TICAL: IT'S REALLY REAL

Last year, it was just an idea.

Last week, that idea became reality.

On June 12th, TICAL hit the shelves for the first time.  And the response was amazing.

Of course, we knew it would be.

The truth is, we spent close to a year visiting grows, testing products, and building relationships with like-minded people who have been committed from day one to building a brand based on quality and integrity.

We’re not just looking to sell weed.  We’re looking to provide our customers with extraordinary experiences.  We don’t expect anything less for ourselves, and we don’t expect anything less for you.

We’re currently preparing our second harvest of premium, small batch flower for delivery, and expect to have it to you by next week.

TICAL can be found exclusively at these fine dispensaries …

Empire Connect
Empire Twin Palms
LitCo
Berners on Haight

TICAL: DEDICATED TO JUSTICE, PEACE, AND BROTHERHOOD

In our history books, we learned the stories of Emmett Till, Jim Crow laws, and the Tuskegee experiments.  And oftentimes we think of those things as only injustices of the past. But we needn’t look any further than the violent murder of George Floyd to know that this is not the case.

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered by a police officer named Derek Chauvin. Video of the crime was taken, and eventually circulated around the globe.  Yet this criminal was free to walk the streets for days after the crime occurred.  And had it not been for the large-scale uprisings that happened days later, Derek Chauvin would still be a free man.

It is true that Chauvin was finally arrested and taken into custody on May 29th.  And some folks declared that justice had been done.  But that is not justice.  

Allowing a murderer to walk free for four days after killing a man in broad daylight, is not justice.  Allowing three other police officers who watched the murder take place, and did nothing, to stop it, still have the privilege of freedom, is not justice. Even when the narrative of justice is being diffused, we know that real justice still hasn’t been served.  And it never will be until we seek to take the reins of justice into our own hands.

TICAL and the Quest for Justice

Here at TICAL, we’re not just committed to providing high quality cannabis to discerning consumers.  We’re committed to building a brand that exists on the very foundation of justice.

A lot of people don’t know this, but the prohibition of cannabis was originally started by a man named Harry J. Anslinger.  Anslinger was the nation’s first drug czar who argued that cannabis instigated crime and violence. But it was later discovered that he used this dubious claim only to persecute and imprison people of color.

You see, Anslinger was an outspoken racist, known for vitriolic and hateful rhetoric.

Here are some of his most famous quotes …

Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men.

        There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics,   Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others.

        The primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.

This is the man who facilitated the federal prohibition of cannabis.  A prohibition that remains in place today, and is responsible for the destruction of black and brown communities all across the nation.

The fact that federal prohibition even continues to exist in 2020  shows how absurd this prohibition is, and also reinforces the argument that justice does not exist for people of color.

Sure, with individual states legalizing, some progress is being made.  But even here, justice does not exist, as there are hundreds of very wealthy and successful cannabis influencers who have benefitted from an industry that was built on the backs of people of color, yet remain silent during turbulent times.

From former politicians who once supported cannabis prohibition, but now sit on the boards of publicly-traded cannabis companies to Wall Street elites who make millions in the “legal” cannabis game, few will raise their voices in solidarity as people of color continue to do time for violating drug laws that have since been rescinded.

If history is truly an indication of what the future holds, we know that we not only have to demand justice, but we need to incorporate it into our daily lives.  Otherwise, nothing changes.
Asking for justice doesn’t work.  We know this.  So we must demand justice by creating an environment for it to thrive on our own terms. And this is why we decided to launch our brand solely in dispensaries owned and operated by people of color.  After all, it has been people of color that have, for decades, felt the brunt of cannabis prohibition. Therefore, we feel it is our responsibility to ensure that people of color should be the first to benefit from our inaugural harvest.

So here’s a list of the first dispensaries - all owned and operated by people of color - that will be carrying our inaugural harvest …

Empire Connect

Empire Twin Palms
LitCo
Berners on Haight

** Blunts & Moore (due to this dispensary being targeted by looters during the protests, retail operations have been temporarily interrupted.  We are honored to be working with Blunts & Moore and have set aside enough TICAL for them so when the store is reopened, it will be on their shelves).

