Tag Archives: empowerment

Tahir Johnson is the founder and CEO of Simply Pure Trenton, the first black-owned social equity dispensary to receive a license in New Jersey. He’s a well-known cannabis advocate who’s held leadership roles at the Marijuana Policy Project, the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) and the United States Cannabis Council. Tahir was born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, so coming full circle and starting a dispensary in his hometown is something truly special.

From growing up in New Jersey to graduating from Howard University, working in finance and wealth management at companies like Morgan Stanley, to finally launching a business back in his hometown, he embodies the Trenton success story.

Tahir is speaking at the upcoming Cannabis Quality Conference in Parsippany, New Jersey on October 18. Ahead of his presentation there, we caught up with Tahir to learn a little more about his background, his thoughts on social equity and some advice he could offer to other minority cannabis entrepreneurs.

Cannabis Industry Journal: Tell us a little about yourself – what’s your story?

Tahir Johnson, Founder & CEO of Simply Pure Trenton

Tahir Johnson: My name’s Tahir Johnson and I am the founder and CEO of simply pure Trenton. I was born and raised here in Trenton. I am a Howard University alumnus. I’ve spent most of the past few years of my life in the DC Maryland area. I came home to apply for the licenses and thankfully won them. I am one of the first 11 dispensary licenses to be issued last year. I licensed the brand from my good friend, Wanda James, who is the founder of the original Simply Pure back in Denver, Colorado. She started the very first black-owned dispensary in the country. I am excited to be carrying this legacy.

Before cannabis, I spent most of my career working in finance. I came into the industry in 2019 and started out as a budtender after quitting my job in finance, starting to work at a dispensary. I began working in advocacy, joining the NCIA in 2019 then went on to the Marijuana Policy Project and the US Cannabis council in 2021, where I was up until I started this dispensary. It’s been amazing being back home and close to the family after being away for 22 years. I am just really excited that I am on track to open the first black-owned social equity dispensary in the state of New Jersey.

CIJ: Tell us about Simply Pure. How did you start this dispensary and how did you meet Wanda?

Tahir: So, I met Wanda back in 2019, back when I was with NCIA. Initially, it was never about opening a dispensary or anything back then. I was just building a network and finding like-minded minority folks in the business for possible future collaboration. You know, Wanda, I think of her as an OG. She’s been a friend and mentor from Day 1. So, when I initially wanted to apply for a license in New Jersey, I knew that Wanda wanted to grow and take her business outside of Denver. I went to her and asked possibly about partnering, seeing if she wanted to do this with me. She thankfully agreed to it and the rest is history.

Tahir Johnson (left), Wanda James (center) and John Dockery (right)

CIJ: Could you give us a timeline of how Simply Pure Trenton got started? Where are y’all at right now and what sort of roadblocks have you had to overcome?

Tahir: Sure, So I got the conditional license in May of last year, then I got the annual license in April of this year. Early on, hurdles were definitely access to capital. Thankfully, me being one of the first licensees and I think my background and network helped me get access to the money. The biggest barrier, when you look at getting a license, there are so many moving parts. Getting the license is just one small piece of it. Then getting local approval is another obstacle. But man, getting the building permits has been one of the biggest roadblocks I’ve ever faced. If somebody asks me what my biggest roadblock was, it’s building permits. Because in New Jersey, you have to get approval from multiple different outside agencies that really have nothing to do with building or cannabis ore anything. The latest approval we’re waiting on is from the Raritan and Delaware Canal Commission and I’m wondering what the hell does that have to do with building out the interior of my space? You know what I mean, it’s just a lot of red tape and diplomacy that I have to go through. A lot of it is very unexpected!

CIJ: Alright switching gears a little bit here. How would you define social equity in the cannabis industry’s current climate and where we’re at today? What does economic empowerment mean to you?

Tahir: I would say first that social equity in cannabis specifically is the idea that people who have been the most impacted by the war on drugs should have the opportunity be a part of the industry. And that’s super important because we’re building a completely new industry and one that’s doing billions of dollars in sales. In my opinion, when we say people who have been most impacted by the war on drugs, those are by and large the black, indigenous and Latino populations. So, it’s been black and brown folks that have been largely affected by the war on drugs. If we’re going to have a new legal system, those same people who were 4x more likely to be arrested for cannabis should at least get the opportunity in ownership of this new industry.

