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Marvina Thomas Becomes First Black Woman to Own Legal Cannabis Store in Arizona

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In November 2020, Arizona voters passed a referendum to legalize cannabis for recreational use, and more than two years later, cannabis entrepreneur Marvina Thomas became the first Black woman to own a legal cannabis store in the state.

Thomas is also the founder of Fourtwenty Collections, a BIPOC-owned, Arizona-based cannabis company consisting of CBD skincare, THC- and CBD-infused edibles. On Wednesday, she announced the acquisition of a vertically integrated medical dispensary license in Safford, Arizona, effectively making her the state’s first Black female dispensary owner and operator, according to a news release.

Along with a license in Las Cruces, New Mexico under her belt, Thomas is also one of the first women of color to become a multi-state operator (MSO). The Safford dispensary is set to open on April 20.

Thomas said that becoming the first Black, women-owned Arizona dispensary was always her dream.

“We are excited to inspire others to reach for the stars and have made history with our acquisition of the Safford license. We look forward to becoming a part of the community there,” Thomas added.

The cannabis professional is no stranger to the industry. She entered the space in 2016 with a single product, CBD-infused soap, and has since built and expanded her empire with a complete line of THC- and CBD-infused products. Recently, Thomas was also named one of the “30 Most Powerful Women in Arizona Cannabis” by AZ Big Media.

“I founded my business with a bar of soap to help a friend with a skin condition. To this day, I make it my mission to help others, and that has been the key to my personal and professional success,” she said.

Fourtwenty Collections President Parisa Rad confirmed, “Her determination knows no bounds.”

Thomas was formerly a registered nurse and emphasizes that her operation is completely self-funded, adding that it was “extremely important” that she follow her dream and in debt to investors.

Thomas is also community-forward, self-funding the nonprofit Start Living Inc., which helps people impacted from alcohol and substance abuse to successfully reenter society. The nonprofit offers in-house job opportunities to program graduates following successful course completion. Details are still in the works, but Thomas and the team are looking to bring that same community spirit to the Safford community.

Nationally, just 22.2% of cannabis businesses are women-owned, according to MJBizDaily’s 2022 report, “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Cannabis Industry.” The report also notes that non-white people comprise only 15.4% of cannabis business owners, a decrease from 20.7% in 2021.

The report also notes a 2020 McKinsey and Co. survey, which provides some additional context. Specifically, only 5% of Black Americans hold some business ownership or equity, compared with 15% of white Americans. Additionally, the average Black American’s business equity is worth about one-third of the white American’s average.

Additionally, the survey notes that 20% of Black Americans will start a business, but just 4% of those businesses will survive. Those that do survive struggle disproportionately with debt and capital.

Thomas, of course, exists at the intersection of two highly underrepresented groups within the industry. Speaking with Lovin’ Life After 50, Thomas referenced her position as a Black woman in the biz.

“I have to work extremely 10 times harder than another female that’s coming into this industry. It’s not what you know; it’s who you know,” she said. Originally hailing from South Central Los Angeles, she told the publication that she will “never forget where she came from.”

She also told Lovin’ Life that one of her goals was to own dispensary locations in multiple states—a dream that has already come true. Thomas stressed the importance of this representation, that it will “let our people know, as far as people of color know, that there is room out there for us in this industry, because a lot of them are still feeling left out.”