Latest news with #LeVarThomas
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NYC-Based Cannabis Brand Silly Nice Beats Chinese Tariffs with American-Made Packaging
Silly Nice partners with Sana Packaging to cut international costs and champion sustainability. Title: The Full Silly Nice Lineup – Premium Weed with Eco-Friendly Packaging Sustainably Sealed – Recycled Glass Jars with Ocean-Bound Plastic Lids New York, NY, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As rising tariffs and supply chain disruptions continue to squeeze cannabis businesses across the country, one independently owned brand based in Harlem, New York is making moves that could reshape how the industry approaches production and packaging. , a Black and Veteran-Owned company, has partnered with —a Colorado-based leader in sustainable, circular packaging—to protect profits and the planet. With tariff hikes on imported packaging components making headlines and inflating operational costs, many cannabis brands are finding themselves stuck between shrinking margins and unreliable foreign suppliers. For Silly Nice, the answer wasn't overseas. It was finding a like-minded domestic partner focused on sustainability, efficiency, and transparency. Founded in March 2024, Silly Nice set out to provide New Yorkers with high-quality weed while staying true to core values: environmental responsibility, transparency, and community-driven growth. Within its first year in New York's adult-use market, the brand sold over 40,000 units—and now, it's using that momentum to push for change in how cannabis brands package their products. Partnering with Sana Packaging, Silly Nice shifted away from international suppliers toward reclaimed ocean plastic lids, 100% recycled glass jars, and renewable hemp-based boxes. The impact is real: over 694 pounds of ocean-bound plastic have already been recovered and repurposed into Silly Nice packaging. 'Sustainability isn't just a buzzword—it's a responsibility,' says LeVar Thomas, Co-Founder of Silly Nice. 'We knew we had to find a solution that didn't just respond to the tariffs—but moved us forward in a better direction. Ron and the Sana team have been instrumental in making that possible.' Ron Basak-Smith, founder of Sana Packaging, built his company around the idea that regenerative design and closed-loop systems can—and should—define the cannabis industry's future. By offering American-made, waste-reducing materials, Sana Packaging helps brands like Silly Nice sidestep international shipping delays and volatile import fees. The shift has proven not just sustainable, but strategic. With shorter lead times, predictable costs, and no freight containers stuck in customs, Silly Nice has improved fulfillment, reduced inventory stress, and reclaimed pricing power. That means customers get better value without sacrificing the premium, small-batch quality the brand is known for. This collaboration comes at a time when most of the cannabis industry is facing difficult choices. Between oversaturation, price compression, and increasingly burdensome costs, few brands have managed to maintain both quality and profitability. Silly Nice's strategy offers a blueprint for how independent operators can compete—and even thrive—by investing in domestic infrastructure and environmentally conscious design. Beyond economics, the partnership sends a message to consumers. Every Silly Nice product tells a story: one of thoughtful sourcing, environmental care, and resilience in a crowded market. Whether it's the Diamond Powder, Diamond-Frosted & Live Resin Infused Flower, Frosted Hash Ball, Bubble Hash, 510 Vape Cartridges, or 2G All-In-One Vapes, every item is sealed in packaging that mirrors the brand's dedication to quality without compromise. And in an industry where corner-cutting often becomes the default, that commitment matters. 'Silly Nice didn't just pivot to survive—they leveled up,' says Basak-Smith. 'They saw tariffs as a trigger to do something smarter. What we've built together is a model that proves sustainability and profitability can go hand-in-hand.' As more companies in cannabis consider reevaluating their supply chains, Silly Nice is already proving that buying American can offer long-term value. It's not just good optics—it's smart business. And for consumers who care how their weed is packaged, it's another reason to support brands that walk the talk. About Silly NiceSilly Nice is a Harlem-based, Black and Veteran-Owned cannabis brand focused on premium concentrates and flower. Known for its eco-conscious packaging and transparent values, Silly Nice offers high-potency products across New York State including Diamond Powder, Diamond-Frosted & Live Resin Infused Flower, Bubble Hash, and more. Learn more at About Sana PackagingSana Packaging is a sustainable cannabis packaging company based in Colorado. Specializing in reclaimed ocean plastic, hemp-based boxes, and recycled glass, Sana is reimagining cannabis packaging through innovation, regeneration, and domestic supply chains. Learn more at Attachments Title: The Full Silly Nice Lineup – Premium Weed with Eco-Friendly Packaging Sustainably Sealed – Recycled Glass Jars with Ocean-Bound Plastic Lids CONTACT: Shane Breen Silly Nice 929-375-6940 info@
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
High-THC Hash, Infused Flower & Vapes: Silly Nice Goes All Out for 4/20 in New York
