Silly Nice Collaborates with Cannabis Justice & Equity Initiative to Promote Social Equity in New York’s Cannabis Industry

LOS ANGELES- Silly Nice, a Black and Veteran-owned cannabis brand based in Harlem, has partnered with The Cannabis Justice & Equity Initiative (CJEI) to support communities disproportionately affected by past cannabis prohibition. This collaboration focuses on education, training, and employment opportunities within New York’s legal cannabis market.

Company Background

Established in 2024, Silly Nice has rapidly expanded, with its products now available in over 100 licensed dispensaries across New York State. The brand emphasizes quality, sustainability, and community engagement, aiming to create an inclusive industry that offers opportunities for justice-impacted individuals. ​

Co-Founder LeVar Thomas, a Harlem resident, has witnessed the discriminatory enforcement of cannabis laws, with family members directly affected by the prison system for cannabis-related offenses. Through this partnership, Thomas seeks to empower individuals from disproportionately impacted communities, ensuring they have access to emerging opportunities in the legal cannabis market. ​

The Cannabis Justice & Equity Initiative is a community-based organization dedicated to removing systemic barriers that prevent marginalized groups from entering the cannabis industry. Through education, workforce training, and employment support, CJEI equips individuals with the tools needed to build sustainable careers in the regulated market.

Central to CJEI’s efforts is the Training, Education & Employment (TEE) Program, a free, 16-week training and certification initiative. Designed to develop a skilled labor force of 1,500 individuals annually, the program provides education on cultivation and processing, workforce protections and labor rights, retail and dispensary operations, career development and entrepreneurship, and ancillary opportunities in the cannabis industry. ​

Industry Context

New York’s cannabis industry is projected to generate $3.5 billion annually and create over 60,000 jobs. However, the industry’s rapid expansion exists alongside stark racial disparities. In 2020, 94% of marijuana-related arrests by the NYPD involved people of color, underscoring the importance of initiatives that address past injustices while creating tangible opportunities for those most affected. ​