Bay Area Latino Cannabis Alliance “BALCA” is a volunteer run organization seeking to empower Latinos in cannabis. Latinos have contributed greatly to cannabis culture, doing much of the work forming the emerging industry. Whether it is the Latino entrepreneur struggling to get on the retail shelf, the Latino field worker who toils under the hot sun for minimal pay, the Latino budtender who helps hundreds of patients a day, we are building a voice that articulates these experiences and contributions made to cannabis. BALCA’s vision is to build up support for its five pillars; education, professional development, civil rights, business ownership, and cultural expression, as these are critical in developing a healthy cannabis industry and developing a strong voice for Latinos in cannabis.