25 Years Together: Building Silly Nice Cannabis in NY

We are Shane Breen and LeVar Thomas — partners in life, in love, and now in one of New York's most authentic cannabis brands, Silly Nice. We have been together for over 25 years, and if you had told us back in the beginning that our journey would lead here — to running a Black-owned, Veteran-owned, LGBTQ+-owned cannabis company serving adults across all of New York State — we might have laughed. But here we are. Silly Nice is not just a brand name. It is the product of two and a half decades of showing up for each other, learning from failure, celebrating small wins, and building something from scratch that we are genuinely proud of. We are based in Brooklyn, and we carry that borough's spirit — tough, creative, community-first — into everything we do. When you choose Silly Nice, you are not buying from a corporation. You are buying from us, directly, and that means everything to both of us.

Shane's Path: From Military Service to Cannabis Entrepreneurship

Shane served in the United States Army, and that experience shaped him in ways that still show up every day in how we run Silly Nice. Military service teaches you discipline, accountability, and how to function under pressure. It also teaches you something quieter and more personal — it teaches you what truly matters when everything is stripped away. When Shane came home and eventually found his footing in civilian life, he carried those lessons with him. The idea of building something with purpose, of being reliable and consistent, of never cutting corners — that came directly from his time in uniform. Veteran-owned businesses are rooted in a culture of service, and that is exactly what we believe cannabis entrepreneurship should be about: serving our community well, with integrity, every single time. New York has thousands of veterans, and we want every one of them to know that Silly Nice was built in that same spirit of dedication.

LeVar's Path: Community, Culture, and Creative Conviction

LeVar has always been rooted in community and culture. Growing up and building a life in New York City means you understand, viscerally, what it means to be surrounded by people from every background, every story, every kind of struggle and triumph. LeVar's contribution to Silly Nice is deeply creative and deeply relational — he thinks about who we are talking to, who we are serving, and what it means to show up authentically in spaces that have not always welcomed Black people, queer people, or working-class entrepreneurs. Cannabis culture in New York is vibrant and diverse, but the business side of it has historically favored those with access to capital, connections, and privilege. We did not have all of those things. What we had was each other, a clear vision, and a refusal to build something that felt fake or transactional. LeVar makes sure that Silly Nice always feels like us — because it is.

Pride Is Not Just a Month for Us — It's Every Day

When people ask us about being an LGBTQ+-owned cannabis brand in New York, we always say the same thing: Pride is not something we put on once a year and then pack away. For us, pride is woven into every product label, every dispensary conversation, every social media post we write. Being a queer couple who has been together for 25-plus years, who survived everything the world threw at us — social pressure, family dynamics, economic hardship, the complexities of building a life together when the systems around you were not always designed to support you — that is its own kind of victory. We built Silly Nice during a time when New York was finally opening up adult-use cannabis to regular people, not just large-scale investors. We saw that window and we stepped through it together, as ourselves, exactly as we are. No pretending, no shrinking, no hiding. That is what it means to be LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs in this industry.

Why Visibility in Cannabis Matters So Much

The cannabis industry is growing fast, but representation has not always kept pace with that growth. When we look at the landscape of cannabis brands in New York and across the country, we still see a majority of ownership concentrated in communities that do not reflect the full diversity of who uses cannabis, who was harmed by cannabis prohibition, and who deserves to benefit from legalization. As a Black-owned, LGBTQ+-owned brand, we feel a genuine responsibility to be visible. Not for clout, not for a marketing angle, but because young Black entrepreneurs, young queer entrepreneurs, and young LGBTQ+ couples in places like Harlem, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island need to see that this is possible. They need to see us, doing it, imperfectly but authentically. Representation is not a buzzword for us — it is a reason we get up and work every single day.

The Early Days Were Humbling and Honest

Nobody tells you how unglamorous the beginning of a cannabis brand actually is. There is paperwork, and then more paperwork. There are licensing hurdles that feel designed to weed out exactly the kind of small, independent, community-rooted businesses that legalization was supposed to empower. There are conversations with attorneys, conversations with compliance consultants, conversations with potential partners who look at you and clearly wonder whether you have the resources to see this through. We had those conversations. We had moments where we sat at our kitchen table in Brooklyn and asked each other honestly whether this was the right move. And every single time, we came back to the same answer: yes. Because we believed in the product, we believed in the mission, and we believed in each other. The early days were humbling, but they were also clarifying. We learned very quickly what mattered and what did not.

