March 23rd–March 29th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times State Licensed Dispensaries & Doctor Cer tifications 37 gluten-free, non-GMO gummies — and might add vapes closer to summer, Harrington said. Even though conve- nience items are popular, he added, “We are a flower brand, so we will always offer flower.” Viola has a “broad genetic catalog of both classic and proprietary strains,” according to its website. The company has a grow partner in Arizona and is starting to focus on brands and innovation. Viola owns a 48,000-square-foot medical cannabis cultivation facility and retail store in Detroit, a 13,000-square-foot facility in Denver, and a 40-acre farm in Oregon. It’s rolling out strategic partnerships in several other states. Good Enough for Grandma The idea for Viola began about 12 years ago when Harrington’s grandmother, 79 at the time, went to see him play as part of the Denver Nuggets. She complained her eyes hurt from glaucoma, and he suggested she try marijuana. At first, she resisted, but finally admitted, “I’m in so much pain today, I’ll try anything,” Harrington recalled her saying. When he checked on her later, she was crying and said, “I’m healed. I haven’t been able to read the words in my Bible in three years.” Harrington’s grandmother used cannabis until she died in late 2022, he said. “Cannabis made the quality of her life better,” Harrington added. Seeing how much cannabis helped his ailing grandma prompted Harrington to learn more about the industry and decide to get involved. “Here we are 12 years later running this national brand,” he said. And he still runs the company to his grandmother’s standards. “Any product that we produce, if it’s not good enough for my grandmother, I won’t put it out,” he said. “Our secret sauce is tender loving care that our growers put into our products. We’ve always focused on quality over quantity.” Helping Others Along the Way The cannabis industry’s patchwork of regulations and high entry price for licenses makes it tough for the average person, and especially people of color, to get a foothold in most markets. Fewer than 3 percent of people of color are owners in the multibillion-dollar cannabis industry across the U.S., according to some sources. Harrington set up Viola Accelerator, a business incubator, to help others navigate the bureaucracies and learn how to operate cannabis businesses. His goal is to create 100 Black millionaires in the cannabis industry. He’s at 11 so far, and 20 more are in the works, Harrington said. “One thing I feel I’ve learned, being an NBA player, I’ve always had a lot of oppor- tunity,” he said. “If the opportunity was never presented to me, I never would’ve been able to partake.” Harrington also set up the Harrington Institute for Cannabis Education in part- nership with Cleveland School of Cannabis to help address questions people asked him on social media. It offers online courses — pre-recorded free classes and live instruc- tion for a fee — to teach skills ranging from growing to distribution in order to prepare people to work in the industry. Classes include “Intro to Cannabis Cultivation,” “Cannabis Terpenes and Cultivars,” and “Cannabis Advocacy.” Harrington also created Viola Cares, which works with national and local orga- nizations on issues including social justice reform, expunging criminal records, and successfully reintroducing formerly incar- cerated people into society. He also works on behalf of the company to shape cannabis industry policy. Although Black and white people use marijuana at roughly the same rate, Black people are arrested for it nearly four times more often. Harrington said although being a Black man in the cannabis industry carries with it a lot of pressure and responsibility, it’s important to help others along the way. “You can’t put a dollar value on what we mean to the industry and what we mean to people,” he said. | CANNABIS | Flower from p 35 Viola products are sold at Sol Flower dispensaries, and the brand hopes to expand its distribution and offerings in Arizona. Viola
