We had the good fortune of connecting with Marie Saloum and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My husband got into a serious car accident and cannabis was what helped him wean off of pills. From that moment, I was able to see just how beneficial cannabis could be. That experience changed my perspective of cannabis and that’s when my passion for this industry started to pick up. By the time all of this happened, the Arizona cannabis market was still in its early phase and I saw this opportunity to be a part of something new. I truly believe in the healing power of cannabis. It’s not just a product; it can be a way for people to regain control of their health and wellness. I think that’s what drives me the most.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My career in cannabis was not the most traditional journey. I never thought I would own a dispensary like GreenPharms. Seeing my passion for healing people turn into a successful dispensary in Arizona has been life-changing. Coming into this industry, unfortunately, came with a variety of challenges. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is you have to remain resilient. We are always resilient and resilience has been key to the success of my business.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I were to bring my best friends into town, we would start with a cute restaurant spot like Cofax or Joyce Soul & Sea. You can’t be in L.A. without going to one of the beaches, so we would go to a beach in Malibu because I think they’re the cleanest and prettiest. After the beach, I would love to take them on a hike somewhere where they could get a good view of the city. Then I think a bar like Seven Grand for some cocktails would be so much fun with my girls!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When I started my dispensary, I didn’t just want to focus on the business, I strived to focus on creating something bigger than myself. As a first-generation American from a Hispanic background, I’ve seen firsthand how opportunities are not always handed to us, and I wanted to create something that represented my journey and a way to give back to the community that raised me. I grew up watching my parents work so hard off of limited resources to get me to where I am today. So when I started GreenPharms, I wanted to stay on top of everything I was doing because I wanted to honor my parents’ journey here in the United States. I would love to give a huge shout-out to my parents for showing me how important it is to always show up and advocate for yourself.

Website: https://greenpharms.com/

Instagram: https://greenpharms.az

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-saloum-21972b5/

Twitter: GREENPHARMSaz

Image Credits
Carl Schultz

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