From Cabana to Cannabis: The Rise of Stash Queens

Jahmila Edwards, Stash Queens

Get ready to dive into the world of Stash Queens, where blazing trails meet beachside brainstorming. Picture this: a sunny spring day, waves crashing, and a group of five fierce Black women sparking ideas under a cabana. The faint scent of cannabis in the air.

With a mix of sisterhood, entrepreneurship, and a dash of daring, Stash Queens was born, setting the stage for a self-funded journey into the heart of New York’s budding cannabis market. Buckle up for a ride where quality meets creativity, and empowerment fuels every puff.

Emerald Magazine: What inspired you and your co-founders to establish Stash Queens, Inc. in the emerging New York cannabis market?

Emerald: Can you elaborate on how Stash Queens aims to empower and excite consumers with its product offerings?

JE: We are committed to introducing products to the market that we take pride in sharing and consuming ourselves. With a team of old-school stoners, we possess a keen sense of what appeals to both experienced users and newcomers entering the cannabis world. Drawing from our diverse backgrounds and experiences, we bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and creativity to every aspect of our endeavor.

Emerald: How does Stash Queens prioritize quality, integrity, and social equity in its partnerships and business practices?

JE: Since the beginning, we’ve been dedicated to fostering strong relationships with fellow women-owned and queer-led BIPOC brands. This commitment extends to our cultivation partners, as well as the consultants who guide us.

Marie Montmarquet and Jessica Strange of MJ Spring have played instrumental roles in shaping our business practices. They pride themselves in being cannabis industry experts for hire. When selecting banking services, we opted for a local Black-owned bank. In crafting our brand identity, we collaborated with Studio Linear, a women-owned enterprise. We take pride in aligning ourselves with teams that share our values of fair wages and respectful treatment for all employees.

Emerald: Could you share more about the alliances Stash Queens is building with non-profits and neighborhood businesses to support those impacted by the war on drugs?

JE: In our local community, we joined forces with The Grass Roots Coalition during the deliberations of New York’s Clean Slate Act in Albany. Together, we embarked on an educational campaign to inform our communities about the benefits of Clean Slate. We urged them to advocate for its passage by contacting their local legislators. We take pride in the fact that Clean Slate is now a law in New York State.

Additionally, we stand in solidarity with the Communities Not Cages Coalition. They advocate for transformative legislation to address the unjust sentencing laws in New York State. On a national scale, we annually support The National Bail Out’s Free Black Mamas Campaign. They aim to bail out as many Black mothers and caregivers as possible for Mother’s Day to reunite with their families.

Emerald: What role do job and training opportunities, financial support, and cannabis education play in Stash Queens’ company culture and brand identity?

JE: Stash Queens is grateful for the mentorship and learning opportunities provided by organizations like Our Academy. This served as our initial gateway to connecting and establishing relationships within the New York cannabis community. Additionally, we are relentless in seeking out funding opportunities to support the growth and development of our business.

As a 100% self-funded venture, the grants we’ve secured have been reinvested directly into the business. Particularly in areas such as marketing and essential business operations. With team members who have experience spanning from the legacy market to the legal cannabis industry, we pride ourselves on our resourcefulness, creativity, and patience, leveraging these qualities to our advantage in navigating the complexities of the industry.

Emerald: How does Stash Queens ensure that the products it offers align with its principles and commitment to quality?

JE: If we do not like it, we will not smoke it, and we definitely will not sell it. As discussed earlier, we are deeply aligned with our partners and have personally visited farms, spoken with employees, and asked uncomfortable questions. The best cannabis is made with top-notch genetics and all of the scientific know-how. But are the employees feeling respected and heard? Are they receiving a living wage? Are the business and growth practices of the farm environmentally and ethically sustainable? If the answer to these questions is a yes, it provides a great launchpad from which we can begin to discuss how to partner together.

Emerald: As a leader in the cannabis industry, how does Stash Queens plan to innovate and differentiate itself from competitors in the New York market? 

JE: Right now, we see an open field full of untapped demand from a diverse group of customers. They range from the cannabis savvy to the canna newbie. Besides our decades of experience as consumers, we have a solid knowledge of other legal markets and what we believe will be successful here in New York. Unlike some brands, Stash Queens was born and raised in New York, which gives us a deeper understanding of the culture of our customer base.

Emerald: Could you elaborate on Stash Queens’ commitment to uplifting BIPOC-led cannabis businesses and supporting efforts to decriminalize cannabis?

JE: We mentioned our work to amplify the work of the Clean Slate and The National Bail Out coalitions. We also boosted BIPOC-led cannabis brands in our monthly newsletter. Sign up for on the Stash Queens website! More than anything, we are excited for Stash Queen products to grace the shelves of New York State’s BIPOC-led dispensaries. We wish to continue to fund initiatives that support decriminalization and those incarcerated unfairly.   

Emerald: Can you provide insights into the unique features and benefits of some of Stash Queens’ products?

JE: The Stash Queen customer desires a touch of luxury with access to quick, convenient, and easy-to-use products. We want folks to always come back for more organic and sun-grown herbs that are delicious to smoke and share.

Emerald: Can you share any upcoming initiatives or projects that Stash Queens is particularly excited about? Any related to product development, community engagement, or advocacy efforts?

JE: Our number one priority at this time is GETTING TO MARKET! PERIOD! We are ready to share our offerings with New York State consumers and for Stash Queens to establish ourselves as their go-to brand.