The first Black woman-owned cannabis dispensary on the east coast has opened in Massachusetts, The Atlanta Voice reports.
Vanessa Jean-Baptiste is the owner of Legal Greens, a new recreational marijuana dispensary located in Brockton, Massachusetts. Jean-Baptiste and her co-owner Mark Bouquet, have been working on the business for three years, looking to diversify an otherwise white, male-dominated field. At the end of March, Legal Greens finally opened its doors and welcomed customers.
“It means a lot to me because we worked really hard to get to where we are at and to be open in Brockton, and to be the first fully-recreational in Brockton, then to be the first woman in Massachusetts, it’s pretty huge,” Jean-Baptiste told reporters.
The 30-year-old Brockton native is proud to open in her hometown and be doing something she’s passionate about. There was already a line outside on opening day, with local Bryce Hall being among the very first customers.
“We [are] trying to come out here and support local businesses. I’m from Brockton; it means a lot. This is part of our community now,” Hall said.
David O’Brien, President CEO of Massachusetts Cannabis Association, spoke about the opening of Legal Greens, saying, “It’s the first woman, Black-owned business in the legal market on the East Coast, which is exciting as the first stores that opened in November of 2018. It shows that we’re trying to, actually that we’re achieving what we say we want to do, which is to build an inclusive industry in Massachusetts.”
Co-owner Mark Bouquet said the opening is proof that “it’s possible you can be Black and own a dispensary.”
Jean-Baptiste hopes her story inspires others to follow their dreams as well. “Never give up. Honestly, keep on fighting, keep on chipping at it even when it seems like it’s far-fetched and it seems like you’re never going to get it, continue to fight and fight for it,” she said.
Congratulations!