How Social Equity Shaped Our Approach to Cannabis Entrepreneurship

New York's adult-use cannabis framework includes provisions for social equity applicants, recognizing that communities disproportionately impacted by prohibition deserve priority access to the legal market. As a Black-owned, Veteran-owned business rooted in a community with deep ties to that history, we thought carefully about what social equity actually means in practice. It is not enough to simply check a box or cite a background. True social equity in cannabis entrepreneurship means building a business that reinvests in your community, that hires from your community, that prices products fairly, and that tells the truth about who you are and where you come from. We have tried to build Silly Nice around those principles from day one. The Hudson Valley, Long Island, Buffalo, Albany, Syracuse, and Rochester communities are all places where we want Silly Nice to be known not just as a product on a shelf but as a brand that stands for something real.

We Do Not Make Products We Would Not Use Ourselves

This is one of the things we say all the time, and we mean it completely: every product in the Silly Nice lineup is something we are genuinely proud of and personally stand behind. We are adults who use cannabis, and we care deeply about quality, consistency, and transparency. That is why all of our products are tested and we share the actual data — the exact THC percentages, the total cannabinoid profiles, the terpene levels — because we believe consumers deserve to know exactly what they are purchasing. In an industry still finding its footing, where marketing can sometimes outpace substance, we want Silly Nice to be the brand that earns trust through honesty. When you pick up one of our products at a licensed New York dispensary, you are picking up something we put real thought and care into, not something assembled to hit a price point or win a shelf spot.

Concentrate

Diamond Powder

Our Diamond Powder is one of the products we are most often asked about, and for good reason. At 1 gram with 86.24% THC and 98.54% total cannabinoids, priced at $50, it represents a level of purity and precision that concentrate enthusiasts genuinely appreciate. Making a product like this requires meticulous process control and a commitment to consistency that does not waver batch to batch. We created Diamond Powder for the consumer who knows what they want, who has experience with concentrates, and who values a product that delivers exactly what it promises every single time. This is not an entry-level product — it is for adults 21 and over who have built their own relationship with cannabis and want something that honors that experience.

THC

86.24%

Total

98.54%

Size

1g

Price

$50

View Product

Solventless

Bubble Hash

There is something deeply satisfying about making traditional hash products in a modern, regulated market. Our Frosted Hash Ball — 1 gram, 67.34% THC, 78.34% total cannabinoids, 5.7% terpenes, $50 — and our Bubble Hash — 1 gram, 53.32% THC, 62.86% total cannabinoids, 6.2% terpenes, $44 — both represent our respect for cannabis culture and history. Hash has been part of human culture for centuries, and bringing that tradition into New York's adult-use market with clean extraction, verified testing, and honest labeling feels meaningful to us. The terpene profiles in both of these products contribute to rich, expressive experiences that go beyond just THC numbers. Adults who appreciate the full complexity of cannabis will find something genuinely special in these products.

THC

53.32%

Total

62.86%

Size

1g

Price

$44

View Product

Infused Flower

Diamond-Frosted & Live Resin Infused Flower

For flower lovers, our Papaya Wine Infused Flower is a standout — 3.5 grams, 51.22% THC, 58.63% total cannabinoids, priced at $60. Infused flower represents the meeting point between traditional consumption and modern potency enhancement, and the Papaya Wine profile delivers something genuinely memorable. On the vape side, we offer our Pink Stardust 510 Vape at 1 gram, 81.96% THC, 88.36% total cannabinoids, $40 — a versatile option for adults who prefer the convenience of a cartridge. Our Alaskan Thunder Fuck 2G All-In-One comes in at 2 grams, 82.46% THC, 84.06% total cannabinoids, $80, making it an excellent value for frequent consumers who want a reliable, long-lasting option. Every one of these products reflects our commitment to delivering real quality at prices that respect our community.

THC

37.32%

Total

42.90%

Size

3.5g

Price

$60

View Product

Statewide Reach Built One Relationship at a Time

One of the things we are most proud of is that Silly Nice is now available at over 150 licensed adult-use dispensaries across New York State. That did not happen overnight, and it did not happen because we had a massive marketing budget or a team of sales representatives working on our behalf. It happened because we showed up, told our story, and built real relationships with dispensary owners and buyers who believed in what we were doing. From New York City — Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Harlem, Staten Island — to Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Rochester, we have worked to make sure that wherever you are in New York, you have a good chance of finding Silly Nice at a licensed dispensary near you. That statewide presence means a lot to us because it means our community can access our products wherever they live.

