White Boy Rick: 'The Better We Do For Society Through The Cannabis Industry, The Stupider They Look For Locking Us Up'

"White Boy Rick", born Richard Wershe Jr., has become a vocal advocate in the cannabis industry following his long-term incarceration, taking the stage at the recent Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Miami alongside former NFL player Charlie Batch. Wershe shared a deeply personal narrative, a story involving a young paralyzed man that effectively reveals his motivations in the cannabis sector.

"I had a young man who was paralyzed, I think, at the age of 17. He started writing to me in prison and we started talking about cannabis," Wershe narrated. In the United States, the conversation around medical marijuana has gained substantial traction, yet not all who could benefit from it have access.

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"And he wasn't afforded through his insurance to get cannabis and he couldn't afford it," Wershe explained. Fueled by a desire to help, he coordinated with his friends while still behind bars. "So through some of my friends while I was still incarcerated, I was able to give him cannabis for free."

When he was finally released, Wershe's first stop was not his home, but a visit to this young man, an illustration of his commitment to the cause. The young man showed Wershe the myriad of pills prescribed to him, sharing the detrimental side effects, "He told me the effects that they have on them, that some of the things constipate him and some of them do this..."

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The introduction of cannabis into his life marked a significant shift. "Cannabis relaxed him and made him feel better. He was able to function better," Wershe continued. This experience, this interaction, fueled a passion in Wershe and his friends. "So for that, it's a driving force behind me and a lot of my friends, to be honest, that are in this industry."

Born and raised in the streets, Wershe and his colleagues see their work in the cannabis industry as an opportunity for redemption. "We came up in the streets. So I look at it like the better we do for society through this industry, the stupider they look for locking us up." Wershe asserted.

This narrative from Wershe, as one of the industry's most distinctive voices, exemplifies the intertwining of personal motivation and the broader societal benefits the cannabis industry could offer.

Aspiring to learn more about the industry? Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference is scheduled to return to Chicago on September 27 and 28, with more information available at bzcannabis.com.