In a historic shift, the Trump administration has officially reclassified medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug. Moving the Schedule I drug to the lesser Schedule III category is expected to open more doors as cannabis becomes more popular. But for many Black Americans, the move is just another reminder of the greater disparities that keep thousands in prison over marijuana offenses.

We spoke to LeVar Thomas, the co-founder of Silly Nice, a Black-owned cannabis brand in New York. In his role, Thomas has seen the industry blossom in the state, which expanded its decriminalization of marijuana in 2019, according to the New York Times. Still, he’s aware of the greater disparities and history of mass incarceration that still arise for Black people.

“The same plant that created generational harm in Black communities is now creating generational wealth for a very different group of people. That tension doesn’t go away just because the laws changed,” Thomas told us. “If anything, legalization makes it more visible.”

Black people are more than three times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people, despite both groups using the drug at comparable rates, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. These disparities only further fuel the mass incarceration system, which Black people make up 40 percent but only 13 percent of the nation’s greater population.

Knowing this, Thomas said Silly Nice is on a mission to change the narrative for Black cannabis users. “Building Silly Nice isn’t separate from that history. It’s a direct response to it,” he explained. “It’s about participating in an industry that once excluded people like us, while being intentional about how we move inside of it.”

The path hasn’t been easy, however. According to the Silly Nice website, the company began its journey in 2001, years before cannabis was partially embraced by American consumerism, let alone the federal government. As a Black business owner, Thomas explained that a lack of access has built high barriers for him and other Black folks in the industry.

“Access to capital, access to licenses, access to infrastructure, access to shelf space. Those are not small hurdles; they are structural realities,” Thomas continued. “Most Black founders are entering this industry without generational wealth, without institutional backing, and without the safety net that many larger operators have.”

The businessman noted that the high stakes of a product like cannabis ultimately mean high stakes for business owners. “You’re expected to operate at a professional level from day one, but without the same resources as your competitors,” he told us.

Decades later, Silly Nice is at the forefront of the Black-owned cannabis world. “We had to build differently,” Thomas said. “More disciplined, more intentional, more patient. Every decision matters when you don’t have excess capital to absorb mistakes.”

Thomas said the company’s mission keeps them going.

“That means advocating for expungement, supporting pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals, and making sure ownership, not just employment, is part of the conversation,” he added. “If this industry is going to be legitimate, it has to acknowledge where it came from and who paid the price. Otherwise, it’s just a transfer of opportunity, not progress.”