“The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, which effectively criminalized marijuana, was driven by racial discrimination and has had lasting negative impacts on communities, particularly African-American and Mexican-American populations.”
You’ve probably heard the above definition at some point in the past. Not to mention the conversations about the need for equity, inclusion, and social responsibility in the cannabis industry. It’s no secret that as legalization expands, the levels of gentrification in the industry seem to skyrocket. Despite this, countless people of color remain behind bars for non-violent crimes.
However, we believe federal marijuana legalization alone cannot accomplish the lofty goal of adequate equity, inclusion, and representation. As the first minority-owned, 100% legal, and vertically integrated cannabis company in Illinois, The 1937 Group aims to change that. We leverage the evolving cannabis industry to reverse years of social inequities by empowering social-equity-driven brands. Each of these brands brings together authentic, and quality products. All of these products are made by people who truly understand the needs of their historically marginalized communities.
Parkway Dispensary, a member of The 1937 Group, is proud to partner with these minority-owned cannabis brands. Our goal is to make their products accessible to the wider Illinois market. Explore the 1937 Group’s curated house of brands and prepare yourself for a new experience at Parkway Dispensary.
Bloom – Cannabis For the People
Introducing the The Bloom Brand – where cannabis artistry meets innovation. Since their journey began in 2014, Bloom has been a trailblazer in the cannabis vape industry. Their company is continually driven by its unwavering commitment to quality hardware, fire strains, and real authenticity.
What makes Bloom stand apart from other cannabis vapes?
- Bloom Classic Strains: Bloom’s “fingerprinting formula” breaks down each strain to a molecular level. This allows them to consistently recreate the experience of smoking flower.
- Bloom Live Strains: Bloom preserves the live terpenes of favorite strains by using a gentle, solventless extraction method. Unlike others’ frozen extraction methods, bloom uses a “fresh” process in order to preserve the delicate terpenes.
- Rosin Vapes: Pure, unprocessed, full-spectrum, terpene-rich rosin.
- Innovative Technology: Their proprietary technology sets them apart. It offers a vaping experience that mirrors the “whole plant taste” as closely as possible.
- Diverse Leadership: Bloom proudly stands as a company led by immigrant and minority leaders. They embody the core values of the 1937 Group, establishing strong market share despite facing countless obstacles.
Lobo Cannagar – Quality Crafted for the Top Shelf
Meet Lobo Cannagar – a pioneering force in the pre-roll cannabis market. This come came into existence by the visionary duo, Eduardo Whittington and Aaron Raskin. Their dedication and innovative approach have set Lobo Cannagar as a leader in the industry. Lobo prides itself on crafting the finest premium hand-rolled luxury cannagars and pre-rolls available in the U.S.
- Top-Teir Cannabis- Only the finest quality handmade organic cannabis products are meticulously found to craft Lobo pre-rolls.
- Industry Pioneers: Lobo Cannagar is known for its unique partnerships and production of top-tier, hand-rolled cannabis products.
- Milestone Achievements: Notably, Lobo was the inaugural legal cannabis product sold at Housing Works in New York. This was a significant milestone in their journey in legal weed.
- More Than a Brand: Lobo Cannagar is a symbol of passion, storytelling, quality, and the art of cannabis. They strive to offer potent, flavorful products that any connoisseur would smoke.
- Commitment to Empowerment: The journey of Lobo and Raskin is a testament to minority empowerment. It’s almost synonymous with reshaping the cannabis industry into a more equitable space in recent years.
Lobo and Raskin’s journey is an ongoing narrative of minority empowerment and the reshaping of the cannabis industry into a more equitable space.
Old Pal – It’s Just Weed, Ya’ll
Old Pal is a brand that’s transforming the cannabis experience with its roots in culture, keeping it simple and centered on community. Founded by Rusty Wilenkin and Jason Osni, two former New Yorkers with backgrounds in finance and law, Old Pal stands out with its straightforward and inclusive approach to cannabis.
- The Old Pal Philosophy: “It’s just weed, ya’ll” – a motto that reflects Old Pal’s commitment to an uncomplicated, honest, and inclusive cannabis experience.
- The Old Pal Nostalgia Experience: Old Pal’s vision for keeping it simple resonates perfectly in its focus on three main cannabis varieties – Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid. Remember when weed was affordable and accessible between old pals? Old Pal will bring you back to those days with consistent, quality-controlled, affordable, ready-to-roll Cannabis.
More Brands To Come!
This is just the beginning for The 1937 Group and what we plan to achieve. We proudly brought California mainstays like Old Pal and Bloom to the Illinois market, but don’t put us in that category. It’s our mission to spread the word about the positive, healing power of cannabis, as well as the importance of establishing equity programs in legal markets.
We will continue pushing authentic culture and expanding in every sense imaginable. This includes adding new SKUs to our existing cannabis brands as well as opening new retail locations and expanding our overall brand portfolio. Stick with us and continue seeing what real cannabis social equity looks like.