Celebrities jumping on the weed bandwagon
As cannabis legalization spreads across the US, more famous people are getting behind the industry. There used to be a time when every celebrity wanted their own wine label; It was almost a sign of making it in the world. The likes of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Antonio Banderas, and Dan Aykroyd all ventured into the world of wine. Now it seems cannabis is the next hip thing and is attracting the attention and dollars of celebrities.
Some celebrities have a well-known history with cannabis. People like Tommy Chong, Snoop Dogg, and the legend Willie Nelson were all outspoken marijuana advocates. So it's no surprise they used their association with cannabis culture to cash in and were early adopters of this trend.
More recently, actor Seth Rogen, the star of plenty of stoner comedies, became an associate with a cannabis brand. Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes, aka Jay and Silent Bob, who propelled to fame from their 90s movies, have since gone to set up their own brand.
While some of these may be run-of-the-mill products repackaged with the celebrity name, others are more invested in the product's credentials and worthy of a closer look.
Leafs By Snoop
It will come as no surprise to see Snoop Dogg on this list. Probably one of the first celebs to jump into the cannabis industry, the famous rapper got his start by partnering with LivWell in Colorado in 2015.
The year after, the company expanded to Canada, working with Tweed, which grows and distributes the products and is owned by Canopy Growth. The line now includes several strains, both India and Sativa available in flower and concentrate forms.
Willie Reserve
The country music legend and longtime cannabis legalization advocate willie Nelson founded a company in 2014 to get in on the green rush in Colorado and Washington. Famously sparking up a joint on the roof of the Whitehouse in 1980 Nelson has a long affinity with cannabis. The brand called Willie’s Reserve launched in 2015 starting with traditional cannabis flower. Now vape cartridges, pre-rolls, and flowers are available in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and California under the brand. The company reflects Willie’s long-time commitment to Farm Aid and works closely with other brands who share his views and passion for cannabis as medicine.
Tommy Chong’s
One of the first celebs to launch his own cannabis brand was the comic stoner, Tommy Chong. Part of the iconic Cheech and Chong duo, he is probably one of the first people who come to mind if you were asked to name a famous stoner. Launched back in 2015 in Colorado and expanding to Washington the following year this brand has become incredibly popular in no small part due to its association with such an icon of cannabis culture. The product line is now available in Arizona, California, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
LenitivLabs
Former TV talk-show host Montel Williams started his own cannabis company in 2016. MS sufferer Williams is an outspoken advocate of medical marijuana legalization "because it will grant access to more patients." Montel Hemp Extract Capsules are sold under his own company LenitivLabs and are aimed at seriously ill individuals giving them access to high-quality, standardized medicine.
Jay and Silent Bob/Caviar Gold
Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes, AKA Jay and Silent Bob are icons of the 90’s weed culture. Their on-screen weed dealing characters first appeared in Clerks, which went on to be a cult classing. They later appear in other 90’s comedies, Chasing Amy, Mallrats, Dogma, and culminating in their own film, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back. The pair reprised their on-screen weed-slinging personas for the big screen in the 2019 reboot. As part of the promotion for this film the duo paired up with Caviar Gold to launch three high-THC high-CBD strains appropriately named Snoochie Boochies, Berzerker, and Snoogans. It’s not the first foray into the cannabis game as they brought out a Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash line in 2017 developed with cultivator Chemesis.
Tyson Ranch
Former World Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson is a household name but not one you would associate with cannabis. In 2017 with Rob Hickman he began Tyson Ranch in the Californian desert, the line carries cannabis flowers, pre-rolls, tinctures, gummies, and even CBD beverages.
Belushi's Farm
One time SNL cast member, actor, singer, and Blues Brother, Jim Belushi, had been visiting the Rogue River in Southern Oregon with his family for many years and fell in love with the place. So much so that he ended up buying a 13-acre plot where he built a family home.
Jim later added 80-acres to the land and was inspired to turn his hand to cannabis farming. The company Belushi's Farm products are now available in Oregon, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Illinois. They are sold under three brands, Belushi's Secret Stash, The Blues Brothers, and Captain Jack's. Jim has reinvented himself once again and now has his own reality show on Discovery, Growing Belushi.
Houseplant
Seth Rogan, famous for his wise-cracking, sarcastic on-screen stronger presence in films like Supper Bad, and Pineapple Express, started Houseplant with his writing and producing partner Evan Goldberg in 2019 with Canopy Growth.
Initially only available in Rogan's native Canada, the company just offered a CBD line before fully opening for business in California earlier this year for THC business. The business has two lines of products, plant, and home.
The "plant" range are custom strains of weed with colorful chic packaging, apparently all tested by Rogan. The "house" half of products are artisan home goods such as and smoking accessories.
Martha Stewart CBD
Martha Stewart is yet another celeb that has partnered with Canada's Canopy Grow. The same company that helped launch Houseplant and her friend Snoop Dogs weed line back in 2015 is introducing a Martha Stewart branded CBD line. This range of edibles includes drops, soft gels, and gummies with berries and citrus flavors, all derived from 100% natural US hemp.
With the CBD market snowballing, it is no wonder that the business-savvy wellness entrepreneur was keen to enter the industry.
Conclusion This article only mentions a small minority of the many celebs who have set up their own cannabusiness or partnered with an established cannabis brand on a tailor-made line of products. Many of these have a strong association with the cannabis culture and are advocates for real change in the industry. There are however some unexpected names, indicating that the industry is gaining broader recognition and appeal, not just as a recreational drug but as a medical treatment and lifestyle choice.