By Allessandra Inzinna
Union Square Travel Agency (USQTA) takes great pride in offering products as diverse as the city they operate in. Open now in their new location at 835 Broadway in bustling New York City, the dispensary was founded in partnership with The Doe Fund, a charity focused on rebuilding the lives of previously incarcerated and homeless.
“We believe legal cannabis has the power to reverse the damage caused by the war on drugs,” USQTA’s mission reads.
As a BIPOC founded brand themselves, the crew at USQTA is dedicated to uplifting marginalized communities. They hire previously incarcerated and legacy dealers to their staff and sell women-owned products that will, indeed, purchase you a ticket to a heavenly destination. Let’s take a trip!
Sheba Baby!– Cannabis for Self Care
Fully focused on self-care, Sheba Baby’s mission is to “support individuals to achieve just that.” Cannabis is merely a piece of their self-restorative puzzle. The brand, the brainchild of cannabis industry veteran, Mary Pryor, offers alternatives to the mainstream pharmaceuticals. They empower consumers to take control of their wellness. The brand is currently working on a hair-care line with details on the way. As they say, “self care is a habit.”
Hudson Cannabis – Cannabis and Sustainable Farming
This family-owned cannabis farm operates on the belief that growing cannabis will restore the land. Instead of exhausting the soil that painstakingly grows the plant to pack your joints, their crops deposit carbon back into the ground. This keeps the dirt a nutrient-rich home for plantlife to bloom. Freya Dobson and her siblings see themselves as stewards of the lands, according to an interview with Spectrum News. Their sustainable packaging is miles ahead of their competitors, with compostable containers that break down in a matter of weeks. Providing for the earth that sustains them is part of their mission.
SPS– The Sweet Side of Cannabis
Launched out of Lagusta’s Luscious, an NY vegan chocolate brand, Soft Power Sweets (SPS) combines the delectable with the psychoactive. The brand produces THC and CBD infused caramels that are also vegan with locally sourced ingredients (including the weed they work with!). They carry classic Dulce De Leche caramels, which simmer for four hours, and more adventurous treats like Grapefruit Olive Oil caramels.
Lagusta Yearwod, owner and founder, told Mid Hudson News that the brand is all about creating a world “rooted in softness and concern for all.”
Angel Therapy– Holistic Cannabis Experience
Marta Freedman named her brand after the spiritual practice of working with one’s guardian angels to achieve peace and healing. The product lives up to its ethos. Focusing on holistic cannabis use, the brand encourages its partakers to puff, think, and reach for the highest self (pun intended). The packaging itself sends love, support and guidance to those who even glance at it with the angel number ‘444’ printed on it.
Good Day Flor– Uplifting Women of Color
Vic Styles wanted to create a product to serve as a catalyst for your good days–or at least, a part of what makes them good. A sister brand to Black Girls Smoke, Good Day Flor sells their strains Melanin Magic, Kinfolk and Rih Rih at Union Square Travel Agency. Known for creating the iconic safe space for women of color to erase the stigmas around cannabis use, Styles launched the Good Day Flor as a complement to that mission.
Fat Nell’s– Premium Cannabis
Nellie Langdon had her product on the shelves of the first legal adult-use dispensary in New York–and built on her brand’s stellar reputation from there. She and six contractors pour over their Copake-based farmland to produce flower that has reviewers gushing over the cultivated strains.
As we explore the vibrant world of women-owned cannabis brands in the heart of New York City, it becomes evident that these pioneers are more than just entrepreneurs; they are catalysts for change. Union Square Travel Agency (USQTA) sets the stage with a mission rooted in social justice to rebuild lives and challenge the war on drugs. Alongside USQTA, these women-led brands, collectively shape an industry that values sustainability, innovation, and community. Together, they are redefining the narrative around cannabis, forging a path towards inclusivity, compassion, and a brighter future for all in the heart of the Big Apple. As they say on their website, “Plan your next vacation with us, at the Union Square Travel Agency, where we sell cannabis.” We definitely will.