A rendering of the Simply Pure dispensary storefront

Economic empowerment is one of the biggest parts of social equity. It’s actually what drew me to cannabis in the first place. When you look at the opportunities in cannabis, it’s a business that’s hard to get into, but It’s a lot harder to do if you have a lack of access to capital. Drawing from my career in finance, when you look at black communities, we have 1/10 of the wealth of our white counterparts. Looking at such a cash-oriented business where you can’t just get a normal business loan from a bank, you have to have personal wealth and access to venture capital or private equity. Well, our communities have less access to that because of our background, our networks and upbringings. So social equity is the idea that there should be some support systems in place, some help in bringing opportunities of the cannabis industry to us.

One part of that is licensing and giving us access to the licensing process. Another part of this issue that is being administered more recently is actually making sure that wealth is distributed through programs and policies. Not everyone may want to start a dispensary like me, but they were still severely impacted by the war on drugs. Seeing money from the tax dollars generated by the cannabis industry now going back to the communities to fund rebuilding and revitalizing projects is great. It really comes down to leveling the playing field to create those opportunities for people that should have them.Tahir Johnson will be presenting at the upcoming Cannabis Quality Conference in Parsippany, New Jersey, October 16-18. Click here to learn more.

CIJ: What does community mean to you? How does your business fit into and support the Trenton and larger NJ cannabis community?

Tahir: For me, one of the biggest things I’m proud of growing up in Trenton is that sign on the bridge, “Trenton Makes, The World Takes.” Growing up, this area was an industrial town. Both of my grandparents had good factory jobs and were able to support a family, but a lot of that has left the city over the years, leaving it economically depressed. I’ve been pulled over, arrested, we’ve had family members locked up all just because of cannabis. So the idea that now, through cannabis, to be able to have an opportunity to build something positive in our community, to create jobs and wealth in our community, giving back in this same place is wonderful. I think of this as the economy and opportunity of the future. In New Jersey specifically, the state has one of the biggest racial disparities on arrests. A lot of that is due to cannabis. I remember growing up, every time we get pulled over, you know we’re getting searched. There’s been real life situations, where there was a seed or a roach in the car and we’d have to decide who’s going to jail today just because of a roach. You know, how many people’s lives have been impacted and changed just because of a cannabis arrest? Now, looking at New Jersey and this ability to right those wrongs, it’s really a beautiful opportunity.

When I talk about my community, the way that I’ve been able to inspire people and make our community proud has been the biggest thing for me. For us, we haven’t seen a lot of people make it and get to achieve success. So, to be able to have this opportunity and to be from here actually doing this is one of my biggest motivators, showing people from my community and from across the state that we can be successful in business. We often hear how difficult it can be and how making it in business seems like mission impossible to so many, being able to achieve that mission and give some hope and inspiration to people where I come from is truly special.

CIJ: If you could give yourself advice ten years ago, what would it be? What advice would you offer to other BIPOC entrepreneurs trying to make it in the cannabis industry?

Tahir: Let’s see where I was ten years ago. I would say just always continue to keep the hope and keep the faith. Stuff gets tough, but as long as you keep the vision and the path, it’s going to be okay. What I would say to other cannabis entrepreneurs is largely the same thing. This is hard as fuck. It is very hard. No matter how many times you get knocked down, you have to get back up. Don’t believe the hype. Don’t let anybody make you believe that you can’t do it because you can. It takes believing in yourself, even if people don’t believe.

This would be something that if you are a minority entrepreneur, this is really true. You really do have to be better and stronger. Educate yourself. Take the time to network with people that look like you and don’t. First you want to build a team and a support system. You also want to be able to build. Some of your allies that can help support you, they might not come from your same community or background. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for a lot of very diverse people that believed in me. Work hard, network, believe in yourself because nobody else is going to believe in you. Put in the work and that’ll bring success to anything you want to do.

Tahir Johnson (left) with John Dockery (right)

CIJ: Any final thoughts you want to share with our readers?

