Featured image courtesy of smokiez.com In an industry fueled by hype and venture capital, Smokiez Edibles took a very different route. No big funding rounds, no celebrity backers, just a father and son rolling up their sleeves and deciding to keep going. Ryan Wright still remembers the company's early days like a fever dream. It was 2010, the tail end of the financial … [Read more...] about Smokiez Edibles: A Decade of Tenacity in the Cannabis Industry
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NAR: A Cannabis Brand Born from Healing, Hustle, and Heart
All Images courtesy of NAR New York When Nargis Hakimi set out to build her cannabis brand, she wasn’t chasing hype—she was chasing healing. A mother of two who came to the plant later in life, Hakimi turned to cannabis in the wake of divorce, depression, and anxiety. What started as a personal tool for survival and self-love eventually became something bigger: a brand built … [Read more...] about NAR: A Cannabis Brand Born from Healing, Hustle, and Heart
A Market in Motion: Inside New York’s Most Recent Cannabis Industry Report
Graphic by Julia Meyer In the two years since adult-use cannabis sales became legal in New York, the industry has evolved rapidly through a carefully structured rollout. Despite challenges, a dynamic and competitive marketplace is emerging. Published in June 2025, the 2024 Market Report from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) highlights the milestones and growing pains … [Read more...] about A Market in Motion: Inside New York’s Most Recent Cannabis Industry Report
Lauren Rudick: Pioneering Cannabis Law and Advocacy for Industry Growth
Photo Credit: Lauren Rudick Lauren Rudick, managing principal at Rudick Law Group, is on a mission to support entrepreneurs in the evolving cannabis industry. With a background in commercial litigation and a deep personal connection to the plant, Rudick brings a unique perspective to cannabis law. Her firm has made waves by challenging the misclassification of … [Read more...] about Lauren Rudick: Pioneering Cannabis Law and Advocacy for Industry Growth
New York’s Legal Market Set to Pass $1 Billion in Sales by End of 2024
Photo credit: LittleIvan New York’s legal cannabis market was set up with high expectations when it was legalized in March 2021. State officials promised a robust, equitable marketplace designed to prioritize social justice and economic opportunity for communities most affected by past cannabis prohibitions. However, the market rollout faced significant setbacks, delaying … [Read more...] about New York’s Legal Market Set to Pass $1 Billion in Sales by End of 2024