PRESS RELEASE
The NYC Cannabis Parade & Rally will celebrate its 51st annual event and the third year of cannabis legalization in New York State on Saturday, May 4. The parade and rally will be hosted in partnership with Cannabis NYC, part of NYC Small Business Services (SBS).
The theme of this year’s series of events is “Come March With Us!” This year’s parade is expected to be the largest yet with floats, vehicles, contingents and the Brass Queens marching band. The parade leaves from Greeley Square at High Noon. Speakers will discuss issues regarding cannabis regulation and the legal cannabis market in New York and other states from 11 am-12 pm. The parade route follows south to the festival grounds at Union Square Park. The festival will feature additional speakers; musical performances by Havoc from Mobb Deep, Raul Midón, Digga the Highsman, Dre Island and DJ Cat Ouellette; and licensee panel discussions from 1 pm until 5 pm. The festival event will be emceed by the Cannabis NYC Founding Director Dasheeda Dawson and Black Rose, a NYC-based comedian and cannabis advocate.
City agency resources and cannabis-related organizations will have tents and tables in the South Plaza of the park. This year’s event will also kick off Cannabis NYC’s packaging recycling initiative in partnership with REPOT BOX, a non-profit dedicated to making a cleaner, greener New York.
The NYC Cannabis Parade is the largest and longest-running annual cannabis demonstration in New York City. As the fight for state and federal legalization has gained traction, the parade has attracted speakers and attendees including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, New York State Attorney General Letitia James and others. U.S. Senator Schumer is expected to make an appearance for the fourth year in a row.
Other speakers will include Council Member Gale Brewer, Manhattan Deputy Borough Keisha Sutton-James, Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar and Drug Policy Alliance executive director Kassandra Frederique.
“The city remains committed to demonstrating excellence in our city’s developing legal cannabis industry,” said Cannabis NYC Founding Director Dasheeda Dawson. “However, we can’t move forward without recognizing and amplifying the historic efforts of legacy advocates, consumers and operators. The NYC Cannabis Parade celebrates those who have fought for decades for cannabis policy reform while also empowering the next wave of leaders to join the global movement across business, science and culture.”
“Our collaboration with the city is the pivot we needed to keep the event going,” said NYC Cannabis Parade director Steve Bloom. “This year’s will be bigger than last, and we plan to continue to grow the event, with the city’s help, for years to come.”
In 1973, the Youth International Party (Yippies) founded the Cannabis Parade & Rally, then-known as the “Smoke-In.” Since then, the event has evolved and moved across Manhattan and finally settled into its current location at Union Square Park more than a decade ago.
The NYC Cannabis Parade is the flagship event for Global Marijuana March events that take place all over the world, from April 20 to May 4.
Organized by Cannabis NYC in partnership with NYC Cannabis Parade & Rally, the event’s partners also include NYS Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), THC NYC, CWCBExpo, The Travel Agency, Society House, Select, Ayrloom, Etain Health, Weedmaps, Select, Terp Bros, All in One Processing, Verdi Cannabis, BudsFeed, Vessel, NY Bud, Flintts Mints, MFNY, Dazed, Conbud, Happy Munkey, UFO Rolls, Zenco, Dynavap, Chill Steel Pipes, Dealer, Hysteria, Head Space, Pure Vibe, Mind Melters, District 7, Tribe Tokes, The Cannadiva Collective, Wolf Stoner Queen, Legacy Adventures, Cannaware Society, REPOT BOX, Prince Lobel Tye LLP, NYC NORML, Empire State NORML, Curved Papers, Honeysuckle Magazine and CelebStoner.
Cannabis NYC, located within the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS), is a developing interagency hub of citywide resources and services organized intentionally and strategically to execute the mission to develop a thriving, sustainable and equitable cannabis industry in New York. Mayor Adams launched the initiative to lead on-the-ground outreach, public education, business services, application support, workforce training, policy development and more for the City’s developing cannabis industry.
Schedule of Events:
- 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Assemble in Greeley Square
West 33rd Street and Broadway - 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.: March south to Union Square Park
14 Street at Union Square Park West - 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Parade festival
Union Square Park - 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.: After-party at THC NYC
427 Broadway
New York, NY 10013
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