NBA star turned cannabis entrepreneur Al Harrington, known for his mantra “It takes a village to do anything great in life,” has opened his first dispensary in New Jersey, a place where he was once stopped and frisked as a teenager. This symbolic moment is more than just a business expansion for Harrington; it’s a personal victory and a step toward redefining the cannabis landscape, particularly for communities of color who have been disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs.
The Village Dispensary in Hoboken, New Jersey, is the first East Coast location for Village Brands, Harrington’s company founded in 2019 with his business partner Dan Pettigrew. This venture extends beyond their first brand, Viola, which was inspired by Harrington’s grandmother who found relief from glaucoma through cannabis. Viola became a symbol of the healing potential of the plant, and Village Brands aims to continue that mission by making cannabis accessible and de-stigmatized.
For Harrington, opening a dispensary in New Jersey isn’t just about expanding his business, it’s about 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,” he says, emphasizing the need to provide opportunities for people of color to thrive in the cannabis industry. His advocacy for inclusion stems from 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 designed to be a pillar of the community, offering more than just cannabis products. Harrington envisions a space 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.
The dispensary’s grand opening featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony with city officials, followed by a celebratory block party. Harrington’s focus remains on creating deeper experiences for his customers, including a loyalty program that offers 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 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 him, 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,” he 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.
