“It takes a village to do anything great in life,” says NBA star turned cannabis entrepreneur Al Harrington in an exclusive interview with Benzinga Cannabis, repeating a mantra that has guided him throughout his career. As he reflects on the recent opening of Village Dispensary in Hoboken, New Jersey, the significance of this moment is not lost on him. It’s a return home for Harrington, a personal victory tied to a broader mission: redefining the cannabis landscape, particularly for communities of color that have been disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs.

The Hoboken dispensary, Village Brands’ first East Coast location is more than just another store in the company’s growing portfolio. It marks a full-circle moment for Harrington, who recalls when the streets of New Jersey were hostile to young men like him. “I’m really happy that we finally got something here in my own state,” Harrington says, referencing the years of anticipation that led to this launch. “People for years have been asking, ‘When are we gonna be able to get some product?’ Now I can say, go to 516 Washington and buy as much as you can.”

A ‘Full Circle’ Moment

The Village Dispensary opened its doors in a location where Harrington was once stopped and frisked as a teenager. The shop’s presence in that same neighborhood is symbolic. “It’s a full circle moment to open a dispensary in the state where I was stopped and frisked as a kid who had never even touched flower,” Harrington said. He acknowledged the irony of not only opening a legal cannabis store but doing so with local government support, including the mayor and city officials.

Village Brands, founded in 2019 by Harrington and his business partner Dan Pettigrew aims to expand its cannabis footprint beyond Viola, their first brand, which was inspired and named after Harrington’s grandmother who found relief from glaucoma through cannabis. Viola became a symbol of the healing potential of the plant. Village Brands is the next step in their mission to make cannabis accessible and de-stigmatized. “When we started Viola, it was about changing the stigma. We saw how cannabis helped my grandmother, and we thought, why not use that story? It resonated with people,” Harrington told Benzinga.

Bridging Community And Business

For Harrington, opening a shop in New Jersey is not just about expanding his business, but righting historical wrongs and offering communities – particularly those hardest hit by prohibition – a chance to reclaim something that was used to oppress them. “This is a way for us to get generational wealth,” Harrington said, emphasizing the need to provide opportunities for people of color to thrive in the cannabis industry. His advocacy for inclusion taps into a deeper desire for justice and representation in a space that has long excluded those most impacted by the war on drugs.

The new dispensary is meant to be a pillar of the community, providing more than just cannabis products. Harrington views it as a place where people from all walks of life can come together and feel a sense of ownership. “We want people from our community to feel like they can take ownership of our dispensaries,” he says, highlighting Village Brands’ mission to create spaces that are not just commercial but communal.

A New Chapter For New Jersey: ‘Things Happen In God’s Time‘

For Harrington, this store opening is a powerful statement, especially in a state with a long history of criminalizing cannabis use, particularly among communities of color. The fact that a Black entrepreneur like Harrington is now leading a legal cannabis venture in the same neighborhoods where he once faced discrimination feels deeply significant. But as Harrington is quick to remind, this is just the beginning.

The journey has had its challenges. “We were ready three years ago,” said Harrington, referring to delays caused by local jurisdictions taking their time to opt into NJ’s cannabis program. Though frustrating, Harrington believes the timing ultimately worked out for the best. “If you ask me, things happen in God’s time.”

The dispensary’s grand opening featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony with city officials, followed by a celebratory block party. “We threw a little mini block party to let everybody know that we’re here,” he says with pride. “We hope that we don’t rub anybody the wrong way because we did see a lot of people come through.”

Harrington’s focus remains on creating deeper experiences for his customers. His personal touch extends to the dispensary’s loyalty program, designed to offer unique rewards. “We have a loyalty program that’s gonna be very aggressive around winning different experiences, maybe even going with me to a Nets game.”

Harrington’s deep connection to his home state of New Jersey and his determination to right historical wrongs, fuel his drive to build something meaningful. “We’ve been bringing people together for the last 13 years through this magnificent opportunity to work with the cannabis plant, and it takes a village to do anything great,” Harrington said.

For Harrington, it’s also about ensuring that the cannabis industry includes those who have been marginalized. “We don’t forget the people that were mostly harmed and negatively affected by it,” Harrington notes. His focus is on ensuring that the billions of dollars being generated in cannabis include opportunities for generational wealth in communities that need it the most.

As Village Dispensary becomes a beacon for cannabis reform and community empowerment, Harrington remains steadfast in his mission to make this new chapter in New Jersey not just a business venture but part of a much larger movement. “The strategy is always to find something that can be impactful first and make money second,” Harrington says, ensuring that the foundation of Village Brands is one of purpose, not just profit.

The success of Village Dispensary marks the beginning of many more chapters for Al Harrington and his ever-expanding cannabis empire.

Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3 of this 3-story series with Al Harrington.