Why We Only Sell Through Licensed Dispensaries

We want to be direct about this: Silly Nice products are available exclusively through licensed New York adult-use dispensaries, for adults 21 and older. This is not just a legal requirement — it is a value we hold deeply. The unlicensed market harms the communities we care about most. It undercuts businesses like ours that followed every rule, paid every fee, and built something legitimate. It also deprives consumers of the testing, labeling, and accountability that the licensed market provides. When you buy from a licensed dispensary, you know what is in the product, you know it has been tested, and you know that your purchase supports legal, community-rooted businesses. We ask our community to support the licensed market not because it benefits us alone, but because it is the right thing for New York cannabis culture overall.

The Relationship Comes First — Always

People ask us all the time how we manage to run a business together as a couple without it destroying the relationship. The honest answer is that we made a decision very early on that the relationship always comes first. The business is important — enormously important, and we give it everything we have — but it is an expression of our partnership, not a replacement for it. We have had difficult conversations about strategy, about money, about direction, about stress. Every business does. But we have always been able to step back from those conversations and remember that at the end of the day, we are Shane and LeVar, and we have been showing up for each other for 25-plus years. That history creates a kind of trust that is genuinely rare in business partnerships, and we are grateful for it every single day.

Complementary Strengths Make Silly Nice Stronger

One of the genuine advantages of building a brand with your life partner is that after 25 years, you know each other's strengths and weaknesses with extraordinary clarity. Shane's background in military discipline and operational structure means he is exceptional at keeping us focused, on deadline, and compliant with the regulatory requirements that come with operating in New York's cannabis industry. LeVar's deep roots in community, culture, and creative thinking mean that Silly Nice always feels human and authentic rather than corporate and distant. We are not trying to be everything to everyone. We are trying to be exactly who we are, done as well as we can possibly do it. That clarity of identity — knowing who you are and being unafraid to show it — is something that 25 years together taught us, and it is something we carry directly into this brand.

The War on Drugs Hurt Our Communities — Legalization Should Heal Them

We cannot talk about building a cannabis brand without talking about the history that makes this industry so complicated and so consequential. The War on Drugs devastated Black communities, immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ communities, and low-income communities across New York and across the country. People went to prison for cannabis — for the same product that investors are now funding at billion-dollar valuations. That is not ancient history. That is the story of people we know, families we are connected to, neighborhoods we have walked through our entire lives. When we build Silly Nice, we carry that history with us. We do not get to be here without acknowledging it. Social equity in cannabis is not a marketing strategy for us — it is a moral commitment. Every time we show up in a New York dispensary as a Black-owned, LGBTQ+-owned brand, we are saying: this market belongs to us too.

Giving Back to the Cannabis Community Through Visibility and Voice

One of the most meaningful ways we can give back right now is by being visible and vocal. By telling our story honestly, including the hard parts, we create space for other entrepreneurs from our communities to believe that they can do this too. We have been approached by young Black entrepreneurs in Harlem and Brooklyn who want to start their own cannabis businesses and just need to know that someone who looks like them, who has a similar story, has done it. We have been approached by LGBTQ+ couples who see us and feel something that they did not expect to feel from a cannabis brand — genuine recognition. That is the most valuable thing we can contribute beyond our products, and we take it seriously. Silly Nice exists not just to sell cannabis but to expand what New York's cannabis culture looks like and who gets to lead it.

We Are Here Every Month, But Pride Hits Different

Pride Month carries a particular resonance for us and for Silly Nice. June is the time when the LGBTQ+ community comes together to celebrate how far we have come and to recommit to fighting for the dignity and rights of every queer person still facing discrimination, violence, or erasure. For us, building a cannabis brand as an openly LGBTQ+ couple is itself a Pride statement. We are saying: we are here, we built this, and we are not hiding any part of who we are to make anyone else comfortable. During Pride Month, we make a special point of showing up in dispensaries across New York City and beyond, of connecting with the LGBTQ+ cannabis community, and of reminding people that Silly Nice was built by one of them. Cannabis and Pride have a long, intertwined history, and we are honored to be part of that story in New York.

LGBTQ+ Cannabis Consumers Deserve Brands That Reflect Their Values

The LGBTQ+ cannabis community in New York is large, passionate, and deeply discerning. These are consumers who have spent their lives navigating spaces that were not always made for them, and they have developed exceptional instincts for authenticity versus performance. You cannot fake your way into their loyalty. You earn it by being real, by being consistent, and by showing up for the community even when it is not convenient or commercially advantageous. We believe Silly Nice earns that loyalty because we genuinely are who we say we are. We are not a corporation that adopted LGBTQ+ marketing during Pride Month and then went quiet in July. We are Shane and LeVar — an LGBTQ+ couple — and this brand is our life's work. That is not something you can fake, and we are proud that our community can feel the difference.

