Yamba Market, Cambridge’s first leisure marijuana dispensary, will open in Central Sq. by the start of March.
The Black-owned enterprise acquired the inexperienced mild from the Massachusetts Hashish Management Fee earlier this month. Entrepreneurs Sean D. Hope and Sieh Samura plan to open the store at 580 Massachusetts Ave.
Hope stated he believes the enterprise’s opening will pave the way in which for future minority-owned companies to take part within the marijuana market.
“Oftentimes individuals say that Cambridge is America’s classroom,” he stated. “The teachings discovered on this case is that in case you present minority and small companies a possibility — even throughout a world pandemic, even when retail actually is altering, as a result of everyone seems to be so used to utilizing your telephones and getting issues dropped at you — that an modern Black-owned enterprise like Yamba Market can come ahead and may thrive.”
Hope’s involvement within the hashish business contains legally representing one of many state’s main medical and leisure marijuana dispensaries. Samura, a longtime activist for hashish legalization and coverage, stated he first acquired concerned in hashish advocacy after studying the advantages of medicinal marijuana.
“We have been on the frontlines preventing for actual social justice,” Samura stated. “There’s lots of people coming into the house, however I characterize the people who made this house and that maintained this house and that advocated for this house when it wasn’t cool.”
Hope and Samura’s objective is for Yamba Market to function as each a dispensary and academic useful resource on hashish for residents within the larger Boston space, in accordance with Samura.
“We wish to be the primary place that they arrive for hashish information,” Samura stated. “We’re an authority for supporting a constructive grownup hashish way of life and the communities that profit from that.”
“We normalize, we take away the stigma, we modify tradition, we assist individuals to expertise hashish in one of the best ways,” he added.
Hope stated Yamba Market differentiates itself from different dispensaries by providing all guests an “experiential” go to, no matter whether or not they buy product. At its entrance, the enterprise boasts an open house adorned with lounge areas, paintings, and baskets imported from West African artisans.
Connected to the primary dispensary is The Joint, an extra house the place guests who don’t devour the product can get pleasure from paintings, buy non-regulated merchandise, and attend common artwork occasions.
By June, Hope and Samura intention to open their subsequent retailer — Yamba Boutique — in Harvard Sq.. The pair additionally hopes to launch “Yamba Life” as a “way of life model, specializing in well being, wellness, artwork and creativity.”
—Employees author Salaidh A. Perez may be reached at [email protected]. Observe her on Twitter @PerezSalaidh.
