| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Medical Marijuana & Retailing |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Dhar Mann Derek Peterson |
Number of locations | 4 (closed): Oakland, California, Sacramento, California, Phoenix, Arizona, Washington D.C., United States |
Area served | Nationwide |
Number of employees | More than 30 people (2011) |
| Website | www.wegrowstore.com (defunct) |
weGrow was a national hydroponics franchise that sold products and services to help patients cultivate medicinal marijuana. [1] [2] It was the first hydroponics store in the US that openly talked about cultivating cannabis for medical use. It was branded as the "first honest hydro store" and called the "Wal-Mart of Weed" by CNN. [3]
weGrow was founded in January 2010 by Dhar Mann and Derek Peterson. [5] They began franchising the brand in October of that year. weGrow currently has franchises in Sacramento, California, and Phoenix, Arizona, with a non-retail distribution hub in Oakland, California.
weGrow stores did not sell marijuana, but sold the supplies and services that cultivators need to grow marijuana. They also provided education and advice on all aspects of medical marijuana cultivation. Stores gave indoor grow demonstrations using real (non-marijuana) plants and offer classes on how medical marijuana can be safely and responsibly cultivated. On-site medical doctors performed patient evaluations, and expert technicians advise customers on building professional grow rooms. [6]
A fourth weGrow store opened in Washington, D.C., on March 30, 2012, the same day that the six approved medical marijuana cultivators were announced in D.C. [7] The weGrow D.C. store is owned and operated by franchisee Alex Wong. [8] The store is 2,500 square feet and is located at 1522 Rhode Island Avenue NE. [9] The weGrow D.C. location grand opening was attended and covered by numerous media outlets, including Huffington Post, [10] USA Today, [11] the Washington Post [12] and many others.
In early 2011, the weGrow store was closed and Peterson filed lawsuits against the company, citing unpaid debts. [13] He accused Mann of running a "hydroponzi scheme" in a Mother Jones interview. [14] A spokesman for Mann said that Peterson fabricated the allegations in retaliation for Mann's decision to downsize their partnership; [14] Mann successfully countersued Peterson for a cash settlement and stocks in Peterson's own company. [13]
weGrow had four retail spaces.