In a significant move towards promoting equity within New York’s burgeoning cannabis industry, Silly Nice, a Black and Veteran-owned cannabis brand based in Harlem, has partnered with The Cannabis Justice & Equity Initiative (CJEI). This collaboration aims to empower communities disproportionately affected by past cannabis prohibitions, providing them with education, training, and economic opportunities in the legal cannabis market.​

Silly Nice: A Commitment to Quality and Community

Established in 2024, Silly Nice has rapidly expanded its presence, now available in over 100 licensed dispensaries across New York State. The brand’s success is attributed to its dedication to quality, sustainability, and community engagement. Co-founded by LeVar Thomas, a Harlem resident with personal ties to the injustices of past cannabis laws, Silly Nice strives to create a more inclusive and equitable industry. Thomas’s experiences, including family members affected by the prison system for cannabis-related offenses, fuel his commitment to righting these wrongs through active participation in the industry. ​

The Mission of The Cannabis Justice & Equity Initiative

CJEI is a community-based organization devoted to justice and equity. Its mission is to empower justice-impacted communities with training and education to access economic opportunities in New York’s cannabis industry. Through comprehensive programs, CJEI addresses the systemic barriers that have historically excluded marginalized groups from participating in the legal cannabis market. ​

The Training, Education, & Employment (TEE) Program

Central to CJEI’s efforts is the Training, Education, & Employment (TEE) Program—a free, comprehensive 16-week training and education certificate program. The curriculum covers various aspects of the cannabis industry, including cultivation, workforce protections, retail and sales operations, career development, opportunities in ancillary industries, and entrepreneurship. The program aims to develop a skilled labor force of 1,500 candidates annually from disproportionately impacted communities, creating a pipeline for employment opportunities within the cannabis market.

A Shared Vision for Social Equity

The partnership between Silly Nice and CJEI is rooted in a shared vision of fostering social equity within the cannabis industry. By combining Silly Nice’s industry expertise and resources with CJEI’s educational initiatives, the collaboration seeks to create tangible pathways for individuals from justice-impacted communities to enter and thrive in the legal cannabis market.​

LeVar Thomas’s Perspective

Reflecting on the partnership, LeVar Thomas emphasizes the importance of addressing past injustices and creating opportunities for those affected by previous cannabis laws. His personal experiences with family members impacted by the prison system for cannabis-related offenses underscore his commitment to supporting CJEI’s mission. Thomas believes that success in the cannabis industry should be inclusive, allowing others to grow alongside Silly Nice.

Impact on New York’s Cannabis Landscape

New York’s legal cannabis industry is projected to have an estimated annual economic impact of $3.5 billion, with over 60,000 industry-related job opportunities expected. However, in 2020, 94% of marijuana arrests by the NYPD involved people of color, highlighting the need for initiatives that promote equity and inclusion. The collaboration between Silly Nice and CJEI addresses these disparities by equipping individuals from affected communities with the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in and benefit from the legal cannabis industry.

Looking Ahead

As Silly Nice and CJEI continue their partnership, they aim to expand their reach and impact, ensuring that more individuals from justice-impacted communities can access the opportunities emerging within New York’s cannabis sector. Through education, training, and community engagement, they strive to create a more equitable and inclusive industry that acknowledges and rectifies the injustices of the past.​

For more information about Silly Nice and The Cannabis Justice & Equity Initiative, visit their official websites:

• Silly Nice: https://sillynice.com
• The Cannabis Justice & Equity Initiative: https://www.thecjei.org