CASHING IN ON CANNABIS
Going to pot seems to have been a no-brainer for some savvy celebrities
Legally speaking, cannabis has slowly been making progress, shifting the cultural perspective enough that it seems like celebrities openly embracing the drug should (or could) be the norm. It isn't.
Despite the fact that cannabis is more mainstream than ever, understanding the plant continues to be a challenge, making endorsing a product a sticky situation for any celebrity concerned that his or her image could take a hit.
Still, attaching their names to cannabis seems to have been a no-brainer for the following celebrities.
CHELSEA HANDLER
Coming off of the most recent tour for her latest book, Chelsea Handler has talked about what she sees as the perks of therapy, meditation and weed, and how these three things have come together to help her cut down on her drinking and to stay more calm and present. “Now, you can microdose. Microdosing is taking minimal amounts so you're not overdosing on that THC feeling. Everybody's coming out with different versions to treat people. I take a gummy every night to sleep,” she told Health in February.
This year, she partnered with cannabis brand Sweet Flower, curating its Evolution Kit. Handler included her favourite cannabis products, everything from pre-rolls to chocolate-covered blueberries and cannabis-infused social tonics.
GWYNETH PALTROW
Oscar-winning actress and Goop CEO Gwyneth Paltrow has also made investments in the cannabis industry, specifically products geared at those who want to explore beverages. “There's a whole sober-curious movement that's going on and the cannabis-curious movement that's going on, this is kind of at the intersection of those things in a way,” Paltrow recently explained.
Referring to her partnership with cannabis-infused beverage maker CANN, she noted she believes cannabis should be legalized. “I'm actually not a big personal user of it. But I do think that there are amazing medicinal qualities to it and it is really helpful for a lot of people.”
Back in 2017, Paltrow spoke highly about marijuana and it's medicinal benefits.
SETH ROGEN
Seth Rogen and longtime writing partner Evan Goldberg came up with Houseplant, a recreational Canadian weed company. “Houseplant is a passion we've brought to life through drive and dedication,” Rogen said in a media release. “Every decision we've made for the business reflects the years of education, first-hand experience and respect we have for cannabis.”
Houseplant is being done in collaboration with the Canadian licensed producer Canopy Growth. Rogen explained that the idea behind the venture is not only about creating high-quality products, but also about helping consumers understand cannabis on a deeper level.
MARTHA STEWART
Perhaps one of the most successful weed celebrities, Martha Stewart has been involved with cannabis in many ways, whether on her cooking show with Snoop Dogg or launching a brand of CBD products. In September, the queen of lifestyle branding partnered with Canopy Growth to launch her own line of CBD products, simply called Martha Stewart CBD. The products are geared toward people who are curious about cannabis, but maybe not ready to take the full leap.
MARGARET CHO
Comedian, actress and fashion designer Margaret Cho is a big fan of cannabis. “It stimulates everything — your creativity, your hunger,” Cho said on TruTV, back in November 2015. When it comes to the business side of things, she has designed her own strain of cannabis, a riff of OG Kush called Margaret Cho- G. It stems from the San Francisco Bay Area and is said to have relaxing effects with a side of the giggles.
JAY- Z
It was recently announced that Jay-Z had been named chief visionary officer of two cannabis brands, Caliva and Left Coast Ventures, which focus on cannabis and hemp. (That follows Jay-Z joining California-based Caliva as chief brand strategist in July 2019.) The goal of the new venture, according to a media release, is to “redefine the industry with a mission to both consolidate the California cannabis market and create an impactful global company.” In his new role, Jay-Z will guide brand strategy and social equity ventures, which is a fund that will invest in Black- and minority-owned cannabis businesses, as well as contribute to progressive criminal justice initiatives. “The brands we build will pave a new path forward for a legacy rooted in equity, access and justice,” he said.
KRISTEN BELL
Actress Kristen Bell has long been a proponent of CBD products, but her partnership with Lord Jones marks the first time she's launched her own brand. Happy Dance is a line made up of three products: a bath bomb, a body butter and a coconut melt. In an interview with Allure, Bell explained that she's been a fan of Lord Jones for a long time, and that she reached out to them after trying out their CBD lotion. When making Happy Dance she wanted to create a line of high-quality CBD products that were available to all sorts of people, with the prices starting at US$15.