By Sayo Akao | Phoenix Business Journal
Green. It’s the color of money and of hundreds of plants in nature. One cash crop in particular – cannabis – is the focus of an emerging industry that has opened up the opportunities for women to lead.
Lilach Power and her business partner, Gina Berman, did not plan to open a medical marijuana dispensary. The pair’s original business plan linked alternative care and western medicine together, but Power says it was just a dream until the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act passed in 2010.
At that point, the pair realized the dream could be a reality. In 2013, Power and Berman opened The Giving Tree Wellness Center and collectively contributed $700,000 to open two locations in Phoenix and Mesa. After just four years, the pair employ 57 people and are looking to expand in the future.
