Hummingbird & Social Equity Roots in the Town: Social Equity and the Hummingbird in Oakland Cannabis
Introduction: The Heartbeat of the Town
Oakland, California isn’t just a city — it fuels a movement. It radiates resistance, incubates Black power, and stages a daily act of community resilience. Reinvention defines Oakland, where residents rise with purpose and vision. Nowhere does that vision shine brighter than in Oakland’s cannabis equity movement — where Doja Academy leads the charge.
The War on Drugs and Its Aftermath
To understand equity in cannabis, first recognise the historic inequities of policing. The War on Drugs devastated Oakland’s communities of color. Over-policing, mass incarceration, and systemic criminalisation broke families and choked economic opportunity. Now that cannabis is legal, impacted communities deserve a front-row seat in the legal industry.
Oakland’s Equity Program: A Bold First Step
Oakland launched one of the nation’s first cannabis equity programs to rewrite that legacy. The city prioritised licensing for drug war survivors, waived fees, and mandated that general applicants incubate equity businesses. This program delivers reparative justice in legislative form.
Oakland continues to lead with impactful initiatives, including technical support, business grants, and million-dollar property acquisitions for equity operators. These resources show what committed social equity investment looks like in action.
From Mission to Momentum: Launching Doja Academy
That commitment inspired Hummingbird to create Doja Academy, a first-of-its-kind, city-sponsored cannabis operations training program. Our goal: empower Social Equity operators with hands-on experience in preroll manufacturing, one of the fastest-growing cannabis sectors.
Doja Academy launched as Oakland’s official hands-on training center for preroll production. This past summer, six Oakland Social Equity businesses joined our inaugural cohort. These entrepreneurs learned techniques like dialing in the perfect grind, filling cones, and hand-rolling hash holes — all guided by seasoned experts.
Instead of teaching abstract theories, we delivered real systems. Our team brought the entire Hummingbird Workflow to the classroom. Trainees didn’t just watch — they practiced, trained, and gained confidence using scalable systems built from years of R&D. Our mission: democratize pre-roll manufacturing.
Built by Community, Powered by Partnership
Progress stems from collaboration. We thank:
Together, we turned Doja Academy into a replicable social equity training model.
Equity in Action: Hummingbird Builds Cannabis Futures
Hummingbird PRS doesn’t just talk equity — we build it. We believe the cannabis future belongs to everyone. We provide tools, training, and systems that empower underserved entrepreneurs to thrive.
Over the past several months, my colleague Aaron McCullough and I visited cities across the country. We met small business owners, municipal leaders, and equity stakeholders. If you’re building a cannabis curriculum, crafting an RFP, or exploring manufacturing training, reach out.
Beyond Good Intentions: Why Equity Still Faces Headwinds
Even with strong support systems like Doja Academy, equity operators face steep challenges:
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Insufficient grants force founders to self-finance.
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Restrictive zoning laws push applicants into real estate dead zones.
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Complex compliance processes burden new businesses.
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Superficial incubators offer limited value.
A Real Solution: Tools That Drive Ownership
To promote real equity, programs must offer actionable tools:
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Hummingbird’s Workflow slashes labor costs and speeds production.
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Custom fill kits boost accuracy and enhance profitability.
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Training and mentorship build technical confidence and resilience.
Looking Forward: The Blueprint for Inclusive Growth
Equity extends beyond licenses. It requires access to:
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Cannabis business knowledge
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Startup capital
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Scalable technology
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Distribution-ready markets
Doja Academy shows what happens when communities lead and partners empower. Oakland sparked the equity conversation. Hummingbird and Doja ensure it amplifies — and scales — daily.
Call to Action: Build With Purpose
If you work in cannabis, ask:
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Do your systems support inclusion?
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Do your partnerships create real value?
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Do your tools elevate the next generation of owners?
Equity is not a checkbox — it’s the foundation of our industry’s future. In Oakland, it’s a mission. With Hummingbird PRS and Doja Academy in action, the cannabis future grows more just, more real, and more reachable than ever.
