Devin Alexander
31
CEO
Rolling Releaf
Seeing signs on telephone poles reading “No Rolling Releaf” in Newton, Massachusetts, just before launching his delivery service of the same name, wasn’t going to deter Devin Alexander.
Alexander had already had his life derailed at 17 by a cannabis-related arrest, which was later dismissed, but was now on the precipice of flipping that narrative.
“I can’t really put it into words,” says the 31-year-old CEO. “Never in a million years did I think I’d be in this position. But here we are, you know, just taking it day by day.”
Rolling Releaf became the first Black-owned cannabis company and first cannabis delivery company in Newton in February 2023. The company is growing steadily and is preparing an expansion into manufacturing.
Strategically, Alexander wanted his delivery service to be based in the affluent city of Newton because it was just 10 miles from Boston and had easy freeway access that allowed his drivers to target a much larger and more populous area.
“I think that’s the key to being successful delivery companies — having your headquarters in an accessible area where you can get to other populated areas in an hour or less,” he says.
But Alexander also had personal reasons for choosing the location.
“One of the areas we serve, my hometown of Quincy, is where I got arrested,” he says. “I’ve lived there my whole life, I still live there, and I sell weed there now.”