This week we talked with former NBA player and current cannabis industry innovator Al Harrington. While many know him from his days as a hooper, this conversation focuses on his endeavors in the cannabis industry as the founder of VIOLA. Listen in as he shares his journey in this business why he views it as an opportunity for Black people and people of color to create generational wealth.

2:00 - Al shares the remarkable story about how his grandmother inspired him to start his company VIOLA and how the company is actually a platform for more people of color to get into the legal cannabis industry. He also explains the challenging, expensive process of how he actually got into the business. Al then talks about the different ways people can enter the game outside of being an actual cannabis grower.

8:00 - Al talks about the business incubator he has started to create 10,000 entrepreneurs in the cannabis space. He then talks about people still having "PTSD" in dealing with marijuana and their hesitance to enter the business. He also talks about how he feels generational wealth is on the line when dealing with cannabis and offers his thoughts on if and when marijuana will become legal federally.

17:30 - Al talks about how minorities need to bring their resources together to make an impact in the business and feels that celebrities should shift their approach to entering the space as well.

22:30 - Al clears up the intention and operation of the 100 millionaires concept behind his VIOLA CARES initiative. He also brings attention to how MSOs (multi state operators) find loopholes to get licenses in different states. 

24:30 - Al speaks on the importance of reentry programs for people who have been locked up behind weed charges and putting them through cannabis curriculums to get back on their feet legally. He also speaks on how he doesn't just view VIOLA as a money maker but as a community builder.

30:20 - Al gives some advice on how to educate yourself on how the business goes and how to get started in it. 

32:00 - Al talks about how he feels about professional sports leagues finally being open to taking marijuana off the banned substances list. And of course, lifelong Golden State Warriors fan gets Al to reflect on the 2006-07 "We Believe" Warriors team that Al was on and their legendary playoff run.

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