Growth That Does Not Compromise What Makes Us Who We Are

As Silly Nice grows — and it is growing, with a footprint of over 150 licensed dispensaries across New York State and an expanding reputation in the cannabis community — we are very intentional about making sure that growth does not erode the things that make us who we are. There is a real temptation in any growing business to start making decisions based on scale rather than values, to prioritize speed over care, to let the brand become something generic in pursuit of wider appeal. We refuse to do that. The things that make Silly Nice meaningful — its roots in Brooklyn, its Black ownership, its LGBTQ+ identity, its Veteran heritage, its family-run character — are not features we will ever trade away. They are the foundation. Every decision we make about new products, new markets, and new partnerships runs through that filter: does this make us more us, or less us?

A Message to the Next Generation of Cannabis Entrepreneurs

If you are a young entrepreneur in New York — in Harlem or the Bronx, in Queens or Staten Island, in a small city upstate or a suburb on Long Island — and you are thinking about whether the cannabis industry has space for someone like you, we want you to hear this directly from us: it does. It is not easy. Nothing worth doing is. You will face bureaucratic obstacles, capital challenges, skepticism, and moments where you question whether you have what it takes. But you are capable of more than you know, and the industry genuinely needs your voice, your culture, your story, and your vision. The fact that we — a Black, LGBTQ+, Veteran-owned couple from Brooklyn — built Silly Nice from nothing into a statewide presence is proof of concept. Not because we are exceptional, but because we refused to quit and refused to be anyone other than ourselves.

Twenty-five years together. One cannabis brand. Over 150 licensed dispensaries across New York State. A community of customers, advocates, and friends who believe in what we are building. When we sit with that for a moment, it is genuinely overwhelming — in the best possible way. We started with nothing except love, trust, and a clear-eyed sense of who we are and what we wanted to create. We built Silly Nice on those foundations, and those foundations have held. We are not finished. Not even close. There are new products to develop, new communities to reach across New York, new partnerships to forge with dispensaries in every corner of this state, and new stories to tell about what it means to be a Black-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, Veteran-owned cannabis brand in this historic moment for the industry. We are grateful beyond words for everyone who has supported us, purchased our products, shared our story, and believed in us. You are the reason Silly Nice exists, and you are the reason we will keep going. Shane and LeVar — still here, still together, still building.

• Silly Nice is a Black-owned, Veteran-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, family-run cannabis brand founded by Shane Breen and LeVar Thomas, partners for 25+ years, based in Brooklyn, New York. • Shane's U.S. Army Veteran background brings operational discipline and a service-first mentality to every aspect of the business. • LeVar's deep community and cultural roots ensure that Silly Nice always shows up authentically and relatably for the communities it serves. • Silly Nice products are available at over 150 licensed adult-use dispensaries statewide, from New York City to Buffalo, Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley. • Every product — including Diamond Powder, Frosted Hash Ball, Bubble Hash, Papaya Wine Infused Flower, Pink Stardust 510 Vape, and Alaskan Thunder Fuck 2G AIO — is tested, labeled transparently, and sold exclusively through licensed channels for adults 21+. • Social equity in cannabis is a core value for Silly Nice, not a marketing strategy — rooted in the founders' lived experience and genuine commitment to community reinvestment. • LGBTQ+ visibility in the cannabis industry matters, and Silly Nice represents that visibility 365 days a year, not just during Pride Month. • Silly Nice's growth is guided by a simple filter: does this decision make us more ourselves, or less? Their identity as founders is the brand's greatest strength.

Who are the founders of Silly Nice Cannabis?

Silly Nice was founded by Shane Breen and LeVar Thomas, an LGBTQ+ couple who have been partners in life and vision for over 25 years. Shane is a U.S. Army Veteran, and together they built Silly Nice from Brooklyn, New York, into a statewide cannabis brand available at over 150 licensed adult-use dispensaries across New York State. Their brand is Black-owned, Veteran-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, and family-run, reflecting exactly who they are.

Is Silly Nice a Black-owned cannabis brand?

Yes. Silly Nice is proudly Black-owned, founded and operated by Shane Breen and LeVar Thomas, both of whom are deeply rooted in New York's Black community. As Black-owned cannabis entrepreneurs, they are committed to social equity, community reinvestment, and creating a brand that reflects the diversity and richness of New York's cannabis culture. Supporting Silly Nice means directly supporting Black ownership in the legal cannabis industry in New York State.

