Honoring Black-Owned Cannabis Brands This Black History Month

Black History Month creates space to recognize founders and companies shaping our industries today. In legal cannabis, Black-owned weed businesses continue to build brands and expand access in a space that has not always offered equal opportunity. Supporting Black cannabis entrepreneurs is one way anyone can help strengthen a more representative and resilient industry.

At Lit New Haven, Black History Month takes on special importance given our own brand roots. We’re spotlighting Black-owned cannabis brands and encouraging intentional shopping that extends beyond a one-time buy.

 

Black Ownership in Cannabis Deserves Visibility

Legal cannabis is growing fast, but ownership has not expanded at the same rate. High startup costs, licensing barriers, and limited access to capital have made it harder for many Black entrepreneurs to enter and scale within the market. That reality makes visibility and consumer support especially important.

Ownership supports local employment, community reinvestment, and a strong focus on paying it forward. Recognizing minority-owned marijuana brands helps to normalize diverse leadership and encourages a more balanced future for the industry as a whole.

Black-Owned Cannabis Brands to Know

This lineup of Black-owned cannabis brands represents different parts of the industry, from cultivation to culture-driven product lines.

Weekenders

WEEKENDERS is a small-batch, sun-grown cannabis brand. They’re best known for their pre-rolls, made with flower from sustainable small farms that prioritize healthy soil and biodiversity (including cover crops, composting, and rainwater).

TICAL

Created by Method Man, TICAL (Taking Into Consideration All Lives) is a legacy-inspired cannabis brand built on authenticity and long-standing cannabis culture. The brand itself emphasizes quality flower and celebrates the connection between lifestyle and cannabis.

40 Tons

40 Tons is a Black and woman-owned cannabis brand built around advocacy and social impact. Known for edibles and lifestyle products, the brand highlights second-chance entrepreneurship and community reinvestment alongside its product offerings.

Death Row Records Cannabis

Also offered regularly at Lit New Haven, Death Row Records is built on Snoop Dogg’s iconic hip hop label. It blends cultural legacy with modern products, bringing music history and storytelling into today’s cannabis space.

Gorilla Rx Wellness Co.

The only Black woman-owned cannabis store in South Central Los Angeles, founded by Kika Keith after years of grassroots activism to protect LA’s Social Equity Program from predatory practices and corruption. Gorilla Rx is committed to carrying the largest selection of Black-owned cannabis products while serving the Crenshaw neighborhood with education and authentic community connection.

How to Support Black Cannabis Entrepreneurs

Every purchase matters, but support becomes even more meaningful when it’s consistent. Buying a product again because you enjoyed it sends a strong signal, as does following brands on social media. Share new product launches and attend community events to amplify visibility even further.

Finally, consider asking your local cannabis store which Black-owned cannabis brands they carry or could carry. This signals demand and helps to influence broader purchases of the right products.

Shop With Intention at Lit New Haven

Located at 169 East Street in New Haven, CT, Lit New Haven invites our customers to ask about the Black-owned cannabis brands and products currently available on our menu. Stop by Lit this Black History Month and start conversations that support Black entrepreneurs today and every day.