Hundreds queued up Saturday for the grand opening of Dr. Greenthumb’s, a 3,500-square-foot cannabis shop in Fresno’s Tower District that occupies a former abandoned bank on Wishon Avenue near the Tower Theatre. The event marked the neighborhood’s entry into the city’s slow-rolling legal cannabis market, nearly three years after Fresno began issuing permits. Cypress Hill rapper B-Real, the chain’s founder, cut the ribbon amid cheers, fist bumps, and a crowd that had camped out since Thursday.
A Celebrity Draw and Nostalgic Vibe
B-Real, whose real name is Louis Freese, evoked the early days of his band’s fame as fans lined up around blocks for albums. His Dr. Greenthumb’s chain launched in Los Angeles in 2018 and now spans six California locations, including this Fresno debut. He cited the area’s strong cannabis culture and affection for Cypress Hill as reasons to expand here, spending the morning signing autographs on T-shirts, caps, and album covers from a golden tour bus dubbed the Twerkulator.
The celebration featured in-store giveaways, food trucks, and a lowrider car show, blending dispensary launch with block-party energy. “It’s been exciting,” B-Real said, underscoring the throwback feel to pre-streaming music releases.
Revitalizing a Vacant Landmark
Local entrepreneur Kacey Auston, who grew up blocks away, secured one of Fresno’s early cannabis licenses in 2021 and transformed the Bank of America building—vacant since 2017—into the shop. She also co-owns the Cookies dispensary that opened in December on Blackstone near Shaw. Auston described the project as neighborhood revitalization that preserves Tower District’s quirky identity: “I was a Tower rat as a kid, so this is a dream come true. We’re going to help keep the Tower weird.”
The 1,525-square-foot sales floor exposes the bank’s former vault in back, now accented by a massive mural of B-Real on stage, his signature green thumbprint, and hanging “Dr. Greenthumb” records. Products include the chain’s pre-rolls, flower, and hash oil, plus B-Real’s 1998 Insane line and offerings from Snoop Dogg and Stiiizy. Councilmember Annalisa Perea, whose district covers the area, attended and hailed the opening as “the definition of revitalization,” noting its role in boosting tax revenue short of projections by up to $3 million.
Slow Rollout Accelerates Amid Scrutiny
Fresno’s legal cannabis scene lagged despite state legalization in 2016. The first two shops, Embarc and Artist Tree, debuted in July 2022, followed over a year later by Station near Fashion Fair Mall, then Cookies, Higher Level on Blackstone at Santa Ana, and two Culture Cannabis Club spots. More openings loom: Sweet Flower this weekend at Shields and Maroa, Haven at former Fui Hai on Belmont and Blackstone, Bayan Tree Fresno on Sierra off Blackstone, and a second Embarc at old 7-11 on Shaw and West.
This surge coincides with a state auditor’s report last month critiquing Fresno and five other municipalities for weak permitting practices that risk favoritism and conflicts. Fresno lacked an administrative appeals process for denied applicants, prompting calls for greater transparency as the market matures.
