Cannabis legends to remember during Black History Month

Each February is recognized as Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month.

This annual occasion is an important time for us to recognize and recognize the accomplishments of the many African Americans who helped shape the United States as we know it today. Its roots go back to 1915, fifty years after slavery was abolished in the United States thanks to the Thirteenth Amendment.

Unfortunately, the War on Drugs has made it difficult for African Americans to thrive in the cannabis industry. It’s also harder for black Americans, who are four times more likely to be arrested on marijuana charges compared to whites. It’s much harder for them to get a piece of the cannabis pie.

Because of that, and because it’s Black History Month, here are some of the most notable African American cannabis pioneers who deserve recognition for their achievements in the challenging industry. Let them inspire the next generation of African American cannabis pioneers:

Hope Wiseman

Hope Wiseman was the youngest African American pharmacy owner in the United States. At the age of 25 she successfully founded Mary and Main in Maryland. Wiseman graduated from Spelman College and has a background in investment banking.

Mary and Main focuses on education, philanthropy, and social activism, although their products include a variety of cannabis products and offer therapy treatments. Its co-founders include Dr. Octavia Wiseman, a dental care specialist, and Dr. Larry Bryant, who specializes in family oral surgery.

The Canna MDs

Physicians Rachel and Jessica Knox, known as Canna MDs, founded American Cannabinoid Clinics in 2014. They did this together with their parents, both of whom are also doctors, with the intention of offering patients a tailor-made healing method.

Her passion for helping people through the healing powers of cannabis began when her mother discovered the benefits of marijuana for her own patients. The Knox family now has several clinics in Oregon. The Canna MDs website was created to educate the general public, healthcare providers and patients about the use of cannabis as medicine.

Wanda James Smith & Scott Durrah

Wanda Smith and her husband Scott Durrah are America’s first black couple to own a licensed cannabis dispensary and they were the first dispensary in Colorado to be owned by black people. In 2009 they opened the Simply Pure Dispensary in Denver.

Wanda has also played an important role in the cannabis industry as she is a former US Navy lieutenant and served as campaign manager for not one but two successful congressional elections in the state. She also served on the National Finance Committee under President Barack Obama. She was tasked with overseeing Amendment 64, which eventually ended cannabis prohibition in Colorado and paved the way for recreational cannabis legalization by 2012.

Brittany Moore and Alphonso T. Blunt Jr.

Brittany Moore and Alphonso T. Blunt Jr. founded Blunts + Moore, the first stock cannabis dispensary. Covering 4,000 square feet, the dispensary sells a range of premium cannabis products.

They were also some of the early beneficiaries of the Equity Permit Program that Oakland started back in 2017. The program made licenses available to Oakland residents who had a cannabis conviction or who lived in areas that had a “disproportionately higher number of cannabis-related arrests.”

Al Harington

Al Harrington, a former NBA player, founded a cannabis brand called Viola Brands in 2011. In addition to selling cannabis products, he also developed Viola Cares, a philanthropic project aimed at helping ex-prisoners make their transition back into society.

Viola Cares works with community engagement in mind, working with national and local groups that reinvest in the communities in which they work. They also work to ensure people in need have immediate resources to support them, while helping to shape local cannabis policies in social areas such as judicial reform, community re-entry and eradication.

The name Viola was inspired by Al’s grandmother, who suffered from glaucoma, diabetes and high blood pressure. They lived in Colorado and at the time he was able to get hold of some medical marijuana to help her. And seeing how much she could benefit from it inspired him to delve deeper into the world of cannabis. And after 16 seasons in the NBA, he formed Viola Brands and the rest is history.

Karim Webb

Karim Web, CEO of 4thMVMT, an organization that trains and funds candidates qualified to attend the Los Angeles Social Justice Program. The program aims to help people disproportionately affected by the war on drugs.

Today, 4thMVMT supports many cannabis entrepreneurs, including those trying to break into the cannabis industry. With free management and business training, candidates have a chance at success. They even help secure storefronts, investments, and licenses, all of which present serious hurdles for anyone trying to make it big with cannabis, especially African Americans.

Andrea drummer

Andrea Drummer, a Le Cordon Bleu trained chef, is a pioneer in bringing cannabis to the forefront of the restaurant industry. She is a co-owner and chef at The Original Cannabis Café, the very first restaurant to legally sell marijuana for on-site consumption.

The Original Cannabis Café originally opened in 2019 under the Lowell Café name in West Hollywood, California. Now she’s a co-owner of Elevation VIP, a Los Angeles-based catering company that specializes in putting cannabis-infused foods on the menu.

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