For us, TICAL is not just a name.  It’s a responsibility.

When we say Taking Into Consideration All Lives, we mean it.

We’re not just here to sell weed.  We’re here to build a movement rooted in social and economic justice.  There can be no other way for us.

We understand that we have the ability to change the narrative of what it means to facilitate real justice, and we welcome you to be a part of this movement.

Yes, we want you to enjoy our premium cannabis.  But more importantly, we want you to join us in our quest for a more peaceful and just world.  

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.”

We are dedicated, and hope you are, too.

A 420 EPIPHANY

420 has come and gone …

And we can’t lie, the last one was bittersweet.

The highlight, of course, was the virtual How High sesh that Method Man and Redman put together for us.  It took some of the sting out of not being able to enjoy this holiday in a way we’re all accustomed.

We’ve all been celebrating 420 the same way for years: Morning wake and bakes, stoner flicks, outdoor events, and of course, concerts.

Admittedly, it was weird not catching a live show this year.  Not just because a 420 celebration can’t be complete without the right music, but also because a quality 420 concert serves as a reminder that in an age of quarrel and conflict, few things bring us together better than music and weed.

Weed is a communal celebration.  It brings together all races, religions, and genders.  It unites the rich and the poor, the strong and the timid, the calm and the crazy.

Not being able to go to a 420 concert this year really made us realize how important these herb-inspired events are.  They facilitate a mutual respect for the plant and for each other, and in a celebratory way.  This doesn’t happen with any other plant, substance, or drug.

Just think about your own experiences.

Think about all the amazing people you’ve met over the years while sharing a joint.  Think about how many friendships you’ve made, and how many amazing conversations you’ve had with complete strangers.

While we may not have been able to celebrate 420 the way we’re used to, we still managed to connect with like-minded people.

We had the opportunity to “virtually” smoke with our friends, our family, and the musicians and artists who also share an unapologetic love for this plant.

No, it wasn’t the same as passing a joint in real life, but it showed that even during these trying times, we can still come together as a community to show our gratitude for the herb, and all the amazing things it provides for us.  

The power of herb is strong.  And nothing, not a law, a stigma, or even a pandemic can stop us from honoring and celebrating it.

METHOD MAN AND REDMAN TO HOST HOW HIGH 3 ON 4/20

It’s that time of year again.

The celebration of one of the most virtuous plants on the planet.

A plant that feeds, heals, and stokes creativity.  

A plant that can be traced all the way back to 500 BC China.

It has been referenced in the bible, spoken of in the oral traditions of sagas and fables.

It has been revered and honored by historians, sages, and shamans.

As well, it has been demonized, and by way of prohibition, used as a tool of oppression and injustice.  Although in the grand scheme of history, the criminalization of cannabis sativa has only existed for a very small time.  Less than a century, and merely a blip in our planetary timeline.

50 years from now, we’ll look back on the prohibition of cannabis and mock and criticize the whole thing.  Much in the same we now look back on the prohibition of interracial marriage and the incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II.  Partly with disgust, and partly with happiness, as we know such immoral laws can be overcome.  And make no mistake: The prohibition of cannabis is immoral, as it denies sick people access to their medicine, and all people the basic fundamentals of personal sovereignty.

Of course, without the millions of cannabis consumers and legalization advocates who, for decades, defied the absurdity of cannabis prohibition, we would not be enjoying our favorite holiday today.

420 is about a lot of things.

It’s about honoring those who have made it possible for us to enjoy and medicate with this plant.

It’s about acknowledging the millions of victims of the war on drugs.

And it’s about coming together as a community of like-minded people to celebrate this plant and a respected culture spawned from its very existence.  And you know we’re going to be a part of this, too.

Starting at 4:20 Pacific Time, Method Man and Redman will be hosting How High 3: The Quarantine Edition.  Check it out …

We’ll see you there!