Buying cannabis oil can be a daunting task. This is especially true if you’re new to the industry. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of dispensaries that are open to the public and will help you find the best options for you.
Yvonne Pemerson
Yvonne Pemerson and her mother are the brains behind Gorilla RX Wellness, a five year old cannabis-centric medical marijuana dispensary a short stroll from a very good diner and a good burger. The company is known for its exemplary customer service, quality of medical marijuana products and a plethora of marijuana-centric amenities. The company has a small but mighty staff, many of whom are black. The company also makes the good time by donating a significant portion of its revenue to local nonprofits. This has resulted in a happy and healthy staff who are as eager to serve their patients as they are to take the piss out of them. The company has even managed to woo several of its patients, who in turn have lent their good vibes to their co-workers and the general public. Gorilla RX Wellness, a name that should be familiar to Angelenos, has become a fixture in the medical marijuana community in LA.
Mary Pryor
Among other things, Mary Pryor is a social equity maven. She is the co-founder of Cannaclusive, an organization whose mission is to advocate for inclusion in the cannabis industry. She also serves on the advisory board of Cannabis for Black Lives, a coalition of cannabis companies that focus on fostering Black and brown employment in the marijuana industry.
Mary Pryor also happens to be the CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) of TONIC CBD, a microdosable infused beverage brand. Her favorite Cann tonic is Cranberry Sage.
She also serves as the New York chapter president of Minorities for Medical Marijuana. She has been featured in several media outlets, including Essence Magazine, and was recognized as the SXSW Innovator of the Year for her work.
Mary Pryor’s work focuses on sustainability and the delivery of an authentic product. She is also a partner with Tricolla Farms, a hemp growing collective located in upstate New York. She has been featured in USA Today and has become an outspoken voice in the cannabis industry.
Kika Keith
Founder of Gorilla Rx, Kika Keith is the first Black woman to own a cannabis dispensary in Los Angeles. Keith has been a social justice activist and activist for equity in the cannabis industry. Her dispensary, Gorilla Rx Wellness, is located in the Crenshaw District in Los Angeles.
She is also the founder of the Social Equity Owners and Workers Association (SEOWA) which advocates for minority owners in the cannabis industry. SEOWA is also located in Los Angeles.
During the licensing process for the city of Los Angeles, Keith sought help from the Social Equity Program. The program is a legal, government-created program designed to help entrepreneurs from communities affected by the War on Drugs set up businesses in the cannabis industry. In addition to providing equity opportunities for minority entrepreneurs, the program also addresses disproportionate impacts of the War on Drugs on communities of color.
During the program’s initial year, Gorilla Rx paid $1.3 million in taxes and hired 20 employees from the Crenshaw district. In addition, it donated a portion of its revenue to local nonprofits.
Community Support
Located in the Crenshaw District, Gorilla Rx Wellness is Los Angeles’ first Black-owned and operated cannabis dispensary. The dispensary offers a variety of cannabis products and also sells food and other home goods. The company also donates a portion of their revenue to local nonprofits. The store is staffed by a knowledgeable budtender, who pairs customers with the appropriate products.
According to Gorilla Rx’s owner, Kika Keith, her mission is to create a space that is inclusive of everyone. Keith is a social equity activist who has worked in the health and wellness industry for over a decade. She is also the founder of the Social Equity Owners and Workers Association (SEOWA), an organization that works to build a more equitable cannabis industry. She focuses on racial justice and grassroots advocacy.
Keith and her daughter, Kika Howze, opened Gorilla Rx in late August. It’s a 1,600-square-foot dispensary that is home to more than 1,900 cannabis products. A majority of the shop’s staff live in the community.