New York's small but mighty family-owned cannabis brand celebrates 4/20 with premium handcrafted products in over 100 dispensaries statewide. Potency Meets Craftsmanship Pure Flavor, Maximum Convenience New York, NY, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As New Yorkers prepare for another unforgettable 4/20, Silly Nice, the Black and Veteran-Owned weed brand handmade in New York, is marking the holiday with something special: a full lineup of high-THC concentrates, infused flower, and flavorful vapes, all crafted to deliver premium quality and real impact. But beyond the products, the team behind Silly Nice wants to do something even more important—say thank you. 'Our brand doesn't exist without the people who believe in us,' said LeVar Thomas, Co-Founder of Silly Nice. 'That includes the budtenders who educate customers every day, the shop owners and inventory managers who gave us a chance when we were just starting, the folks who walk into dispensaries and pick our jars off the shelf, and the incredible team behind the scenes that keeps production moving. We're deeply thankful for every single one of you. This 4/20, we're just humbled to still be here, still independent, and still making things we're proud of.' Founded in Harlem and launched with zero outside funding, Silly Nice has quickly become one of the most exciting weed brands in the state, offering a carefully curated product menu made for both connoisseurs and curious newcomers. Now available in over 100 licensed New York dispensaries, the brand's approach blends potency, craft, and community support—and nowhere is that more evident than in their 4/20 offerings. The Lineup for 4/20: Pure Potency, Real Craft Diamond PowderThis ultra-refined concentrate hits at 87.53% THC, making it one of the most powerful products on dispensary shelves. Silly Nice's Diamond Powder is made for flexibility—dab it, mix it into joints, or use it to infuse edibles or topicals. It's clean, lab-tested, and always made in small for: High-potency lovers, edible makers, extract fans. Frosted Hash BallA next-level twist on the classic temple ball, the Frosted Hash Ball is crafted from full-spectrum hash and rolled in Diamond Powder, delivering 52.70% THC in every gram. This handcrafted experience brings old-school techniques together with modern for: Hash lovers, traditional smokers, flavor seekers. Diamond-Frosted & Live Resin Infused FlowerWith 47.75% THC, this is one of the most potent flower options available in New York. Starting with the Papaya Winestrain, each nug is infused with live resin and then coated in THC diamonds for a slow-burning, terpene-rich for: Connoisseurs, group sessions, long burns. Bubble HashMade with an ice-water extraction process, Silly Nice's Bubble Hash is a solventless concentrate boasting 52.10% THC and over 61% total cannabinoids. It's rich, clean, and versatile enough for bowls, joints, or for: Solventless fans, mellow highs, terpene chasers. 1G 510 Vape CartsTwo strain-specific options bring portability and potency together: Runtz (81.96% THC) – a balanced hybrid with sweet, fruity flavor Northern Lights (84.66% THC) – a relaxing indica with earthy, soothing effectsBoth use 100% cannabis-derived terpenes and deliver consistent, smooth for: Everyday use, discreet sessions, flavor-first users. 2G All-In-One Rechargeable VapesDesigned for convenience and built for flavor, these rechargeable vapes offer: Tangerine Cookies (81.24% THC) – citrusy, uplifting Pink Starburst (82.46% THC) – sweet, candy-like and euphoricAll-in-one design means no battery required. Just open and for: On-the-go use, portable potency, no-fuss vaping. Why It Matters This Year For smaller brands like Silly Nice, surviving the turbulent New York cannabis rollout hasn't been easy. But through grassroots support, authentic storytelling, and high-quality products, they've been able to build something real—without outside investors or corporate deals. Every jar, cart, and gram that hits shelves is a reflection of their commitment to doing things the right way, even when the path is harder. 'Our mission from day one has been to make the best weed possible and get it into the hands of real people,' LeVar said. 'We've made a lot of sacrifices, and we've had our share of setbacks. But we're still here. We're proud of that. And we owe it to everyone who's been part of this journey.' Where to Find Silly Nice Silly Nice products are available exclusively at licensed dispensaries across New York State. To find the nearest shop, use the official and plan your 4/20 pickup or visit. Whether you're grabbing a Frosted Hash Ball for a quiet evening, picking up Diamond Powder to make your own edibles, or puffing on a Pink Starburst vape at a rooftop hangout—Silly Nice invites everyone to celebrate this 4/20 safely, responsibly, and with gratitude. A Final Word of Thanks To the dispensary teams across the state: the budtenders, the inventory managers, the store owners, and the buyers—thank you for believing in a small brand that started with nothing but hustle and hope. To the customers who choose Silly Nice and return again and again—you are the reason this brand exists. And to the internal crew working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep quality high and operations smooth—your work matters more than anyone sees. This 4/20, Silly Nice isn't just showing up with product. They're showing up with purpose. Contact: on Instagram and X Licensed NY Dispensary Map: And don't forget: ALWAYS TIP YOUR BUDTENDER. Attachments Potency Meets Craftsmanship Pure Flavor, Maximum Convenience CONTACT: Shane Breen Silly Nice 929-375-6940 info@ in to access your portfolio
