In a market dominated by multistate giants, Silly Nice cannabis proves that mission-driven, minority-owned brands can still break through. Founded by Harlem native and Army veteran LeVar Thomas, Silly Nice is now stocked in more than 90 dispensaries across New York, including Just Breathe in Binghamton and Sacred Bloom in Vestal.
Read the full Pipe Dream feature → https://www.bupipedream.com/news/silly-nice-fights-for-an-equitable-cannabis-market/162651/
How Silly Nice cannabis advances equity
- Breaking the stigma. Thomas says the brand was born to counter decades of disproportionate arrests in Black communities.
- Artisanal sourcing. Silly Nice partners with small farms and insists on sustainable inputs to keep money circulating locally.
- Community give-backs. A percentage of every sale funds Hospitality Pathways and the Cannabis Justice & Equity Initiative, which provide job training for under-represented groups.
Why this matters for New York’s legal industry
According to ACLU data, Black Americans were historically 3.64 × more likely to be arrested for possession. The MRTA set a goal that 50 % of licenses go to equity applicants, yet most shelves remain filled with products from large corporate players. Brands like Silly Nice cannabis help correct that imbalance while creating jobs in neighborhoods long shut out of opportunity.
“Success isn’t just about our SKU count—it’s about lifting others while we climb,” Thomas told Pipe Dream.
Growth hurdles & policy fixes
- Capital access. Traditional banks still won’t lend; Silly Nice relies on reinvested profits and small state grants.
- Shelf space squeeze. Big brands lock in year-long display deals. Thomas advocates for a state rule reserving 20 % of shelf space for equity brands.
- Marketing limits. Strict packaging rules make storytelling tough; Silly Nice pushes for QR-code flexibility so consumers can learn the backstory.