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Some states are becoming more and more liberal with laws around cannabis and its use. New York is leveling up that liberalism by offering a sense of justice to those who were once convicted on marijuana charges before the state legalized it. Now, the melodic tunes of Rick James proclaiming his love of “Mary Jane” can ring clear for thousands of individuals. In the new policy, individuals with previous marijuana charges will be the first to be able to hold a retail license to sell recreational cannabis in New York. View the approved application here: https://t.co/YJs94CBANF — NYS Office of Cannabis Management (@nys_cannabis) July 14, 2022
Social equity-driven cannabis platform Urban Aroma recently tapped John Monopoly as the company’s CEO, according to a press release. With a current focus on the organization’s summer fundraising efforts, Monolopy is knee-deep in strengthening the brand’s philanthropic efforts while continuing its mission to advocate and support cannabis culture. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Urban Aroma (@urbanaroma_)
“The Marathon Continues” is more than just a slogan for late rapper Nipsey Hussle, whose life was tragically cut short in March 2019. Since his passing, the rapper/entrepreneur has posthumously been at the forefront of multiple business and brand deals in the fashion , film , and tech space. Now, with the help of friends, colleagues, and his elder brother, Samiel “Blacc Sam” Asghedom, another vision of Nipsey’s is coming to fruition. On June 18, The Marathon (Collective), a premier THC and CBD retail store, is set to officially open its doors at 7011 Canoga Ave. in Los Angeles, CA. Legally breaking into the cannabis business has long been a dream of Nipsey Hussle’s and his loved ones have made it their mission to see it through. Photo Credit: Ann Marie Clark “This is something we always spoke about,” says Samiel Asghedom. “Nipsey, Fatts, Adam, and I had a goal to get a legitimately licensed store and have our brand in other stores across the state. We’re so honored to be able to...
The Parent Company — a publicly traded U.S. cannabis organization backed by Jay-Z — is on a mission to make the cannabis industry more diverse, inclusive and equitable. Aligning with this, the company has hired Tiffany McBride as its new managing director of Social Equity Ventures. Founded in January 2021, The Parent Company is California’s leading vertically integrated cannabis company. McBride’s hire comes as the company also welcomed Kerry Arnold as its chief people officer. “This is an exciting time to join The Parent Company as the Managing Director of Social Equity Ventures to continue to ensure that minority communities have a seat at the table in the cannabis industry,” McBride said in a press release. “The Social Equity Ventures Fund and the recent opening of LA’s first Black Woman-Owned Dispensary, Josephine & Billie’s, are just some of the ways we are already making progress toward a more equitable future in cannabis. McBride joins the company with more than 15 years of...
Jay-Z’s isn’t just cashing in on the cannabis business, he’s leading the charge to break barriers too. Business Insider reports that the billionaire icon’s cannabis organization, The Parent Company, announced this week that seasoned business executive Troy Datcher has been tapped to serve as the company’s new chief executive officer. Datcher’s new role marks a first for the cannabis industry as he will become the first Black CEO to lead a major, public cannabis organization based in the U.S. Datcher is set to start his new position effective Sept. 8. After a 20-year tenure at The Clorox Company, he brings with him decades of experience from his previous roles as the company’s senior vice president and chief customer officer. He was also responsible for leading the company’s worldwide sales organization so there’s no doubt he will rise to the occasion in his new appointment. “Troy brings a wealth of invaluable experience driving high-volume sales, implementing growth strategies, and...
Soulja Boy may not be the first rapper to break into the cannabis industry, but he is the latest Hip-Hop artist to cash in on the business. According to a press release, Soulja Boy is launching his own cannabis brand called Soulja Exotics™ with a line of medicinal-quality marijuana in partnership with Grizzly Peak™. The rapper’s brand of marijuana will be distributed exclusively in legal cannabis dispensaries throughout California. For many rappers, the cannabis industry has become a new avenue of revenue that’s getting them more involved in the business. While people like Jay-Z, Wiz Khalifa and others making moves on behalf of Hip-Hop and Black and brown people, Soulja Boy is forging his own path to better connect with fellow smokers. “For years, I’ve been looking for a premium cannabis company to bring my product to market,” Soulja Boy said in a statement. “Grizzly Peak grows their medicinal quality cannabis indoors in coco fiber giving it a smooth inhale and exhale. I have so...
For many Black-owned and family-owned businesses, their missions are often rooted in stories of community, unity and perseverance through life’s obstacles. In the case of Flight — the newest and only state licensed cannabis dispensary in San Francisco’s Park Merced — cousins Eric Grayson, Keena Middleton, and Charles Toney II all teamed up to launch a business that could set an example for their community and honor their family all at once. “It means a lot because we’re from here, but it means a lot more because it took so much effort to even get to this point,” Middleton tells AfroTech. “[Flight] is not your regular business by any means, you can open up a million [other] things before you open up one of these [dispensaries]. It has a lot to do with being Black as well, but to be able to do it with family members means the world.” The dispensary’s name itself is a tribute to Grayson’s mother, Clara Grayson, who passed away from cancer after the family pooled money together to fly...
