David “Slim” Penn Jr. has opened a cannabis shop in Pasco, WA.
Penn’s journey into entrepreneurship began as a child, according to the Tri-City Herald. He would mow his neighbors’ yards and had a paper route.
“I remember those 20-pound papers,” he told the outlet, embellishing the weight of newspapers in the past when they were larger and heavier.
Today, that business mindset has carried over into the cannabis space. Penn is now a franchisee of Lucky Leaf Co., which is owned by his friend David Morgan, who has stores in Spokane, WA, and Pasco. Penn had previously backed Morgan when he was looking to challenge the city to allow for legal cannabis sales to adults back in 2022. The following year, a council approved removal of the ban and permitted the legal sale of cannabis, paving the way for three storefronts including Lucky Leaf Co.
Now, Penn will operate his own store alongside his partner Jamie Badden, who serves as the manager of the store. To get the shop up and running, they invested $30,000 to support renovations for the 2,500-square-foot storefront located at 528 W. Clark St.
The vision was also made possible with the help of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, which has been working to increase diversity within the industry since 2020.
Since opening the store during the first week of November 2024, Penn has already hired a team of 17, many from the nearby community.
“It’s about getting minorities into this cannabis world and building generational wealth,” Penn told the outlet.
What’s more, beyond creating industry opportunities, the shop will also be directing a portion of its profits towards a good cause. The plan is to donate to a youth-focused nonprofit.
A soft opening was held the weekend after Oct. 31 with some of the company’s offerings. For those looking to support the shop, once it’s fully open they will be able to visit the store daily between 8 a.m. and midnight. According to its website, items at the store will include high-quality flower and pre-rolls as well as vaporizers and edibles, among others.
