We imagine you have been as enthralled and excited as we have, at the passage of the MRTA (Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act), legalizing adult-use cannabis in New York. As our Creative Director Sam C. Long likes to say, "I love that New York City smells even more like weed..." (than before) We feel a veil of ‘smoke” has been lifted and the portals of freedom are opening worldwide for a new economy and era to emerge. We are proud of our city and state, leading the way with the nation’s most equitable bill. GO NYC.

We celebrated this historic 420 with a first of its kind Times Square billboard campaign. Working with brave, pioneering brands which are all BIPOC and female-led, Honeysuckle pushed through some very complicated advertising at the crossroads of the world. As those who have been working in cannabis are all too aware, advertising in cannabis is HARD, full of restrictions and censorship. But we did it anyway, bigger and better than ever before, with special participation from legendary rapper Lil Wayne and his cannabis brand GKUA. 

This campaign featured THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY for Indigenous cannabis brands to advertise in this capacity and at that location. And THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY for an international Indigenous Cannabis collaboration of it's kind. Mary Jane Oatman of the New Perce Tribe led the way as the founder of THC (Tribal Hemp & Cannabis) Magazine and the Indigenous Cannabis Coalition, in collaboration with Legacy 420, a state-of-the-art medical cannabis retailer owned and operated by the First Nations community in Ontario’s Mohawk Territory. Honeysuckle is too proud to have been a portal for this event. Our other female founded brands include: My Bud Vase™, Hamptons Medi Spa, Green Bee Life, HighTea.Today, and The Herb Somm.

THANK YOU to our amazing brands! You can see the billboard footage here.

Lil Wayne 420 Campaign:

Female and Indigenous Campaign:

One more surprise board awaits. Stay tuned!

We have been having a wonderful launch and tons of fun with our latest issue with Lil Wayne on the cover of our 420 edition! It's GORGEOUS!! And features exclusives such as in-depth interviews with acclaimed filmmaker Gaspar Noé (Irreversible, Climax, Lux Aeterna); mythic cannabis cultivator Chemdog; sex educator King Noire; a plethora of incredible LGBTQIA+ artists; and more. Purchase yours today! https://honeysucklemag.com/shop/

The 2021 NYC Cannabis Parade & Rally was epic, the first celebration following adult-use legalization through MRTA. Headlined by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and many New York State government officials, the event was organized by renowned cannabis advocate and journalist Steve Bloom of CelebStoner. It also featured some “high”-lights with veteran activists like cannabis pioneer Steve DeAngelo smoking their first legal joints in the city.

We were fortunate to have caught up with the legend, co-founder of innovative companies such as The Arcview Group and Harborside, before he left for further adventures. See our in-depth with Steve DeAngelo here: 

NYC Cannabis Parade & Rally

Join us May 19 at 12PM EST for a virtual conference with our founder Ronit Pinto, who will be speaking on Women in Media at Cannabiziac University. Register here:

Our Advisory Member, Bobbi Paley, hosted a wonderful event at the Race Brooke Lodge in the Berkshires. The Berks: Burgeoning in cannabis spaces. We loved spending time with the Berkshires Crew and can't wait to track what they continue to come up with!

Photo Sam C. Long

We are thrilled for all of our NYC friends and colleagues for this new era of adult-use. They have been pushing on all fronts, from social justice, to nightlife, medicine, fashion and more - Spleef, Happy Munkey, She Blaze and The Weedhead, Come Back Daily, to name a few!

With Love,

Honeysuckle Media