Celebrate Juneteenth With These Black-Owned Cannabusinesses

June 19th, 2021 marks the 156th anniversary of Juneteenth, an important day in Texas and United States history. Juneteenth marks the date that a group of enslaved people learned they were free in Galveston, Texas in 1865. This holiday celebrates the emancipation of all of those who were enslaved in the United States.

June 16, 2021

Let’s kick off the Juneteenth celebrations with a little history, followed by some Black-owned cannabis businesses you can support on this special holiday and all year round!

A brief history of Juneteenth

On June 19th, 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas. Their job was to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people became free. Some people are surprised to learn that this freedom came a whole two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Emancipation Proclamation only applied to enslaved people in the Confederacy. It did not apply to those in border states who remained loyal to the Union. Although the Emancipation Proclamation stated in 1863 that all enslaved people in the states engaged in the rebellion against the Union “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free,” it did not cover all enslaved people in the United States.

Texas did not experience large-scale fighting or a significant Union troops presence. This allowed them to continue enslaving people. In fact, a lot of enslavers moved from their states into Texas because it appeared to be a safe haven for keeping others enslaved.

The war came to a close in 1865. When General Granger arrived in Galveston, he proclaimed that all 250,000+ enslaved people in Texas were free. Emancipation wasn’t an instant next step, though. In fact, some enslavers did not share this proclamation with their enslaved people because they wanted to finish out the harvest season.

Still, the proclamation signified a new future. Celebrations were abundant amongst newly freed Black people. Later that year, the 13th Amendment was adopted to abolish slavery.

Some freedmen in Texas organized a celebration of “Jubilee Day” exactly a year following the June 19th proclamation. Celebrations featured music, barbeques, prayers, and other activities.

As Black people started to move out of Texas and live in other parts of the country, the tradition of Juneteenth celebrations continued. In 1980, Texas became the first state to recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday. In 2007, Washington state recognized Juneteenth as an official holiday. Today, 47 states recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday.

Black-owned cannabis businesses to support this Juneteenth (and every day!)

What better way to celebrate Juneteenth than by supporting Black-owned cannabis businesses? After all, Black people have been disproportionately affected by the racist history of marijuana policies and the war on drugs. Black people are also significantly underrepresented in Washington’s legal cannabis industry. In fact, Black-owned cannabis businesses make up only about 1% of the state’s 1500 retailers.

We should be supporting and uplifting these companies year-round, but are highlighting them here and now in celebration of Juneteenth!

Edibles By E

This cannabis edibles company truly elevates the idea of eating your greens. Edibles By E offers a wide selection of savory and sweet treats with a cannabis twist.

Infused chicken and waffle fries, wings and mac, banana nut bread, and fruity pebbles bars are just some of the delicious goods this Black-owned cannabis company provides.

Just take one look at their Instagram page and you’ll find yourself dreaming of their infused goods for days to come.

LEBLANC CNE, INC.

This company was founded by Jerry Whiting, who has not only been a cannabis expert since the ‘70s, but is also a Black Panther.

Based in Seattle, LeBlanc CNE grows their own hemp and turns it into soothing topicals, tinctures, or smokeable prerolls. According to the company, they have complete control from seed to sale, and “only use ingredients we’d serve our own mother for at the Sunday dinner table.”

They also have a podcast worth checking out if you’re interested in all things cannabis, from medical to political.

The Hollingsworth Cannabis Company

This family business is the only Black-owned cannabis farm in the state. It’s been seven years since Hollingsworth Cannabis Company got its license, and they remain the only Black-owned farm. While this has given the company a lot of media attention, they aren’t so much proud as they are disappointed in the disparities in the state.

Joy Hollingsworth, the company’s co-founder said, “What we want to do is to redirect the attention off of us and use our platform to highlight some of the disparities within the industry,” in a Seattle Times Interview.

Hollingsworth Cannabis Company uses top genetics, nutritious soil, earth worm castings, perlite, and coco coir to maintain a healthy plant cycle. From there, the cannabis is grown in insulated climate controlled greenhouses which produce an ideal environment for production. They focus on maintaining a low carbon footprint by buying local, reusing, and using solar energy.

The result is a top-shelf flower made with love!

The Apothecarry

While not Washington-based (there are very few Black-owned businesses in Washington…), The Apothecarry is a woman and Black-owned company that creates sleek, high-end organizational systems and accessories for herbs and tobacco.

Or, as their website states: “If my liquor is in my bar, my cigars are in my humidor, and my wine is in the wine fridge, why the heck is my herb in a shoebox in the closet?!”

If you are looking for a sleek way to stash your herbs and accessories, check out the Apothecarry!

Final thoughts

Celebrate Juneteenth with Piece of Mind cannabis. Stop by our Seattle pot shop, Bellingham dispensary, or Spokane weed store to stock up on all you need to get the celebration started.

As we celebrate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States, let’s not forget how much further we need to go. After all, Black people are significantly underrepresented in the legal cannabis industry, and significantly overrepresented in criminal justice systems. Washington state has few Black-owned cannabis companies, and while the state’s social equity program aims to improve these disparities, there is much more work to be done.

Be sure to actively seek out Black-owned cannabis companies and products to support not just for Juneteenth, but all year round.

Piece of Mind Cannabis is a medical marijuana and recreational Cannabis dispensary with locations in North Spokane, South Spokane, Seattle, Bellingham, Pullman and Anchorage!