YANA Wellness, a cannabis brand owned and operated by women with a dispensary licensed in Washington, DC, makes official history when it becomes the first hemp THC beverage in retail stores across Virginia. They also reach consumers nationwide with their alternative plant-based beverages via the e-commerce website. It is a significant milestone for YANA, a women-owned small business. But it also marks a landmark for women who are pioneering wellness plant-based products that will be distributed nationwide.
Ariana FLeishman has developed a template for minorities who own small businesses. This blueprint outlines how to make products accessible, compliant, and community-driven. Fleishman makes use of her social platforms to inform consumers as well as business people.
“YANA means You Are Not Alone. My mom called me this as a young child. It’s always been my dream to build a community around the mission. The world is experiencing a rise in mental health problems. Fleishman believes that you cannot change the world unless you first change your community. “Adderall and alcohol—these are so normalized in today’s society. Adderall was prescribed by my doctor to help me combat ADHD during the day. At night bars and restaurants serve only alcohol, which causes my memory to be impaired and leaves me feeling sick. Why does this lifestyle continue to be so accepted? “Why do we need to keep quiet when we prefer to consume poisonous plants?”
She continues: “Cannabis and mushrooms are proven effective medicines and can provide life-changing benefits if purchased from reliable sources that have been lab-tested.” “But, still, it is the norm to take addictive drugs prescribed by physicians and to drink to socialize with your friends.” It is my goal to eliminate this stigma and provide plant-based alternative in mainstream settings.
Breaking Prohibition barriers and entering the Mainstream Market
Fleishman developed plant-based alternatives to ensure that their product would comply with all state regulations, even though cannabis was still illegal under federal law. It was her plan to spread the culture of plant-based substitutes and expand the Fleishman brand into new markets, while the legalization of cannabis is uncertain.
YANA drinks are available in restaurants throughout the DMV. This allows consumers to experience the health benefits that cannabinoids offer, while also exploring the functional mushroom and adaptogenic properties. YANA’s Rizzi Mushroom Elixir is a consumer favorite that contains no THC or CBD—just a federally legal blend of nootropic and adaptogenic mushrooms. Rizzi Elixir has been featured in DC social clubs like Ciel Rooftop Marriott Downtown Hotel or Spark Social, DC’s only non-alcoholic club for LGBTQ+. These mainstream venues showcase how plant-based alternative drinks can be part of a holistic social wellness lifestyle—and it’s only the beginning. Virginia is now able to sell THC-derived hemp drinks legally in restaurants and bars with hemp licenses. Find out more about the full product range and where to buy YANA near you.
Cannabis Women are the future leaders
YANA’s story of success is a testament to the persistence and perseverance that women have shown in navigating the industry’s difficult transition from legalization to prohibition. Fleishman, her team and the cannabis industry have evolved from the gray market era of DC to a women-run dispensary that is fully legal. The Chief Strategy Officer of YANA Wellness Brands, Hannah Clarke, a longtime cannabis lobbyist and consultant, emphasizes the significance of their achievements: “Women are not just participating in the industry anymore—we’re building it,” Clarke says. This is all about changing the perceptions of cannabis, and policy for future generations.
YANA’s team of women looking to enter the workforce prioritizes science, advocacy, and entrepreneurship, integrating them into their education and research. Through collaborations between YANA Wellness and clinical psychologist Dr.Vivid, and internship programs at American University or the University of Maryland with the University of Maryland and American University respectively, YANA Wellness gives students a rare chance to learn about the psycho-social effects of mushrooms and cannabis to better sell them to consumers.
It was a surprise to me that I could find an internship focusing on the psychosocial effects of mushrooms and cannabis so early in my professional career, according to Lucrezia Brody, a YANA Psychology intern, and student at American University. “The research we conduct isn’t just filed away—it directly informs our patients and wellness consultants to help improve our community.”
Expanding while Stimulating Local Economy
YANA, which is run by a team of 10 females, is able to scale up and boost the economy in Virginia through strategic partnerships. Fleishman understands that cannabis is dominated in the market by multi-state operators (MSOs) who are owned by large pharmaceutical companies and publicly traded corporations. This has led her to work with local, small businesses at all points of the supply chains.
Pure Shenandoah, a hemp-manufacturing business owned by a local family that produces high-quality cannabis extracts, is used to can YANA’s drinks. Brothers Craft Brewery also belongs to a local family and is a brewery owned by a small family. Fleishman explains that it was crucial to him to keep his mission, which is to create community using alternative plant medicines and stimulate the local economies in which he grew up.
YANA has also signed a contract with Specialty Beverage – a beverage distributor known for its high-volume deliveries to businesses. The partnership will increase the availability of hemp-derived THC drinks in retail stores and restaurants that are looking to offer plant-based alcohol alternatives.
The Evolution of YANA
Ariana, or “Ari Tokes”, as she is known online, created YANA Wellness, a Cannabis Creatives Collectives, for the DC Metropolitan Area in 2019. She wanted to create a platform where people could connect through curated social events. As DC’s laws evolved, YANA became a Holistic Wellness Center & Licensed Cannabis Dispensary.
Fleishman spent the last two years simultaneously developing the YANA beverage line and opening the retail store so that she could provide a wide range of alternative plant-based blends to people across the country. YANA advocates for a cannabis culture that is responsible, accessible, and backed by research through their social media platform. Follow their social media to stay up-to-date on local events, cannabis and culture.