Local Cannabis Business Owner Caught Using Racial Slur in Text Message, Denies Racism
The owner of a high-quality cannabis grow operation in Michigan has been caught using a racial slur against a former employee, sparking controversy and calls for accountability. Flos Cannabis owner Timmy Holton, who is white, made the comments about his former employee in a text message to someone else.
In the message, Holton referred to the individual as a derogatory term and criticized their decision to work at Flos, saying they would only earn 7% commission without any salary or benefits. The message was deleted from Facebook shortly after it was posted, but screenshots were obtained by Metro Times.
Holton later acknowledged using the slur in a now-deleted Facebook post, stating that he had "fucked up" and was trying to grow his business while supporting his family. However, his apology attempt was met with skepticism, as he claimed not to be racist and only used the term in a heated moment.
The text messages between Holton and another person revealed a back-and-forth exchange about the incident, with the other individual urging Holton to apologize for offending someone. Holton responded by saying he was "not trying to defend myself" but acknowledged that he had made a mistake.
Flos is known for its flavorful and potent flower products, which are sold in 7-gram and 14-gram jars. However, the company has faced regulatory issues in the past, including citations from the Cannabis Regulatory Agency for alleged violations such as using a carbon dioxide system without permission and failing to properly tag products with information from the statewide monitoring system.
Holton's use of a racial slur has raised concerns about his character and leadership style, particularly given that Flos is a business that caters to people of color. The incident highlights the need for accountability and transparency in the cannabis industry, as well as the importance of treating all employees with respect and dignity regardless of their background or identity.
The full extent of Holton's actions and the impact on his business remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: his use of a racial slur has sparked a necessary conversation about racism and accountability in the cannabis industry.
The owner of a high-quality cannabis grow operation in Michigan has been caught using a racial slur against a former employee, sparking controversy and calls for accountability. Flos Cannabis owner Timmy Holton, who is white, made the comments about his former employee in a text message to someone else.
In the message, Holton referred to the individual as a derogatory term and criticized their decision to work at Flos, saying they would only earn 7% commission without any salary or benefits. The message was deleted from Facebook shortly after it was posted, but screenshots were obtained by Metro Times.
Holton later acknowledged using the slur in a now-deleted Facebook post, stating that he had "fucked up" and was trying to grow his business while supporting his family. However, his apology attempt was met with skepticism, as he claimed not to be racist and only used the term in a heated moment.
The text messages between Holton and another person revealed a back-and-forth exchange about the incident, with the other individual urging Holton to apologize for offending someone. Holton responded by saying he was "not trying to defend myself" but acknowledged that he had made a mistake.
Flos is known for its flavorful and potent flower products, which are sold in 7-gram and 14-gram jars. However, the company has faced regulatory issues in the past, including citations from the Cannabis Regulatory Agency for alleged violations such as using a carbon dioxide system without permission and failing to properly tag products with information from the statewide monitoring system.
Holton's use of a racial slur has raised concerns about his character and leadership style, particularly given that Flos is a business that caters to people of color. The incident highlights the need for accountability and transparency in the cannabis industry, as well as the importance of treating all employees with respect and dignity regardless of their background or identity.
The full extent of Holton's actions and the impact on his business remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: his use of a racial slur has sparked a necessary conversation about racism and accountability in the cannabis industry.
I mean, Flos Cannabis is like, a legit business and all, but Timmy Holton's behavior is super concerning 
. He's got the nerve to deny racism while using a racial slur against someone, it's not even subtle anymore 
. And can we talk about how hypocritical it is for him to claim he was just "trying to grow his business" when that slur is basically an invitation to be racist? 
It's not about being in a heated moment, it's about having the guts to speak those words and owning up to them (or at least acknowledging you messed up) 
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. Using that kind of language was a huge mistake, but I don't think it's fair to say he's a racist guy 
. He acknowledged using the slur and apologized, which shows he's willing to own up to his mistake 
. It's not like he used that kind of language all the time, just this one bad message 
. I think he'll get through this and come out stronger on the other side 
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. The fact that Holton claimed he wasn't trying to defend himself but rather acknowledged making a mistake is somewhat mitigating, yet his attempt at apology still fell flat 
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I'm totally not surprised by this news... it's like, how many times have we heard about rich white folks using their power to bully others? 
The whole thing just feels like a cover-up. Anyway, this is what happens when you don't hold people in power accountable for their actions... it's time to get real and make sure everyone knows that racism won't be tolerated anywhere! 
racist or not i still dont think its okay to use those kinda words, especially if you're in a position like that where people are counting on u for their livelihoods...some ppl r tryna make excuses 4 it but imma side w/ the former employee here 
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This is super unfortunate for Flos Cannabis, they're actually doing some good stuff with their grow operation. I've been buying from them online for years now, had great experiences with their products. But it's gotta be said, if you're gonna own a business that caters to people of color, you gotta make sure you're treating everyone equally, especially your employees. Timmy Holton's response just didn't cut it, all this 'I'm sorry I messed up' stuff doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. Business owners need to be held accountable for their actions, we can't just sweep racist behavior under the rug and expect everything to go back to normal 
! How can someone who's supposed to be leading a business that caters to people of color, get away with using a racial slur like it's no big deal?! I mean, come on, Timmy Holton, you thought you could just delete the message and pretend it never happened? Newsflash, buddy: social media isn't that easy to hide in! And now you're trying to spin this as some kind of "heated moment" thing... please 
. We all know when we've said something stupid in a heated moment, but do we try to downplay it or make excuses for ourselves? No way, dude! You need to take responsibility for your actions and apologize sincerely, not just because you're worried about the backlash. This whole situation is making me so angry... I just hope that Flos gets shut down until Holton can show some real remorse 
Like, dude, I just read that some cannabis owner in Michigan got caught using a racial slur in a text message... no big deal, right? 
He's all like "I didn't mean it, bro" but come on, you used a slur! 
On the bright side, Flos is gonna be all about being "racism-free" now... 
can you imagine the marketing tagline? 
. Flos should be about more than just selling good bud - it's about treating everyone with kindness and fairness, regardless of their background or identity 
. The fact that Holton thinks his apology is even remotely convincing?