Community Spotlight: Brytany Melville of Forte Ops

In the fast-moving cannabis industry, Brytany Melville stands out as a leader committed to supporting independent operators. She founded Forte Ops in 2019 to help mom-and-pop cannabis shops compete in markets often dominated by large, multi-state operators. Based in California, Forte Ops has since helped open and operate over 150 dispensaries across North America.

A Career Rooted in Advocacy

Brytany’s cannabis journey began eight years ago in Canada, where she helped open the country’s first dispensary. That experience shaped her commitment to supporting smaller, independent businesses and those disproportionately impacted by prohibition. As a proud Métis woman, she is especially passionate about working with Tribal Nation stores in the U.S., where social equity efforts are more robust than in Canada’s early licensing system.

Strengthening Communities

Forte Ops is built on the belief that people and community are a cannabis business’s greatest assets. The company actively supports the local cannabis community by:

Offering social equity pricing for clients.

Attending local events in every market they serve.

Exclusively working with smaller, independent operators.

The team also leads initiatives that go beyond business operations. For example, Forte hosted Anti-Racism Education and Active Witnessing workshops for clients and their staff, fostering empathy, addressing systemic racism, and creating safer, more inclusive workplaces in the cannabis industry.

Looking Ahead

Brytany and her team are focused on helping independent businesses grow sustainably while encouraging more women to take on ownership and leadership roles in the industry. Moving carefully and entering new markets only when fully prepared has been their key to long-term success.

Her advice to new cannabis leaders is to seek guidance from peers and build strong teams of hardworking, trustworthy, and passionate people. In a field where one year can feel like five, the right network can make all the difference.

For Brytany Melville and Forte Ops, true success lies not just in business growth, but in strengthening the communities and people behind every independent cannabis shop.

Get in touch with Brytany and Forte Ops