Financial access remains a significant hurdle for diverse business owners in the cannabis industry. Despite the industry’s rapid growth, minority entrepreneurs often face barriers to securing funding, navigating regulatory complexities and gaining equitable opportunities. According to a 2017 survey by Marijuana Business Daily, only 4.3% of cannabis business owners identified as African American, highlighting the disparity in representation and financial access within the industry. Similarly, a 2021 report by the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) found that access to capital was one of the primary challenges for minority cannabis entrepreneurs, with 72% of respondents indicating it as a critical barrier​. Minority entrepreneurs often encounter regulatory complexities, limited access to banking services and higher interest rates compared to their counterparts. These challenges are exacerbated by the federal status of cannabis, which complicates financial transactions and access to traditional banking services. To address these inequities, Cannas Capital Holdings has launched the Bank Black Initiative, an AI-powered system designed to bridge the racial wealth gap by ensuring equitable financial access for diverse-status business owners. The initiative aims to become an ASTM Global Standard Guideline for Social Equity Lending, providing a comprehensive framework to support minority entrepreneurs in the cannabis sector. Economic Empowerment Through Financial Literacy And Access To Capital Cannas Capital’s Bank Black program utilizes an AI-operating system that goes beyond traditional underwriting metrics. While it considers essential factors such as management team, payment history and collateral support, the system also integrates additional components including community and demographic ...