Rapper 2 Chainz is expanding his business ties in the cannabis space through a new partnership with a fellow Black-owned business. GAS Cannabis — a premium brand launched by 2 Chainz back in 2018 — is now teaming up with direct-to-consumer cannabis lifestyle technology platform CampNova in an exclusive partnership, a press release reports. As part of the partnership, CampNova will serve as an exclusive delivery and sourcing partner for Gas Cannabis to provide an easier and elevated shopping experience for consumers looking for quality cannabis products. “CampNova combines all the online shopping experience and technology of Amazon for shopping, UberEATS for fast delivery and FashionNova for influencer lifestyle,” CampNova co-founder and chief marketing officer Emery Morrison said in a statement, “all in one centralized location.” “Adding Gas Cannabis to our menu is a reflection on our access to high-level individuals,” he adds, “and the ability to create solid partnerships that cut...
As more states legalize cannabis , Samuel Adetunji wants to make sure patients get connected to the best cannabis physicians possible, so he created a platform that does just that. Adetunji is the co-founder and co-CEO of Veriheal , a platform that connects prospective patients who are seeking a better quality of life through cannabis with state-certified medical marijuana doctors online to provide customized medical recommendations. Adetunji and his business partner, Joshua Green, delivered cannabis paraphernalia to customers when they noticed a more significant gap in the market. “My business partner and I did some research and tried getting cannabis cards ourselves and found out how hard it was to get access to dispensaries,” Adetunji told AfroTech. “It was even hard to find out if doctors worked in the industry or wrote recommendations for patients. We figured our business idea could be scaled throughout the nation.” Founded in 2017, Adetunji said he “launched the company out of...
Now that marijuana is finally becoming legalized in several states across the United States, the cannabis industry is booming at a rapid rate — and celebrities are getting in on the fun too. Over the last couple of months, we’ve seen a huge uptick in Black and brown entrepreneurs who have tried their hand at entering the weed marketplace in an effort to further diversify the industry. With this in mind, many Black celebrities are also cashing into the lucrative business and have even established initiatives to help other aspiring Black entrepreneurs finally capitalize off a system that has fought tooth and nail to criminalize them for what’s now considered very legal. Check out the celebrities who have successfully dived into the cannabis industry below: Jay-Z Hip Hop legend and esteemed businessman Jay-Z has always been a supporter of Black liberation and entrepreneurship. This is why he’s gotten so involved in the cannabis industry through the launch of his own brand, Monogram,...
Vanessa Jean-Baptiste opened the first Black woman-owned dispensary on the East Coast this past weekend, WPRI reported. Baptiste welcomed customers to Legal Greens for the first time on Sunday, March 28. The new dispensary is located in Brockton, Massachusetts, and WPRI reported that the historic cannabis store has been in the works for three years. “It means a lot to me because we worked really hard to get to where we are at,” Jean-Baptiste told WPRI. There was a line of people waiting to support Jean-Baptiste and Brockton’s newest local Black-owned business on Sunday before the doors opened at 8 a.m. Jean-Baptiste was born and raised in Brockton and she opened this new dispensary with the hopes of bringing a positive impact to the community. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Legal Greens (@legal_greens) “This is the first woman Black-owned business in the legal market on the East Coast which is as exciting as the first stores that opened in November of 2018,” Davide...
Los Angeles-based leading cannabis brand Viola — known as the largest Black multi-state cannabis operator in the nation founded by NBA vet Al Harrington — is expanding its reach by way of its latest partnership with hip-hop icon, actor, producer, and entrepreneur, Tip “T.I.” Harris. According to a press release, T.I. will join the Viola team as the brand’s Social Justice and Reform Ambassador where he will bring forth his decades of experience with community advocacy and social equity work. Viola shares T.I.’s responsibilities within his senior advisory role include directing Viola’s community impact strategy and driving its mission for racial equity and justice to help pioneer initiatives that will create more diversity and inclusivity in the cannabis industry. “As we continue to increase our social imprint within the cannabis industry, I am honored to welcome my brother T.I. into the Viola family,” Harrington said in a statement . “His work helping communities of color over the...
Inclusivity and diversity in the cannabis sector is now being made possible with the help of one Black founder. Founder of Uplift Maryland , Kevin Ford, created a platform that offers resources and training to create space for African Americans interested in getting into the medical marijuana field. After exploring the medical market in various legalized states, he discovered the need to streamline information around the process. He also aims to break down the stigma surrounding the cannabis industry and create a community for those interested. “Being a medical patient myself, I saw a void in the market for a clear source of information. I realized how complicated it could be to navigate the registration and certification process,” Ford said, according to Because of Them We Can. “With countless stigmas surrounding cannabis, I wanted to create a community where people are supplied with education, tools, and economic resources to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams in this very...