California is arguably the birthplace of modern day cannabis culture. Sweet Flower — Cali’s leading medical and recreational cannabis retailer — embodies that laid back, West Coast state of mind that every canna-user knows and loves.
They have four locations in SoCal, with a fifth opening this summer in Culver City. In fact, the company recently announced that they have raised $15 million in their first Series A investment led by AFI Capital Partners. Correspondingly, they plan to expand their reach in California. They’re making cannabis accessible for anyone and everyone who wants to enjoy the magical plant.
“Inclusive, Diverse and Approachable for all”
Above all, the team at Sweet Flower is dedicated to providing the cannabis community with an inclusive, diverse and approachable experience.
“We focus on these values daily. [Our staff is] 80% diverse across the company and committed to hiring and retaining inclusively and diversely,” says Tim Dodd, co-founder and CEO of Sweet Flower.
Sweet Flower knows that representation is paramount in the cannabis industry. Their executive team is led by women. Ten percent of their shelves are stocked with brands owned by people of color (and they’re always looking to add more to their inventory).
“We are committed to building strong supply chains with Black and Brown entrepreneurs in cannabis and support five times more BIPOC brands than the industry average,” Dodd adds. “We have already executed memoranda of understanding with local groups in our markets to support diverse hiring, building and supporting Black and Brown-owned cannabis brands, record expungement, skills and jobs training. [We are also] building a diverse and inclusive cannabis supply chain with all our vendors, suppliers and brands.”
Sweet Flower Shares
In 2019, they launched their Sweet Flower Shares program. The program focuses on “three key areas of concern most impacting the communities we serve — social equity, food insecurity, and underhousing,” Dodd explains.
Through this program they have been able to donate over $180,000 to initiatives in California. Those include the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, the Culver City Unified School District and Cannabis for Black Lives. Multiple Sweet Flower executives serve on the board of Cannabis for Black Lives and the Black Cooperative Investment Fund.
They also started a social equity program with The Hood Incubator and Equity First Alliance to help usher in BIPOC voices to the cannabis space.
As the cannabis industry continues to grow, it’s up to trailblazers like Sweet Flower to ensure communities who are historically disadvantaged by social stigma of the plant have a voice in this new era.
Going Above and Beyond
Sweet Flower will meet anyone who walks into the shop with a warm welcome. The Sweet Florists are trained to guide any type of customer, from newbies to seasoned stoners.
Their retail locations resemble what one might imagine to be a cannabis oasis. The interiors are clean and bright, with plants lining the aisles. This shop has a bit of a hippie vibe and a lot of weed. Likewise, they make one want to embrace their inner flower child.
Moreover, the shops carry a huge range of products. That consists of top-quality flower, extracts, topicals, tinctures and pretty much every kind of edible one could imagine. Of course, that includes unique offerings such as infused olive oils, breath strips and even salad dressings.
Since the pandemic, Sweet Flower has seen a huge increase in deliveries and edibles. As a matter of fact, they doubled their revenues in 2020, according to Dodd. Again, Accessibility is a top priority. They strive to make cannabis as easily available as possible, despite these trying times.
What’s in Store for Sweet Flower?
Sweet Flower has no plans to slow down. In addition to opening new locations throughout California, they’re working on exclusive launches and collaborations. They’re also looking forward to hosting more COVID-sensitive in-store events in the near future.
Sweet Flower is one dispensary where consumers know their dollar contributes to positive change in the cannabis industry. Supporting businesses that stand for equity and inclusivity in the cannabis space is one simple way to make an impact as a consumer. As always, cannabis culture is all about peace and love; Sweet Flower embodies just that.
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