| CANNABIS | ThU 8/18 DIRTY RED & THE SOUL SHAKERS 8PM • $12 Fri 8/19 METALACHI LAS CALAKAS 8PM • $20 SAT 8/20 THE SUGAR THIEVES 8PM • $12 SUn 8/21 THE ACOUSTIC ARMY PAUL GURVITZ, SIMON PC FROST 3PM • $10 AFTON PRESENTS 6:30PM • $9-$15 Motahead Latinx-inspired products coming out of the ‘cannabis closet’ in Phoenix. BY MIKE MADRIAGA L atinx-influenced cannabis prod- ucts are slowly making a mark locally, but they still don’t reflect the size of the overall Latin population in metro Phoenix. While some products have a more native Mexican twist, including a Tres Leches flower strain and a Dulce de Leche- flavored gummies, others have a more Mexican-American or Chicano flavor, such as the Low Rider flower strain. And while there are a few Spanish- named or Latinx-influenced cannabis products, the number of Latinx-owned cannabis brands that are sold in Arizona does not reflect the fact that one-third of the state’s population is Hispanic or Latino, according to the U.S. Census. Raul Molina, chief operating officer of The Mint dispensaries in the Valley and additional locales in Michigan, said the Hispanic or Latino representation in the cannabis industry is much less than 33 percent. “Sadly, it’s not [proportional],” he said. “Even though Arizona has a large Latin population, they make up very little of the cannabis industry and even less of the ownership groups.” Roots Back to Juarez Molina — who was born in Juarez, Mexico, and moved to the U.S. at 7 years old — has noticed few Latinos in the cannabis industry. But that might be explained in part, he said, by the realities of retail cannabis operations. “It may reflect the consumer demographics we see daily on the retail floor. Our patient base is 80 40 The Mint Angry Errl has fruit-flavored gummies with chamoy dipping pop. percent Caucasian, 10 percent to 12 percent African-American, and the remaining demographic is everyone else, including Latinos,” he said. Molina, 49, pointed to growing up in a Catholic family as another reason Latinos aren’t represented in the cannabis industry. “My mother was worried about the rest of the family coming to the wrong conclusion. So she made me call the family and personally explain what I was doing and how it was legal. Come to find out, we had several aunts, uncles, and cousins come out of the ‘cannabis closet’ and also admit they consumed cannabis. So now it’s normal and always comes up in conversa- tion,” he said. But according to Molina, there’s a silver lining that comes with being a minority in a group of niche cannabis entrepreneurs. “It seems at times that we are looked at as the ones that know,” he added. Minorities in the industry also help brands create products that are organically tailored to a demographic. Molina created The Vault, his top-shelf line of flowers packed in black-colored containers with a gold-colored six-spoke vault handle logo. El Hefe, Puta Breath, Tres Leches, and Chile Verde are some strains sold throughout Arizona that are grown in The Mint’s vault, which is a warehouse-size room dedicated to cultivation. The Mint also sells the Horchata strain from Mohave Select. Much of Molina’s inspiration for cannabis products is saved in his heart with roots back in Juarez, which borders El Paso, Texas. “The thing I remember most was my abuelita (grandmother) having a glass of alcohol on her window sill with a bit of cannabis in it,” he said. “It was her favorite thing to rub on anything that hurt.” Molina also recalled walking into Chamizal Park on the weekends and buying treats from the elotero (corn) man. “We would buy chicharrones, >> p 43 AUG 18TH–AUG 24TH, 2022 PHOENIX NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | NEWS | OPINION | FEEDBACK | CONTENTS | phoenixnewtimes.com
