A Michigan cannabis business owner has found himself at the center of controversy after using a racial slur in a text message. Timmy Holton, the owner of Flos Cannabis, a high-end cannabis operation in Kalkaska, made the derogatory comment about one of his former employees.
In a now-deleted Facebook post, Holton acknowledged using the N-word and claimed he was not racist. He said, "I'm not going to sit here and deny what I said sometimes in the heated moment you say stupid things." However, when confronted by another individual who pointed out his hypocrisy, Holton responded by saying, "If you've met me, you know I'm not racist. Just trying to grow fire smoke and support my family."
Despite admitting he used the slur, Holton maintained that he wasn't racist, stating, "I only got love for everyone." However, an individual who texted him urged Holton to apologize, saying, "You're a business owner and probably half your money comes from people of color. It's unacceptable to use such language."
When asked what he wanted the person to do about his comment, Holton replied, "Hold your nuts and stand on what I said." The individual then fired back, "By the way, if you gotta say I'm not racist, you're probably fucking racist."
The controversy surrounding Holton's comments has raised questions about his character and leadership. Flos Cannabis has faced regulatory issues in the past, including citations from the state for alleged violations.
Holton's actions have sparked a heated debate about racism in the cannabis industry and the need for greater accountability among business owners.
In a now-deleted Facebook post, Holton acknowledged using the N-word and claimed he was not racist. He said, "I'm not going to sit here and deny what I said sometimes in the heated moment you say stupid things." However, when confronted by another individual who pointed out his hypocrisy, Holton responded by saying, "If you've met me, you know I'm not racist. Just trying to grow fire smoke and support my family."
Despite admitting he used the slur, Holton maintained that he wasn't racist, stating, "I only got love for everyone." However, an individual who texted him urged Holton to apologize, saying, "You're a business owner and probably half your money comes from people of color. It's unacceptable to use such language."
When asked what he wanted the person to do about his comment, Holton replied, "Hold your nuts and stand on what I said." The individual then fired back, "By the way, if you gotta say I'm not racist, you're probably fucking racist."
The controversy surrounding Holton's comments has raised questions about his character and leadership. Flos Cannabis has faced regulatory issues in the past, including citations from the state for alleged violations.
Holton's actions have sparked a heated debate about racism in the cannabis industry and the need for greater accountability among business owners.
I'm so disappointed in Timmy Holton right now 
He can't just apologize and expect everything to be okay, especially when he admitted to using a super hurtful word 
. I mean, if you're gonna say something like that, own up to it and take responsibility 
. It's not about "growing fire smoke" or supporting your family 
, it's about treating people with respect and kindness 
. Flos Cannabis has got some serious damage control to do 
he thinks apologizing is gonna make everything ok but really its just more proof that he didnt think thru his words 1st. like whats wrong with admitting when u messed up and saying sorry? its not that hard 
This dude is like, totally owning his controversy 
. I mean, who needs an apology when you can just shrug it off and say "hold your nuts" 
? It's not like he's gonna be the poster child for Flos Cannabis or anything. Meanwhile, people are actually expecting businesses to do better than this? Like, we're talking about a industry that's still kinda rough around the edges (pun intended). And yeah, some folks might say Holton's not racist, but does using the N-word in a text message really scream "I'm not racist"? 
Guess you can't always judge a book by its cover... or should I say, a smoke cloud?
and honestly, if you're making money off of people of color, YOU GOTTA BE HONEST WITH THEM about your views...like, come on dude, apologize already 
. As someone who owns a small business, you've got to be mindful of how your words reflect on you and your company 
. The thing is, this isn't just about Holton, it's about the culture of acceptance in the cannabis industry and how we hold each other accountable for our actions 
. If he really wants to grow his business and support his family, he needs to take responsibility for his words and apologize sincerely 
.
this is just so messed up... like how can you own a successful cannabis business but still be able to slip up that bad? it's not even like he was trying to make a point or stir up some kind of conversation... no, he just went and said something hurtful and then expected everyone else to just "hold their nuts" and deal with it. meanwhile, his business is suffering because people are holding him accountable for his actions. newsflash: racism isn't just about what you say, it's about how you treat others and the power dynamics at play. if he really wants to grow his business and support his family, he should start by educating himself on what it means to be an ally to marginalized communities. until then, Flos Cannabis is going to have to continue dealing with the consequences of his actions. 
.
, and I'm like totally distracted from this whole Holton thing 
. And I'm not buying into the "I'm not racist" excuse either, dude