WeGrow
| 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 | Template:Website defunct |
weGrow was a nationwide hydroponics franchise that specialized in providing products and services to support patients growing medicinal cannabis. It gained recognition as the first hydroponics retailer in the United States to openly endorse medical marijuana cultivation. Marketed as the "first honest hydro store," it earned the nickname "Wal-Mart of Weed" by CNN.
History
Entrepreneurs Dhar Mann and Derek Peterson established weGrow in January 2010, with franchising commencing by October of the same year. Franchise locations operated in Sacramento, California, and Phoenix, Arizona, while a distribution center was maintained in Oakland, California.
The weGrow outlets offered cultivation equipment and related services but did not sell marijuana itself. They focused on educating customers about medical cannabis growing through indoor grow demonstrations utilizing non-cannabis plants, instructional classes, and expert consultations. Medical evaluations were conducted on-site by licensed physicians, and technical staff assisted clients with designing professional-grade grow rooms.
On March 30, 2012, a fourth franchise launched in Washington, D.C., coinciding with the approval of six medical marijuana cultivators in the area. This 2,500-square-foot location was owned by Alex Wong and attracted significant media attention from sources including Huffington Post, USA Today, and The Washington Post.
In early 2011, the original weGrow store closed amid legal conflicts after Peterson filed lawsuits claiming unpaid debts and accused Mann of running a "hydroponzi scheme." Mann refuted these allegations, suggesting they were retaliatory responses following the reduction of their business partnership. Mann prevailed in a countersuit against Peterson, resulting in a monetary settlement and acquisition of shares in Peterson’s company.
Past closed locations
weGrow previously operated four retail outlets:
- Oakland, California – Opened initially as “iGrow” on January 28, 2010, it was rebranded to weGrow on October 3, 2010. The 15,000-square-foot facility transitioned from a hydroponics superstore into a non-retail distribution center after the brand began franchising.
- Sacramento, California – The first franchise location launched this 10,000-square-foot store on February 26, 2011.
- Phoenix, Arizona – Opened by a franchisee on June 1, 2011; this was the largest store in the weGrow network at 21,000 square feet.
- Washington D.C. – Established by a franchisee on March 30, 2012, marking the brand’s expansion into the nation’s capital.