Washington D.C. - PRESS RELEASE - On Monday, Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) announced that Amber Littlejohn will be transitioning out of the role as executive director to pursue new opportunities in the cannabis industry. MCBA Board President Kaliko Castille will serve as interim executive director.

During Littlejohn’s time at MCBA she was responsible for leading the organization’s federal policy work, starting off as policy director. She was later hired on as executive director where she authored the MCBA’s National Equity Report & Map, a info-packed social equity resource tool that was released earlier this year, which gives a comprehensive overview of state level legalization policies and their effect on equity.

“MCBA is grateful for the years of service that Amber has given to the cause of a more equitable cannabis industry and the concrete progress on policy she has helped secure on the state and federal level on behalf of Black and brown cannabis entrepreneurs,” said Kaliko Castille, president of MCBA.

Last year, under Littlejohn’s leadership, MCBA submitted nearly 30 pages of comments for the recently released Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) with many of the organization’s suggestions being included in the latest draft. She was also instrumental in establishing SAFE4Equity, an education campaign in collaboration with Congressman Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo., and cannabis advocacy organizations to support the passage of the Secure and Fair Enforcement Act (SAFE) Banking Act.

“I am grateful for my time with MCBA and look forward to continuing to work with the MCBA community to end prohibition and create an equitable cannabis industry,” Littlejohn said.

MCBA wishes Littlejohn the best on her next chapter and plans to announce a new permanent executive director in the coming weeks.