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COLUMBUS – The cannabis industry has over the years seen little participation of women and the involvement of Black women in the sector leaves much to be desired. According to Leafly, only 2% of cannabis business owners identify as Black, with Black women making up an even smaller percentage. Still, some Black women are making an impact with their own brands.
One of them is Ariane Kirkpatrick, who later enlisted her sister Amonica Davis as co-founder of Mavuno of Ohio, formerly Harvest of Ohio. Kirkpatrick entered into the industry seven years ago, overcoming multiple challenges on her way.
“We made the decision that we, despite the barriers, despite the obstacles, despite being black and female, we were going to make this work and we did,” said Kirkpatrick.
She started her business venture as partners with the Arizona-based, multi-state operator, Harvest Health and Recreation, LLC. But Harvest Health and Recreation was later bought by Trulieve.
“They were acquired by the largest company in the United States, which is Trulieve. And originally, we were not part of that partnership or ownership that was between Harvest and Trulieve,” said Kirkpatrick, according to wkyc.
In her quest to keep her company, Kirkpatrick turned it into a family business, hiring her sister, Davis, as CEO. However, talks about collaboration failed.
“So we started going to mediation and came up with a chateau agreement. That was great for both of us. So now we’re happily divorced,” said Kirkpatrick.
After the agreement, Trulieve acquired Harvest of Ohio locations in Columbus and Beavercreek which hold licenses as medical cannabis dispensaries.
The two sisters retained ownership of their cannabis dispensary in Athens, which came to have the new name, Mavuno. “In Swahili, Mavuno means harvest, yield, and to provide. And so it matches who we are as a company and who we are as a family-owned and operated business,” said Davis.
Mavuno is now one of just a few medical marijuana dispensaries in Southeast Ohio. It is also the first Black and woman-owned cannabis company to achieve vertical integration in the state of Ohio.
The focus of the sisters now is towards expanding their operations. They want to open additional dispensaries. What is more, they also want their story to serve as inspiration to other women of color.
“There are less than two percent of people that look like us, that are operators, are owners in the cannabis industry across the United States. So being pioneers in a new industry is very special,” said Davis.
This story appeared on MSN
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