10 Brilliant Latinx Brands in the Cannabis Industry
The US cannabis community owes much to Latin America and Latinx, who are grappling with the shocking aftermath of the War on Drugs.
Despite the hardships Latinxs have endured for decades, things are beginning to change as the world opens up to cannabis, allowing resilient creatives and entrepreneurs to use a troubled past to fuel the movement’s future.
We searched the web and called our friends to create this list of conscious products with attractive branding and impeccable design. From functional bongs to sexy shops and high fashion pieces, this list highlights some of the companies that are on our radar this year.
Xula herbs
Xula Herbs’ name is a variation of ‘chula’, a word which roughly translates to ‘cool’ or, as the founders put it, ‘relaxed, smart, sweet, balanced, feeling good’. Xula has its roots in Mexico and is the brainchild of Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey and Karina Primelles, two creatives with years of experience in the cannabis and wellness industries.
Their herbal tinctures are made from organically grown hemp, which is specially formulated to combat PMS, menopause and colic, as well as combat stress and insomnia.
Although his brand is minimalist and modern, all of his preparations are based on ancient herbal knowledge, time-honored formulas and knowledge that has stood the test of time.
Mota glass
Walk into any smoking store in the US and you will find hundreds of glass bongs on the shelves. After carefully examining them, you will find that most of them look the same; That’s probably because the market is overwhelmed with mass-produced parts sourced from the same factories abroad.
But not Mota Glass; This company prides itself on being 100% American made and works with independent glassblowers in Los Angeles.
“Supporting local industry was very important to us,” said Susie Plascencia, the Mexican-American entrepreneur behind Mota. Follow this journalist as she reviews her sturdy bongs online and highlights Latinx culture on her colorful Instagram account @susieplascencia.
Cana
It’s refreshing to see so much talent and creativity coming out of Venezuela, a country that’s constantly given a bad rap in the media.
Thanks to Maracay-based glassblower Juan C Jiménez, the nation has a proud exponent of his craft. Building on its core business (which focuses on the manufacture and repair of laboratory glassware), Kaná offers precision quality that maximizes herb burn and provides a smooth smoking experience.
Each of the pieces is handcrafted from German borosilicate glass (SCHOTT) that helps withstand high temperatures without ruining your smoking session.
“Our accessories allow recreational consumers to enjoy a new experience while patients can find new ways to adapt to their needs,” says Jiménez. “We support responsible consumption; It’s time to break pathetic taboos. We must work together to educate, inform and normalize.”
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Lelen Ruete
Walk past the coolest spots, especially those suited to the 420 vibes in Montevideo, and you’ll eventually come across Lelen Ruete. The Argentinian photographer may be an expat, but she works in the industry as if she were a native born and raised in Uruguay.
From the heart of the capital, Lelen runs The Rabbit Studio, a photography, branding and creativity agency that is also behind the Kangaroo Cup, the country’s most important competition (and one of the oldest in Latin America).
His paintings of surreal plants and landscapes have appeared in various publications around the world (and exhibited in places like the Kaya Center in Punta del Este) but are best appreciated when printed on one of his exclusive lines of scarfs.
point and line concept
In recent years, Mexico City has become a benchmark for drug policy reform; The country’s Supreme Court has debated the legalization of cannabis with many ups and downs, setting the stage for a new industry to flourish. While politicians debate, local businessmen have taken over the drawing boards; Such is the case of Diego Mario Trinidad Pérez, the designer behind the Punto y Línea concept.
Using only locally sourced materials, her wavy accessories are simple (inspired by Dieter Rams’ 10 Principles of Good Design), yet bold and highly functional. The matte appearance of each piece is due to the high temperature firing, while the lustrous versions have a 20% glass blend that makes them sparkle.
Each purchase includes a vegan leather case to protect the whistles.
Studio Tuscany
And speaking of Uruguay, why not mention the organic spice packaging developed by Estudio Tosca?
Crafted from curupay wood, a tree that grows in the subtropical areas of Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay, and topped with locally sourced gemstones, these containers will keep your weed fresh for days.
Founded by Cecilia Casafúa and Alfonso Martínez, the duo underlines the quality of the raw materials found in Uruguay. “Our native gemstones, including agate, jasper, amethyst and quartz, are among the finest in the world and are considered A-class,” they say. Why store your premium ganja in a plastic container when you can have organic ganja like this?
Chick V Estigma
Since its inception in 2018, Chicks V Stigma has become an icon of the city’s cannabis movement. More than a smoke shop, this is a place for the community to network and find the latest local events and products (a testament to the evolution of Mexico’s new drug policy).
Founder Brenda Hernández started this project after realizing that a lack of information and education was leading to a misrepresentation of cannabis and that normalizing its use by highlighting the best accessories was key to breaking the polluted image of those of us, the stoners are to brush up.
This included exploring patriarchal standards in a macho society, emphasizing the plant’s feminine spirit, approaching the conversation with inclusion and love – as the official slogan goes: Welcome to our community friend, daughter, mother, wife, here we are all one and we walk hand in hand.
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eye of the sun
Founder Dania Cabello created Ojo De La Sol to celebrate the human connection to the outdoors as well as our conscious movement around the earth, whether it’s in our yoga class or a walk through the woods. Their cannabis-based ointments and bath salts provide relief for people struggling with chronic pain; from high-performance athletes to bedridden seniors.
The final formula was arrived at after a decade of studying cannabis and much trial and error to ease her own pain (Dania is a former professional athlete who tried Western medical practices to heal herself, with no solid results).
“This drug is one of the strongest and cleanest in the cannabis industry and was made with the intention of bridging the gap between the mind and body,” he says. “It’s not the last stop on a healing journey, but a means of relieving physical ailments and keeping our bodies moving.”
house of the whorehouse
Sleek and chic, House of Puff takes on the art of one-hitting with portable whistles designed by artists and directed by Latino owner Kristina Lopez Adduci. In addition to its own accessories, HoP works with other companies to enhance the experience; His recent association with Omura is a transition to a more technological lifestyle.
The simplicity of his pieces represents a more leisurely way of life; a connection with a well-being that makes the most of the minimum and finds beauty in the essence of things.
HoP rolling papers are a testament to this conscious appreciation of life: they burn slowly and evenly and fit neatly into the brand’s Crosby bag (a delicate update on the traditional storage box).
bad man
The idea of the herb that drove Mexicans insane was the basis of the racist propaganda that unfortunately continues to this day. Latinxs are being jailed for nonviolent cannabis crimes at a rate comparable to the black community, which is four times higher than whites, even when rates of use are similar. But this West Coast-based company makes sure to do things so well that their name sticks out as a weird, sarcastic pun.
Bad Hombre sources sustainably grown, non-GMO cocoa beans (that are shade-grown on small family farms around the world and help protect the Earth’s ecosystems) that are carefully crafted into chocolate that’s fortified with 100mg of THC per packet, the max allowable levels in a California food.
Santiago Rodríguez Tarditi
Santiago (@srtarditi) is a Colombian-born journalist focused on reporting on drug policy reform, cannabis culture and the psychedelic renaissance. He is co-founder of @intu.rituals, a CBD company owned by BIPOC/Latinx.
Check out the articles by Santiago Rodriguez Tarditi
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