Lil Wayne Issue 14

4/20 has unofficially been celebrated as National Cannabis Day for over 20 years, but it’s only in the recent history of the legal cannabis industry that the holiday has become recognized in the mainstream. From epic billboard campaigns that put the plant and people who advocate for it front and center, to the passage of New York’s Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act in 2021 (the country’s most sweeping social equity legislation to date), the celebration has evolved to iconic proportions. What was once referred to as “Weed Day” is now an expression of all kinds of freedom, both in the U.S. and beyond.

This year, Honeysuckle does 420 with Young Money, one of the hottest cohorts of musical talent working today!  We feature a plethora of noteworthy artists, signed to the Mack Maine / Lil Wayne label, including Mellow Rackz and Alan Cubas. Their transformational stories speak to the power of creativity in the journey from surviving to thriving. Here you’ll meet the rapper who wrote his first songs behind bars at age 13, the young mother who used music to heal from a near-fatal gunshot wound, the Broadway star from New Orleans who sees the artistic process as a divine experience, the children of immigrants making the American Dream come true. They prove that with every generation comes the opportunity to reinvent our culture. And for another twist on culture, check out our GKUA spotlight to find out all the fire strains and products coming up next, and where to find them. Mula Baby! #ThatGKUA

Our legendary cover artist Lil Wayne says it best, and keeps it simple:  “It’s four--twenty,” he told Honeysuckle. “Enjoy it.”

Meanwhile, the women of the East are burning up the coast! The future of East Coast cannabis is female. And if you don’t believe us, look inside, where you’ll find some of the most innovative leaders of the movement. Investors, healthcare professionals, educators, creators, communicators: These are the magic-makers who have shaped the cannabis industry as we know it today.. Meet some of them on our pages, women paving the way with business, advocacy and more. Though statistics still show that female executive leadership is lacking in the cannabis industry, with 22 percent of women in C-suite and board member positions (and only 8 of that 22 as CEOs) versus 30 percent in national business overall,, the women of th East Coast are creating their own paradigms with business, as investors, artists and advocates.

To bring the theme of 420 full circle, veteran cannabis journalist Steve Bloom, founder of CelebStoner and former editor for High Times, discovered the term in 1990. While reporting on a Grateful Dead concert in Oakland, California, Steve saw a flyer that promoted the significance of getting stoned at 4:20PM and especially on April 20. Eventually he would track down the group of cannabis lovers said to be the source of the flyer; known as “The Waldos,” these advocates had been celebrating 4/20 since their days at San Rafael High School in the 70s. Their testimony was immortalized by Steve in the May 1991 issue of High Times, and 420 has been National Cannabis Day ever since.

For our 420 issue, Steve interviewed rapper Redman, himself a High Times cover story in 1993, on what may prove to be another historic moment: the founding and evolution of the National Cannabis Party. As they say in the New York cannabis community, “Excelsior!”  

Clearly 420 is here to stay, and this year’s event will be one for the ages. So don’t puff-puff-pass on the fun. From the latest in tech advances with companies such as Fyllo and Compound Genetics, to a fabulous gift guide featuring the season’s cannabis must-haves, and more, Honey has the most tittilating 420 for you!