Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Former NBA Star Al Harrington Launches Black Cannabis Incubator

Former NBA Star Al Harrington Launches Black Cannabis Incubator

Al Harrington, NBA veteran and cannabis entrepreneur, has embarked on a new mission with his company Viola Brands to develop 100 Black millionaires in the cannabis industry.


Harrington, who has long advocated for diversity in the cannabis industry and made it a guiding principle of the company he founded, Viola Brands, said one of the ways he’ll achieve this new mission is through a Viola sponsored incubator program that allows black market cannabis products to become legitimate, as reported to CNBC.

A lot of brands that are on the black market that has a lot of credibility and unbelievable following, have market share, but they just don’t know how to get into the legal market.

Al Harrington, CEO of Viola Brands



Many entrepreneurs in the cannabis field, Harrington added, find it “nearly impossible to get a license”to grow and monetize products in states where marijuana is legal although these products could have “million dollar valuations”if promoted correctly.

Harrington also said he would donate 20,000 CBD topical creams to protestors suffering from chronic pain at the request of former NBA player Stephen Jackson. Jackson has emerged as a key figure during the protests seeking justice for the killing of his friend George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer

Al Harrington and Racial Disparities in the Cannabis Industry

Racial disparities in the era of cannabis legalization - from the disproportionate arrests of African Americans for marijuana possession to the exclusion of Black entrepreneurs from license approvals and access to capital - are part of the current litany of conversations about America's culture of systemic racism and social injustice.


Founded in 2011, Viola is one of the nation's leading producers and licensed wholesalers of premium quality cannabis products. As CEO, Harrington has been a vocal advocate of increasing minority ownership and investment in cannabis-related companies, even creating a coalition of minority investors, including Stephen Jackson.

That is something I will continue to harp on; continue to bring awareness to because once again, I feel like the war on drugs was aimed towards our community, and they used cannabis as pretty much the main drug to continue to lock us up. All this money being made now, we’re not represented; we’re not there. I feel like we pioneered this industry.”

Al Harrington, CEO of Viola Brands


Viola closed a $16 million Series A funding round last October.


“What I’m hoping is that we use this time to educate ourselves and realize that we have a lot of power amongst ourselves if we just pay attention and support one another,” Harrington said.

Harrington is not alone is his support of greater diversity in the cannabis industry as Method Man, the award winning rapper, actor, and entrepreneur known for his work with Wu-Tang Clan, launched TICAL last week, a new cannabis venture looking to support Black owned businesses. CJ Wallace, son of legendary rapper Notorious B.I.G. launched Think BIG to tackle social justice and equality in the cannabis industry.

In related news, former NBA star Isiah Thomas was appointed CEO of One World Pharma, while NBAPA Executive Director Michele Roberts joined the board of Cresco Labs.


Are you still missing out on The Bluntness newsletter? Sign Up today to stay in the loop.

More For You

Sex on shrooms is not for everyone, although certainly worth a try -- perhaps with a bit of guidance first.
Sex on shrooms is not for everyone, although certainly worth a try -- perhaps with a bit of guidance first.

Sex on Shrooms: How to Prepare Yourself

If you’ve tripped on psilocybin (a.k.a., magic mushrooms) before, you’re already well aware what an intense experience it can be. And if shrooms can take an average activity like listening to music to an entirely different universe, you can probably imagine what sex on shrooms might feel like. 

As intense and amazing as mushroom sex can be, it can also be an incredibly negative experience if you’re not careful. Most psychotropic substances are best experienced when you curate the right set and setting, and sex on magic mushrooms is no different. 

Keep ReadingShow less
Tripping with your phone? Maybe.
Tripping with your phone? Maybe.

These Apps Could Help You Experience A Trip Without Tripping

Psychedelic exploration is seeing its first renaissance since the mid-century, but while the substances seem to have a largely positive effect on a person’s mental and physical wellbeing, the idea of “tripping” might still sound terrifying to a number of people. 

Thankfully, there’s an app for that – i.e., a number of apps designed to allow people to experience something similar to a psychedelic journey without actually indulging in any psychedelics.  

Keep ReadingShow less
If you've never tried cannabis tea, you're missing out!
If you've never tried cannabis tea, you're missing out!

Easy Recipe: How to Make Weed Tea

In the ever-growing world of edibles, cannabis beverages have become more popular as of late. We’re seeing more sodas, tonics, lemonades by the day. One type of infused beverage that has been seeing a surge in search interest lately are weed teas. Let’s talk about how to make them.

What is weed tea and how do you make it?

Weed tea is simply tea infused with cannabinoids. Most weed teas are infused with THC or CBD, the two most well-known cannabis compounds, but you could also use their non-psychoactive precursors (THCA, CBDA). Weed teas are excellent for people who want to enjoy cannabis’s wide range of benefits, but don’t want to smoke, dab, vape, or eat edibles for the effects.

Keep ReadingShow less
Are cannabis candles worth the price?
Are cannabis candles worth the price?

The Truth About Cannabis Candles & How to Make Your Own

There are several different ways to consume cannabis, and some of them don’t even involve actual consumption. Cannabis candles are beginning to take over the candle game, allowing cannabis enthusiasts to enjoy the smell they’re used to having to cover up and hide: the danky goodness of weed.

As cannabis becomes less stigmatized in modern culture, people are beginning to come out and admit to their cannabis use. While smoking weed used to be something people felt they had to keep on the down low, the culture is becoming increasingly mainstream and the scent is now sought after rather than condemned.

Keep ReadingShow less
Top Herbs for Detox: Cleansing THC from Your System

Top Herbs for Detox: Cleansing THC from Your System

Mother Nature truly gave us everything we need to survive and thrive. Cannabis is arguably one of her greatest gifts, with hemp and marijuana offering so much potential to change our daily lives. Not only is weed an excellent tool for relaxation and inspiring creativity, but it’s also a powerful healer and therapeutic medicinal. Hemp has similar attributes but is an agricultural crop with the power to quite literally change the world. Food, fuel, fiber, and building materials can all be made sustainably with hemp.

Yet, we are living in a world where THC drug tests still exist for millions of people. While stressful, it is possible to support your body through a THC detox, and there are many plant remedies to help. So, if you’re wondering how to pass a drug test, consider some of these herbs for detox as part of your cleanse.

Keep ReadingShow less