News and Announcements
Joints4Jabs & Uncle Ike’s
June 9, 2021
Uncle IkesTM
Realizing nothing brings people better together than cannabis, Uncle Ike’s is excited for the opportunity to serve our communities as part of the Joints4Jabs effort! Washington State has announced that licensed cannabis retailers have a temporary allowance to provide one joint to adult consumers who receive a vaccination at an in-store vaccination clinic.
Uncle Ike’s has always taken COVID-19 pandemic seriously, and responded by implementing strict preventative protocols in all our shops in effort to keep our staff, customers and communities safe. We believe hosting Joints4Jabs clinic events will allow us to see our COVID-19 prevention all the way through. In the upcoming weeks we will be hosting an onsite Vaccination Pop Up clinic at our White Center and Central District stores in efforts to make the vaccinations more accessible to people in our communities. Compliance with LCB regulations means; WE CANNOT PROVIDE A FREE JOINT WITH PROOF OF VACCINATION. We wish we could reward all our vaccinated customers with a free joint, but only those who get a vaccine in-store pop up clinics are eligible under the WSLCB approved program.
We look forward to being able to provide our communities with this accessible vaccination option soon and will have more information with details of the event.
Thank you – The Uncle Ike’s Team.
Partnering for Success – Hollingsworth Family & Uncle Ike’s
February 24, 2021
Written by: Al Olson
Uncle Ike’s is proud to serve Seattle’s Central District – the city’s most diverse neighborhood and the hub, for generations, for the Black community. The CD has been the home of Jimi Hendrix, Quincy Jones, Sir Mix-A-Lot and three generations of the Hollingsworth family.
Dorothy Hollingsworth’s incredible legacy transcends the CD – in fact, her impact can be felt far and wide. She moved to the neighborhood in 1946 and has been a force ever since. Dorothy, who celebrated her 100th birthday last October, is a legendary civic leader, educator, politician and civil rights champion. The younger generations of Hollingsworths are following in her footsteps.
For Joy Hollingsworth, co-founder of The Hollingsworth Cannabis Co. (THC Co.), the family business is an extension of her grandmother’s work.
“When we say we are a family business, we really mean it,” said Hollingsworth. “Not only do we have family members working on the farm, but our family was the impetus for the business.
“My mom has scoliosis and cannabis helps ease her pain. My uncle is paralyzed from the neck down and was able to replace three Big Pharma prescriptions with cannabis. My grandma will be 101 in October, God willing. And she has been using CBD for 11 years now. There is no question in my mind that CBD has improved her health and kept her strong. The family joke is that she is going to outlive us all,” she added.
Joy and her brother, Raft Hollingsworth III, co-owner and CEO of THC Co., selected Uncle Ike’s to be the company’s exclusive retailer of its products in Seattle. And the reasons were “both personal and professional,” Joy said.
“I’ve known Ian (Eisenberg, owner of Uncle Ike’s) for quite a while. We identify with each other on a personal level,” she said. “We both went to the same private high school, although not at the same time. Seattle Prep is a Catholic school in the Central District that is predominantly white. I’m black. Ian is Jewish. So we relate to the experience of being a bit different while growing up. It provides a different perspective. Ian and I see things similarly.”
Uncle Ike’s is also an essential part of THC Co.’s business strategy, according to Joy.
“Aside from personal reasons, our company chose Uncle Ike’s as our exclusive retailer because of its incredible efficiency. We get real-time data from the Uncle Ike’s team that really helps us drive our business,” she said. “With the advanced metrics I get in real time, I can inform Raft about what strains are flying off the shelves and which may be losing favor in the marketplace. In a real sense, Uncle Ike’s helps me run our business.”
For connoisseurs of high-quality cannabis, the Hollingsworth brand may have been difficult to find the past two years. After establishing the 30,000-square-feet farm in the small Mason County town of Shelton in 2013, the company decided two years ago to focus on its wholesale operation and halted its retail business.
But beginning in February – Black History Month – THC Co. joined forces with Uncle Ike’s and announced the relaunch of its the retail operation. And Joy couldn’t be happier about the exclusive partnership with Seattle’s most popular cannabis retail outlet.
“I was born and raised in the Central District. Our family has a three-generation history in the CD,” Joy said. “So it is just fitting for us to support Uncle Ike’s, the premier store in our home neighborhood. For me, it is the perfect place for our product. We are supporting the CD, which has given our family so much for so many decades.”
As THC Co. has matured and expanded, Joy, who wears multiple hats in the family business, has become more involved in cannabis advocacy – once again, paying homage to her grandmother.
