CLEVELAND — The first Black women-owned cannabis company to achieve 100% vertical integration is right here in Cleveland.
Seven years ago, Ariane Kirkpatrick entered into an industry few women have chosen -- cannabis.
"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.
The journey wasn't easy. A falling out with her partners got ugly when Harvest Health and Recreation was bought out.
"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.
Fighting to keep her company, Kirkpatrick turned it into a family business, hiring her sister, Amonica Davis, as CEO.
While the $25 million business succeeded, talks of the 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.
The two sisters retained ownership of their cannabis dispensary in Athens, which now has a 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.
In addition, the sisters say that they are looking forward to the growth of additional dispensaries.
The sisters, with proven success and a historical footprint, hope that other women of color will follow in their footsteps.
"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.