What makes Silly Nice different from other New York cannabis brands?

Silly Nice is one of the few cannabis brands in New York that is simultaneously Black-owned, Veteran-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, and family-run. Founded by a couple with 25+ years of shared history, every product and every brand decision reflects their authentic values: transparency, quality, community, and pride in who they are. They are not a corporation pursuing a demographic — they are real people building something real for New York's adult-use cannabis community.

Where can I buy Silly Nice products in New York?

Silly Nice products are available at over 150 licensed adult-use cannabis dispensaries across New York State. You can find Silly Nice in New York City neighborhoods including Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Harlem, and Staten Island, as well as on Long Island, in the Hudson Valley, and in upstate cities including Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Rochester. Use the dispensary finder on our website to locate the licensed retailer nearest you. Products are for adults 21 and older only.

What products does Silly Nice offer?

Silly Nice offers a focused lineup of premium cannabis products: Diamond Powder (1g, 86.24% THC, $50), Frosted Hash Ball (1g, 67.34% THC, $50), Bubble Hash (1g, 53.32% THC, $44), Papaya Wine Infused Flower (3.5g, 51.22% THC, $60), Pink Stardust 510 Vape (1g, 81.96% THC, $40), and Alaskan Thunder Fuck 2G All-In-One (2g, 82.46% THC, $80). All products are tested, labeled transparently, and available at licensed New York dispensaries for adults 21 and over.

Is Silly Nice a veteran-owned cannabis brand?

Yes. Co-founder Shane Breen served in the United States Army, and that Veteran identity is central to how Silly Nice operates. Shane's military background instilled values of discipline, accountability, consistency, and service that are visible in every aspect of the brand. Silly Nice is proud to be a Veteran-owned business in New York's cannabis industry, and we honor that heritage by operating with the highest standards of integrity and reliability in everything we do.

How does Silly Nice support social equity in cannabis?

Silly Nice approaches social equity as a core value, not a marketing strategy. As a Black-owned, LGBTQ+-owned brand built by founders who have lived the consequences of cannabis prohibition in their communities, they are committed to building a business that reinvests in community, prices products fairly, operates with full transparency, and amplifies underrepresented voices in the cannabis industry. They also use their platform to encourage the next generation of diverse cannabis entrepreneurs to enter the legal market in New York.

How long have Shane and LeVar been together?

Shane Breen and LeVar Thomas have been partners in life for over 25 years. Their relationship is the foundation on which Silly Nice was built — and it remains the brand's greatest strength. After a quarter century of building a life together, they brought that same commitment, trust, and complementary strengths into founding and running one of New York's most authentic and community-rooted cannabis brands. Their partnership is both personal and professional, and deeply intentional on both levels.

Can I consume Silly Nice products and then drive?

No. Cannabis consumption can impair your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery. Silly Nice products are for responsible adult use only, for adults 21 and older. Please never drive or operate machinery after consuming cannabis. Consume only in safe, legal, private settings in accordance with New York State law. Your safety and the safety of those around you are always the top priority. If you have questions about responsible consumption, consult with a licensed cannabis retailer or healthcare provider.

Why does Silly Nice only sell through licensed dispensaries?

Silly Nice sells exclusively through licensed New York adult-use dispensaries because the licensed market provides consumer protections that the unlicensed market cannot — including independent product testing, accurate labeling, and accountability. Beyond legal compliance, supporting licensed dispensaries supports New York's legal cannabis economy, protects social equity businesses like Silly Nice from unfair competition, and ensures that every purchase goes toward building a legitimate, community-benefiting industry. We ask our community to always buy legal and support licensed retailers.

What does Silly Nice mean as a brand name?

Silly Nice is a name that reflects the personality and values of its founders — a little playful, deeply genuine, and focused on quality that speaks for itself. It is the kind of phrase that captures a feeling: something unexpectedly excellent, something that makes you smile, something that feels both accessible and elevated at the same time. For Shane and LeVar, the name represents who they are as people and what they set out to create: a cannabis brand that takes quality seriously but never takes itself too seriously.

How can I stay connected with Silly Nice and follow our story?

You can follow Silly Nice through our website, where we regularly publish updates about new products, dispensary partnerships, community events, and the ongoing story of building this brand. You can also find us through licensed dispensaries across New York State — and when you do, we encourage you to ask the budtenders about us. We are always happy to hear from our community directly. Our story is still being written, and we are grateful for every person who is part of it. For more stories and updates, visit our blog.