Explore the transformative journey of Al Harrington from NBA star to pioneer in the cannabis industry, aiming to reshape a landscape where only 2% of businesses are owned by people of color. With an illustrious 16-season career in the NBA, playing for teams like the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, and Indiana Pacers, Harrington took his next big leap as the CEO of Viola, a multi-state cannabis operation named after his grandmother. Currently operating in California, Michigan, Washington, and Oregon, Viola has successfully secured a licensing deal in Canada and is on track to expand across several more states in the U.S., with a company valuation close to $100 million.
In this comprehensive discussion, hosted by Will Yakowitz, a staff writer at Forbes Magazine who specializes in covering the cannabis sector, Harrington candidly shares his experiences and the challenges he faced while navigating the burgeoning cannabis industry since 2011. He delves into how, through extensive research and interaction with groups like GGC in Los Angeles, he became acutely aware of the disproportionate impact of drug-related arrests in black communities and the critical need for diversity and proper representation within the cannabis space.
Harrington’s vision goes beyond combating stigma; he’s deeply invested in rectifying the historical injustices linked to cannabis. Through initiatives such as an incubator program aimed at creating 100 black millionaires in the cannabis industry, Viola is not just a company but a platform for meaningful change. Harrington’s efforts to foster equity, ownership, and diversity are also highlighted through Viola’s partnership with Gold Standard Farms in Tennessee. This collaboration transformed a family farm from growing soybeans to cultivating hemp, demonstrating the vast economic opportunities that await when transitioning into the cannabis industry.
Moreover, Harrington’s innovative strategies to support black entrepreneurs through Village LLC, a company that acquires cultivation, dispensary, and manufacturing licenses, exemplify a roadmap for integrating and uplifting communities of color in the lucrative cannabis market. His dedication is also evident in personal narratives, where he reflects on his experiences with law enforcement as a young person and the ongoing impact of these encounters.
This intimate and insightful conversation not only sheds light on Harrington’s goals and achievements with Viola but also underscores the broader social implications of the cannabis industry and the vital need for reform and inclusivity. Through his journey, Harrington is not only challenging norms but also laying the groundwork for a more equitable and prosperous future for black entrepreneurs in the cannabis space.
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