Tahir: Yea, so in addition to me winning my licenses, my close childhood friend, John Dockery, will be opening another Simply Pure location in downtown Trenton too, which is really exciting. I am really looking forward to getting to the finish line with all of this and being able to open. I think one of the biggest things I’d like to add is that there are so many people depending on us for this, so many jobs on the line, the community I am waiting to serve, all of these things and we’re encountering delays that are typical of this industry with the long road from getting licensed to opening and operating. A lot of people are expecting us to be open and we’ve encountered some slight delays, but we’re excited to be opening soon and expect that to happen no later than October.

June 6, 2023

The Craft Cannabis Cavalry: A Story of Small Business & Economic Empowerment

By Aaron G. Biros

No Comments

The Tohiyusdv Cavalry is a black-owned small business based in rural Virginia. At its core, they grow and process cannabis for CBD products, but it’s really much more than that. Through its Precision Craft Farmer Program, the company works with existing small minority-owned farms to introduce them to the cannabis market.

Via land leasing, profit-sharing, crop-sharing, facility design, community involvement and incubator-style support, Tohiyusdv Cavalry has built a network of farmers and a community around them that work together to gain access to the larger cannabis market.

Tohiyusdv, pronounced “toe-hee-yoos-da,” means “calm” and comes from a Native American dialect in the region. James Arrington III, founder of the company, is both African American and Native American, so the name is a nod to his roots. While Arrington insists he is just one part of this larger organization, it’s his passion for community, small business, social equity and cannabis that drives the company.

We sat down with James to learn more about the Tohiyusdv Cavalry, a bit of his background, how him and his community have found success and what they hope to achieve.

Different Sides of the Tracks

He grew up in Norfolk, Virginia alongside his two brothers and sister with a view of two different lifestyles. “We grew up in the hood of Huntersville, but I was raised in a white church, so it was interesting seeing both sides of the tracks and seeing the side that some of my friends couldn’t see,” says Arrington. The dichotomy of his upbringing gave him a unique perspective that he took to heart, eventually going to Old Dominion University for electrical engineering at the encouragement of a teacher.

Throughout his formative years, he didn’t really get involved with cannabis – that came much later. In his college years though, he met his Delta Chi fraternity brother Ernest Toney, who would go on to become the founder of BIPOCann, a nonprofit that helps social equity entrepreneurs, minority business owners and professionals in the cannabis industry.

Arrington with a recent indoor hemp crop

Working as an electrician to pay for tuition, Arrington graduated and launched what would become a successful career in electrical engineering. He worked as a subcontractor for the government in warzones, designing electrical systems with security and defense in mind, before starting his own company CalArr Consulting. “What really tied me to the industry was when I started using cannabis for my mental health and to understand who I am,” says Arrington. A combination of his upbringing and his career led to his PTSD, which then led him to cannabis as a tool for his wellbeing and mental health.

More recently, he spoke with Ernest Toney, who said, “Look man, I’ve seen what you’ve done with your business over the years and you should consider getting into the cannabis industry.” Arrington took that advice and ran with it. “So, the company I started is a mission-driven company based around healing, cannabis, understanding and helping people,” says Arrington. “Tohiyusdv Cavalry is based around working with small farmers and minorities; We introduce them to the cannabis industry.”

Here Comes the Cavalry

Right now, his company works with hemp and CBD products, but he says they are looking to expand into the THC market once Virginia legalizes and they already have some partners they’re working with in other states to expand the program.

Tohiyusdv Cavalry has been around for about two years now and Arrington says the heartbeat of it is their craft farmer program. “These are existing minority farmers in a community, already growing crops like soybean or corn,” says Arrington. “These are generational farms that have been passed down through family, some of them almost 100 years. They’ve always had to change with the times.” In changing with the times, a lot of these small, rural farms are seeing the hemp market as a possible pivot, but hardly know where to begin. “They are starting to hear about farmers in their community growing hemp, but having trouble finding folks to buy their crop.”

Some of the products from Tohiysudv Cavalry

That’s where the Cavalry comes in. “What you see in minority backgrounds is a lot of opportunities like this that are very scary to step into,” says Arrington. “We’re teaching people how to get into the industry, helping them through processing and getting on the market using new technology, and we do it at their pace.” Some folks in their network just want to rent space on their farm out to a hemp grower, others want to dive right in and create CBD products. They operate a white label program for some and help set up turnkey facilities complete with extraction and processing for others. “We work with them to build a community around their farm,” says Arrington. “We are just the engine behind these small farmers helping them get access to the larger market.”

