Stiiizy’s founder built an L.A. cannabis empire, while being landlord to illegal dispensaries

Tony Huang, co-founder of the California cannabis empire Stiiizy, is under scrutiny after a 2019 investigation revealed that he owned a Compton property housing an illegal marijuana dispensary, Fly High 20 Collective. The building, outwardly labeled Jerry’s Liquor, was discovered by city inspectors amid ongoing efforts to crack down on black market dispensaries in the area. Huang, who launched Stiiizy in 2017, has since built a vertically integrated and highly profitable business operating legally across the state. Stiiizy markets itself not only as a cannabis company but as a full-fledged lifestyle brand, offering clothing, events, and social justice initiatives. However, the revelation that its founder profited as a landlord to an illegal dispensary raises questions about the blurred lines between the legal and illicit cannabis markets in California. The case highlights the ongoing tensions and challenges facing the state’s regulated cannabis industry, particularly in cities like Compton that continue to battle unlicensed operations.