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HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT CANNABIS EMPOWERMENT WEEK? CONTACT:SHEKIA SCOTT
SAVE THE DATE: Cannabis Empowerment Week 2027
WE ARE ALREADY EXCITED FOR CANNABIS EMPOWERMENT WEEK 2027!
Thank you to everyone who helped make Cannabis Empowerment Week 2026 such an incredible success. Together, we explored the future of social consumption and what it could look like in Boston through a week of interactive, educational, and community-centered programming.
We're already looking ahead to Cannabis Empowerment Week 2027 and can't wait to continue the conversation, build new connections, and bring even more opportunities for learning, collaboration, and community engagement.
Save the Date: Cannabis Empowerment Week 2027 will take place June 14–20, 2027. Ways to participate, programming announcements, and registration details will be released in the coming months.
We can't wait to celebrate with you again next year!
Cannabis Empowerment Week Through the Years
CEW ArchivesThis year, Cannabis Empowerment Week explored the future of social consumption and what it could look like in Boston through a weeklong series of interactive, educational, and community-focused events.
From June 15–21, the Cannabis Industry Development Team hosted four educational events, participated as vendors at two community celebrations, and honored fathers and father figures in the cannabis industry. Programming included High Standards, Consuming on Site, High Hospitality, Live & Lit, BENTOPIA: Juneteenth Edition, and Juneteenth Elevated.
The week welcomed an incredible lineup of guests and participants, including the City of Boston's Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Donald Wright, newly appointed Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) Commissioner Xiomara DeLobato, former CCC Commissioner Bruce Stebbins, and many other leaders, advocates, entrepreneurs, and community members who contributed to thoughtful conversations about the future of cannabis in Boston.
Our third annual Cannabis Empowerment Week spotlighted the diverse career pathways shaping the cannabis industry through a weeklong video series and workforce-focused programming.
From June 16–20, 2025, the City of Boston released a special video series highlighting opportunities across government and regulatory work, entrepreneurship, licensed cannabis businesses, and ancillary services. The series explored how the cannabis industry extends far beyond cultivation and retail, showcasing the broader ecosystem of careers, leadership, and innovation driving the future of cannabis in Boston.
Cannabis Empowerment Week 2025 concluded with Bud to Boss, a free community event hosted at New Dia in Fenway that gave attendees firsthand exposure to cannabis careers through a live budtender shadowing experience, workforce conversations, and a panel featuring professionals from across the cannabis ecosystem. The event also featured the debut of the Cannabis Control Commission’s EquityWorks Career Hub, a centralized platform connecting job seekers with employers and career opportunities across the Massachusetts cannabis industry.
The second annual Cannabis Empowerment Week spotlighted equity-owned cannabis businesses throughout Boston through a series of video features highlighting entrepreneurs, stories, community impact, and the growing presence of equity within the City’s cannabis industry.
Cannabis Empowerment Week 2023 featured a week-long series of in-person, introductory modules focused on cannabis legalization, entrepreneurship, and the cannabis licensing process for Boston residents and aspiring cannabis business operators.
Who's Involved:
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HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT CANNABIS EMPOWERMENT WEEK? CONTACT:SHEKIA SCOTT
