May 31, 2022

Adriana Kittrell | Local Cannabis Family Business

Featuring Adriana Kittrell, Director of Operations Green Med Wellness Center in Tucson, AZ.

Green Med wellness center is the first black owned & family operated dispensary in the state of Arizona. Adriana’s father Murphy Kittrell won a license in the initial AZ lottery for medical MMJ in 2012. He acquired Green Med Wellness Center shortly after and moved the storefront from Rio Rico to Tucson, AZ. Green Med wellness Center was the first black owned dispensary in Arizona and continues to be operated by the Kittrell family. Adriana oversees the dispensary operations with her amazing team. Her brother Niko runs the cultivation, modestly producing some of the best strains in Tucson.

Adriana serves as director of operations for both Green Med Wellness Center and the adjacent Harambe Cafe. Her first role in the family business wasn’t always glamorous. She worked her way up from janitor to budtender and general manager before finally moving into her current role as Director Of Operations.

Adriana has shifted part of her daily focus from dispensary operations to her passion project, an expanding cafe venue offering classes and nightly events for local patrons. Reps from AZ cannabis brands are always there giving samples and coupons to cafe guests. It’s a beautiful place to relax and enjoy trendy local entertainment.

Harambe Cafe opened in 2019, starting with paint classes and vendor fairs for cannabis companies in Arizona. Tucson locals began to wander in the evenings for a refreshing beverage and some cannabis samples. A couple of weekly events have expanded into a full monthly calendar featuring weekday and weekend events.

Each month they have a new art exhibit featuring a local or renowned artist. They make sure to have a mix at all price levels so that there is something for everyone who wants to shop or simply enjoy the gallery sites. The events range from FREE to $5-50 depending on what’s happening.

Adriana grew up in Tucson Arizona where she is currently raising her daughters with her husband. She loves to see the city of Tucson growing and cultivating more business opportunities, art and culture.

What are your hobbies outside of cannabis?

I spend a lot of time working but I try to incorporate everything that I love into my schedule. I love modeling, singing and raising my three children.

How did you develop your interest in fashion & modeling?

Growing up my mom let me dress myself and I would just wear random things I liked. She didn’t care as long as I could express myself. Then a couple years ago my style clicked for me and came together as my own. It wasn’t until I was grown up that I really figured my style out. I think style most comes from confidence. I will wear something more masculine or superfeminine like a dress. If I like something then I’m gonna wear it. What really deeply comes with style and fashion is being OKAY within yourself and stepping out glowing. If you feel good about yourself you can be wearing a trash bag and have all the confidence in the world.

What designers or stores do you recommend?

I shop online at sites like Shein and Fashion Nova. These places are super affordable and fashionable, especially for plus sized women. This is one of the first places I found where they have so much fashion for plus size body types. I’m also tall so that can make it more challenging when shopping for certain brands as well. Shein and Fashion Nova are excellent for that. I like Eva Mendez a lot. She has a line out of NY & Co. that is accessible to anyone.

Who is your favorite designer?

Locally in Tucson I love Maya Palace. She designed the first $500 dress I ever bought from there. They make beautiful handcrafted pieces of clothing that represent Tucson desert style while being very classy and simple.

What are your goals for your city of Tucson?

I’m very passionate about making Tucson a bigger city. I hear a lot of people say they need to make it out of a certain place to be bigger or become who they want to be. I want my kids growing up here to expect big opportunities within our own city rather. That’s my goal for the next generation growing up here.

What are your goals for the cannabis industry moving forward?

I want to see more black people in the industry but I definitely want to see more black people in the places of power and contribution to the industry. Let’s be real, acquiring and operating a cannabis license may feel impossible but there are a lot of people who are qualified to do it. We are proud to empower our community as much as we can both in hiring and giving back.

If there’s anyone, minority or not, who is not part of an MSO (multi-state operator) and needs help getting started with their cannabis license or brand, that’s where I want to focus my energy and efforts. I’d love to help them succeed in cannabis without surrendering to such a big dirty corporate world.

Cannabis is so beautiful and it heals so many people and has made a way for our family. There are a lot of companies that don’t care to see the good that they’re putting back into the world.

My family wants to be able to connect with the ones who care in a deeper way about investing in the cannabis industry. We are offering to help them for free, not as consultants. But just to help other investors understand what we’ve been through as license holders in a competitive market climate. It’s been important to us to always be busy enough that we are making a good living but not that it’s consuming us.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

I want to talk about something with my personal experience and cannabis that I’ve noticed lately. Especially with social media and cannabis users. I’ll see invalidating comments like “Oh he doesn’t even dab or she doesn’t even smoke!” as if that discredits the person from contributing to the cannabis community.

We are trying to get an entire world to accept this plant and we can’t shame people for how they consume. Some of us do it recreationally and want to get high as a kite and some of us do it because we need a topical on our wrist or because we have a grandmother with Parkinson’s who needs it. So it’s important to me not to shame people for how they medicate or whether or not they medicate. Especially if they’re cheering us on or trying to help in the cannabis industry in any way.

We want cannabis to be accepted. The point is to make sure that everyone in this world has access to the cannabis plant. If there’s someone who doesn’t want to smoke it but they want to cheer for the cause, then we shouldn’t shame them.

Where would be your favorite place to light up a joint?

I’m one of the people I’m sticking up for because I don’t consume publicly anymore. I know how my mind works so I only do it at my own home. I have arthritis and bone spurs so topicals are my go to. I’ll carry my vape pen because it’s light and easy and I can control it. I used to really enjoy smoking but it’s just not something that’s not part of my daily life anymore.

Thank you so much to the Kittrell family for supporting Cannabis Cactus Magazine. Check the Harambe Cafe event schedule on the Cannabis Cactus mobile app to see updated events from Harambe Cafe, along with other wonderful events in the Tucson area.

Thank you to Adriana Kittrell. Instagram: @houseandhoney_

Thank you to Harambe Cafe. Instagram: @harambecafe Web: harambecafe.com