Steven W. Hawkins (born July 10, 1962) is an American social justice leader and litigator who currently serves as president and CEO of the US Cannabis Council.
[2][3] Prior to these roles, he served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Program Officer of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
[4] In 1985, Hawkins spent a year at the University of Zimbabwe during the turmoil, repression and massacre of civilians at the hands of rebels during the country's first post-independence election.
[5] As an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Hawkins represented African American men facing the death penalty throughout the Deep South.
After returning to the NAACP as Executive Vice President and Chief Program Officer,[6] Hawkins often worked in coalition with Amnesty International USA on abolishing the death penalty and national security issues.