Al Harrington is a transformation story
Al Harrington’s story is one of transformation — from a 16‑year NBA veteran to one of the most influential Black entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry. After retiring from basketball, he poured the same discipline and drive that defined his career into building Viola Brands, now one of the largest and most successful Black‑owned cannabis companies in the United States. Cannabis Now
From NBA Star to Cannabis Visionary
Born in New Jersey and drafted straight out of high school, Harrington played 16 seasons across teams including the Pacers, Warriors, Knicks, Nuggets, and Magic. That longevity — rare in the league — shaped his identity as a grinder, a builder, and someone who shows up even under pressure. Cannabis Now
That same mindset fuels his cannabis work.
Viola Brands: A Mission Rooted in Family and Justice
Harrington founded Viola in 2011, naming it after his grandmother, whose experience using cannabis for glaucoma opened his eyes to the plant’s medical and cultural power. Viola has since grown into a multi‑state operation — active in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania — and is widely recognized as the largest Black‑owned cannabis brand in the country. Cannabis Now
His mission is explicit:
increase equity and ensure Black and brown communities have real ownership in an industry built on the backs of people harmed by prohibition. Cannabis Now
Partnerships That Shift Culture
Harrington has collaborated with fellow NBA legend Allen Iverson, releasing strains like Iverson ’01 and Iverson ’96, and most recently launching a national line of hemp‑derived THC beverages called IVERSON, distributed through Circle K — one of the largest mainstream retail rollouts of THC products to date. Cannabis Now
These partnerships aren’t just branding. They’re cultural bridges — bringing cannabis into spaces where Black athletes and Black consumers have historically been marginalized or criminalized.
A Builder of Black Wealth in Cannabis
Harrington is one of the few Black CEOs in the legal cannabis industry, and he’s vocal about the responsibility that comes with that position. He invests in Black and brown entrepreneurs, mentors new founders, and pushes for structural change so equity isn’t just a buzzword but a measurable outcome. Forbes
He’s said plainly that this work is lifelong — a fight he doesn’t expect to “wake up one morning and declare finished.” Forbes
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