What happens when a cannabis business owner starts asking the tough questions, like why so many people are still in prison for selling a product that is now legal in stores? Lindsay French, the founder of Hippie & French, a boutique cannabis shop in Pittsburgh, is not afraid to go there.
She is using her platform not just to sell cannabis, but to speak out about the deeper issues the industry often ignores, like justice, equity, and the people left behind as cannabis becomes a multibillion-dollar industry. At Hippie & French, Lindsay is all about more than just wellness, she is fighting for a system that works for everyone, from her customers to those still behind bars.
A Business Built on Purpose
From the start, Lindsay wanted Hippie & French to feel different. There’s no flashy marketing or trend-chasing here. Instead, the focus is on quality, education, and accessibility. But as cannabis legalization expanded across the U.S., Lindsay could not ignore the painful contrast between her ability to openly sell cannabis and the reality faced by those still in prison for doing the same.
That’s when she began supporting the Last Prisoner Project, a nonprofit dedicated to freeing people incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis offenses. For Lindsay, this is not just charity, it’s about fairness. If cannabis is legal for her to sell, it shouldn’t still be a crime for others.
“It really bothers me that we have a mass incarceration system that’s overflowing with nonviolent offenders,” Lindsay says. “If cannabis is legal to sell in stores, how is it morally acceptable for people to still be in prison for it?”
A Holistic Approach to Justice
Lindsay’s passion for justice is not confined to the cannabis industry. It extends into her advocacy for police reform. From her own tough experiences with law enforcement, she believes that police officers are often put in situations they are not trained to handle, particularly when it comes to mental health crises.
She supports organizations like Policing Equity, which works to reduce bias and improve law enforcement practices. In Lindsay’s eyes, sending police to deal with mental health emergencies is the wrong approach. These situations require trained professionals, not law enforcement.
By linking her cannabis work with her stance on police reform, Lindsay’s commitment to social justice becomes even clearer. She is not just calling for change in one system, she is advocating for change in the systems that affect people’s lives, from the streets to the courtroom.
Running a cannabis business with a clear sense of morality is not easy, especially in an industry still figuring out its ethical boundaries. Lindsay faces pressure every day to make decisions about products, partnerships, and supply chains. But she is willing to walk away from opportunities that don’t align with her values.
For Lindsay, success is not just about sales, it’s about standing up for what’s right. She is committed to doing the right thing, standing up for what she believes in, and holding the industry accountable as it grows.
Her approach has earned her the respect of both her customers and peers. Whether she is offering advice on natural ways to relieve anxiety or making donations to causes she believes in, Lindsay’s commitment to social justice is at the heart of her business.
A New Kind of Cannabis Leader
Lindsay French is not just running a cannabis shop, she is pushing the whole industry to do better. She is proof that you can build a successful business and still stand up for what’s right. By speaking out, supporting justice, and leading with heart, Lindsay is showing that cannabis can be more than a product; it can be a path to real change. And in a space that’s still growing, voices like hers are exactly what we need.
