At Healing Seed VA, we believe education means honoring the roots, the resilience, and the people who paved the way. The cannabis movement as we know it would not exist without the groundbreaking contributions of Black leaders who fought stigma, criminalization, and inequality—often at great personal cost.
Today, we want to highlight just a few of the trailblazers who helped shape the cannabis industry and continue to inspire change:
Steve DeAngelo
Known as the “Father of the Legal Cannabis Industry,” Steve was a co-founder of Harborside Health Center and a lifelong advocate for patient access, harm reduction, and cannabis as medicine.
Wanda James
The first Black woman to legally own a cannabis dispensary in the U.S. and founder of Simply Pure. Wanda is a powerful voice for social equity, education, and reinvestment in communities harmed by prohibition.
Al Harrington
Former NBA player turned cannabis entrepreneur, Al founded Viola Brands to honor his grandmother’s battle with glaucoma and to push for diversity, wellness, and ownership opportunities for Black and Brown communities.
Shaleen Title
A nationally recognized leader in cannabis policy and equity, Shaleen has worked tirelessly to ensure legalization includes restorative justice—not just profit.
Black history is cannabis history.
This month—and always—we honor the pioneers, amplify Black voices, and stay committed to education, equity, and responsible advocacy.
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