40 Under 40: Jason Washington

Jason Washington dreamed of a career in legal cannabis but never imagined the roller-coaster journey he’d take. He played quarterback at the University of Montana before an injury derailed his sophomore season and eventually his promising college athletic career.

In 2008, he joined the state’s medical cannabis industry. Three years later, Washington co-owned and operated five medical dispensaries and two cultivation facilities as Montana’s only African-American owner of a legal weed business.

His dream career turned into a nightmare when the US Drug Enforcement Administration raided his business and charged him with federal drug trafficking offenses.

Washington plead not guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana but was convicted and spent seven months in prison. Now, he’s back on top of the legal cannabis world as the CEO of Kulture, a cannabis consulting agency.

“For me, it’s about the medicinal value and the impact the plant can make in people’s lives. As someone who uses cannabis and understands it, I’m proud to be an advocate for the industry.”

This story was originally published in the print edition of Cannabis Now.