From the Ground Up

A good example of the work they put in is Everbreeze Acres. Based in Rustburg, Virginia, Everbreeze is a 434-acre farm and bakery that’s been in the same family for generations. They had an interest in the cannabis market, so they approached Tohiyusdv Cavalry. James and his crew came in and built a 2,000-square-foot facility that is hydroponic, fully turnkey and automated. “We are teaching them the process and turning it over to them,” says Arrington. “We are teaching them how to take care of the plants, grow the crop, harvest and process it, all while collecting data.”

Before brainstorming how they want to market their products and how they want to be represented, the owners of the farm were still a little skeptical. Being in their 70s, they wanted to make a product that has some medicinal properties and could help people take care of themselves. So, James and his team put together a plan to launch a daily supplement, akin to a multivitamin.

Now Everbreeze Acres is using CBD as a megaphone to communicate their story. They were wary at first, but learned about it, grew to like it and now run a fruitful cannabis business. “We have their facility up and running and we’re growing several strains that work best for them right now,” says Arrington. “We’re about a month away from another harvest there.”

Building Community

Everbreeze Acres embodies the concept of the Tohiyusdv Cavalry. Helping small farmers establish themselves in the cannabis industry, building community around them and working to help their following and their mission.

Small business is the keystone of many communities, the cannabis industry included. Economic empowerment is sort of a way of staving off big business too. Given the history of big tobacco in the Virginia area, many stakeholders are worried if they’ll still have a seat at the table when Virginia legalizes adult use cannabis. “Looking at it in that sense, we are hoping that creating this group of diverse minds and backgrounds is building a table where everyone can sit at,” says Arrington. “We want to provide that place for them and let them know that, yes, this is the room for you, this is the place for you. We’re lending a helping hand and giving them a voice and a megaphone, sharing what they want to see in this industry.”

When asked what advice James would give himself ten years ago, the mood was somber. “Ten years ago, my mentor, alumni Dave “BamBam” Hoffman died. I would say that was the thing that gave me that kick in the ass, that I wasn’t doing everything I could do.” He has the same advice for minorities and indigenous people getting into the industry now: “Don’t be afraid to do it, the skills that you have you can put into the industry in some way. Your fit is out there. If it’s the right way, it’s never going to be easy. Push through it, keep going,” he says.

Growing in Virginia

Tohiyusdv Cavalry is ready for the day that Virginia legalizes adult use cannabis, but James says he hopes they make room for the small farmers. “Small farmers are what makes Virginia, Virginia.” They are in talks with some larger medical cannabis companies about creating similar programs for sourcing from craft growers. Through their strategic partners, a big part of their work right now is around partner and sponsor outreach, getting more businesses interested in sponsoring facilities and investing with small farmers. “Our hope is that we’ll be able to keep expanding the program and involve more minority farmers in Virginia and that it will only keep growing,” he says. “We’re optimistic that we’ll have three more farms signing on this year. And hopefully when Virginia legalizes adult use cannabis soon, we’ll be ready to expand in that market and keep on growing.”

March 22, 2023

The Story of 5th House Farms: Economic Empowerment & Equity in Cannabis

By Aaron G. Biros

2 Comments

Based in Rochester along the I-5 corridor in western Washington is 5th House Farms, a black-owned cultivation and processing company. Founded in 2016 by a BIPOC family with a tier three producer license, the company has quietly built an impressive brand success story in the state.

Coming from an economically-disadvantaged background, Carlondo Mitchell, owner of 5th House Farms, persevered through adversity to build a successful cannabis business in Washington state. By influencing consumer behavior at the retail level with branding, they are trying to turn the concept of social equity on its head.

As a family owned and operated business since its launch, they have embodied the idea of economic empowerment in the cannabis industry. As of this writing, 5th House Farms has sold over one million vape carts, reaching the top 10 in sales for that product category in Washington and their products are sold in about 35% of dispensaries in the state.

From Section 8 to Venture Capital

After cutting his teeth in the state’s medical cannabis market back in 2012, Carlondo Mitchell later grew in the cannabis space as a farm worker and sales representative. He ultimately took over operations of 5th House Farms in 2019, building on the same entrepreneurial and family-focused legacy that the company started with. “I learned a lot as a trimmer and sales rep,” says Mitchell. “I was the guy who would work 18-hour shifts for you, whatever you needed.”

