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 Cannabis Industry Development Team that spotlights and explores 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, while creating 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
Cannabis Empowerment Week 2026: Social in the City
JOIN US FOR CANNABIS EMPOWERMENT WEEK 2026: SOCIAL IN THE CITY
This year, Cannabis Empowerment Week explores the future of social consumption and the possibilities of what it can look like in Boston through a weeklong series of interactive, educational, and community-oriented events.
Browse the full week of programming below and register for individual events or the entire week.
REGISTER HERE
Cannabis Empowerment Week Through the Years
CEW Archives
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