This month marks five years in the Washington adult use cannabis market for him. “I come from a single parent, low-income household so it was important to have an entrepreneurial mindset,” says Mitchell. Coming from humble beginnings in Section 8 housing, he has grown 5th House Farms into a multimillion-dollar business. “Now I own the company, I own the land, my family is there and we have twenty employees,” says Mitchell.

The business has definitely become a success story, to the point that the state of Washington is working with 5th House Farms as a case study for economic empowerment and social equity. “For some people in this industry with a lot of opportunities, the path to success is pretty short and wide,” says Mitchell. “For me, and a lot of others, it’s been a lot more narrow, long and thorny. Through 5th House Farms, we want to show people what’s possible. We’re trying to show people that it is possible.”

Innovating & Differentiating

Back in 2018, it was tough to compete in a marketplace dominated by flower, so Mitchell went in a different direction and started pouring vape carts by hand. “There wasn’t room for me at the table, so I thought I’d try and do carts and chase that. It was a day-by-day effort. He says you need to know you must work twice as hard to get noticed. “You have to prepare to be disregarded. Getting in the first store was the hardest step; you had to go through ten stores who said no to get one who said yes.” Their success came through partnering with retailers, building strong relationships, understanding consumer trends, identifying their needs and working closely with budtenders.

Some of the product offerings from 5th House Farms

He says they treat people how they want to be treated. They sell products that they themselves would want to buy, by offering good, consistent products that are high quality and for a reasonable price. “Before you knew it, we had a prototype on the market and it took off. I do believe fundamentally that on the ground, consumers make choices with their morality. Some of our biggest retailers didn’t even know we’re a black owned business just a few months ago.”

Economic Empowerment from the Bottom Up

Typically, when people in this industry think of social equity, they think of this top-down policy approach that tends to rely on lawmakers and regulators to develop things like social equity funds, a minimum number of licenses reserved for minority owners, license fees for equity programs and other policy approaches. Through 5th House Farms, Mitchell and his team are working on a different approach starting with the consumer. “We’re not only fighting for social equity, but also fighting to use cannabis to create equity,” says Mitchell. “Now that people are identifying us as a black farm, it’s a cool opportunity to show people what is possible. The equity is starting to come from people caring about how they spend their money.”

Social equity, while a relatively new concept to the cannabis industry, has garnered attention in state legislatures, legalization initiatives, conferences and talking points, proving to people that they’re an ally of BIPOC stakeholders and those harmed by the War on Drugs. “To me, social equity is really about giving everyone a seat at the table. Not just trying to make things fair, but reversing this cycle of extracting from communities and instead, uplifting them.” He wants to eliminate the idea that social equity is about taking from one side of the fence and giving to the other side, rather it is about removing that fence altogether.

5th House Farms is currently working with BIPOCANN on a product badge to be displayed on product packaging, identifying it as sold by a black-owned business. “We need a tactful way to show people where their investment is going,” says Mitchell. By influencing purchasing behavior at the retail level with branding and packaging, they are essentially trying to turn the concept of social equity on its head.

Looking Back & Forward

In the chaos of chasing a dream and building a business, people tend to move quickly. “I would tell the version of me that’s ten years younger to slow down and trust the process,” says Mitchell. “As a young man, I was always looking for the cheat code.” He says his success came from losses, but they were also valuable lessons. When states began legalizing cannabis, it created real opportunity and real hope for a lot of people, but Mitchell says you need to stay vigilant and be mindful. “Try not to be so excited for the opportunity that you forget that you need to put in the work. I would tell others in this industry the same thing: to take your time in your process.”

Looking ahead, Mitchell says the plan for 5th House Farms was always sustained growth, to go national and then international. They’re in discussions with companies in other states about moving beyond Washington and they’re building a lifestyle brand. “The dream is to sell 100 million carts.” In talking about his future plans for the company, Mitchell spoke of Tyler Perry’s success story, going from sleeping in his car in the 90s to owning the largest production studio in the country today. “He didn’t have a seat at the table so he created his own table. We are intent on creating tables everywhere we can.”