And she thinks Black History Month is an appropriate opportunity to discuss the inequality of the cannabis industry. Despite the cannabis’ explosive growth in recent years – 33 states plus D.C. have some form of legalization, 55 million consume the product legally in the U.S. and the industry is estimated to be worth more than $40 BILLION – Black Americans are not fully represented.
According to a recent NBC report, “less than a fifth of the people involved at an ownership or stake-holder level were people of color, a 2017 survey found; black people made up only 4.3 percent.”
Those numbers, Joy says, must increase. And she is determined to lead the way.
“Our family business is the only black-owned cannabis grow operation in the Seattle area. We certainly don’t want to be an anomaly, but it is what it is,” she said. “We’re proud to represent – and we’re equally proud of the product we grow.
“As for black-owned businesses in the cannabis industry, I would say that there is a lot of conversation. And that’s great. Awareness is essential for change,” Joy continued, her voice rising with passion. “But has the needle moved as far as new minority enterprises? I would have to say no. A lot of conversation does not necessarily lead to a lot of action. It’s talking the talk, but not walking the walk.”
Walking the walk is nothing new to the Hollingsworths, and Grandma Dorothy continues to be the tight-knit family’s beacon of light.
“My grandmother is special, and we realize how important she has been to Seattle and especially or CD community,” Joy said. “Her entire life has been about service to others. Whenever I go somewhere, and people discover that I am Dorothy’s granddaughter, the stories come out. Everybody has a story about my grandmother.
“Black History Month in Seattle is important for all of us Hollingsworths. And we have Grandma to thank for that. Because of her, we understand the value of giving back to your community and to serve your community. And, once again, this is why our relationship with Uncle Ike’s is so important to our family. We feel that we are giving back to the CD by providing them a great product at a great store. We KNOW where our hearts are. Right here in the CD. With Uncle Ike’s.”
For a list of THC Co. products available at Uncle Ike’s, go to the menu and search for “Hollingsworth.”
2020 – A Year of Giving
January 31, 2021
Uncle Ike’s believes in the principles of corporate social citizenship; that it is our responsibility to know and serve our communities. Since the day we opened our doors it’s been our priority to find meaningful ways to give back. In addition to regular Community Cleanups throughout our neighborhoods, Ike’s proudly supports Seattle charities and nonprofit organizations by making direct contributions, organizing fundraisers, and volunteering time and energy.
“Unprecedented” is just one word that begins to describe this past year. As individuals and entire communities continue to face unfathomable challenges, it’s more important than ever for those who are able to come together and lend a helping hand.
Here are some of the ways Uncle Ike’s supported our communities in 2020
June 2020
Uncle Ike’s believes in equity and a fair criminal justice system. In June, Ike’s hosted a charitable fundraising campaign for the Northwest Community Bail Fund. NCBF is a nonprofit organization advocating for bail reform and working to minimize the harm of the cash bail system by paying bail for people who would otherwise spend the pre-trial time in jail.
Grocery Drive
Uncle Ike’s believes in lowering the barriers to access food. In October, Uncle Ike’s Glass & Goods implemented a weekly grocery drive in partnership with the Emergency Feeding Program. EFP is a nonprofit organization committed to providing a nutritional response to people in need of immediate food assistance by collaborating with partner agencies to ensure that no one will go hungry tonight.
Ike’s continues to give away boxes of free groceries at their Central District and White Center locations starting at 12pm EVERY Friday! Boxes contain meats, bread, cheese & dairy, fresh produce, canned & dried goods, packaged snacks, and MORE! Available to anyone in need during these difficult times – no questions asked. Please come grab a box. First come, first served, while supplies last.
In November Ike’s gave away over 500 boxes of groceries and employees volunteered their time at EFP’s warehouse where they prepared boxes of food to be given out all across Seattle.
Purchase with Purpose
Looking towards the new year, Uncle Ike’s would like to acknowledge and highlight the support of loyal customers as well as trusted vendors in their pursuit of impactful positive change. That’s why starting November 1st, Uncle Ike’s is donating 5% of ALL PROFITS to the Washington Build Back Black Alliance and the Last Prisoner Project, throughout the year 2021.
“The Washington Build Back Black Alliance was formed in the fall of 2020 when a group of Black and other BIPOC Non-profit executives and business leaders decided to consolidate their influence to speak on behalf of the black community across Washington State. In an unprecedented move, they vowed to connect the black community (young and established) by advocating in a cooperative fashion for shared generational prosperity.” WBBBA
“The Last Prisoner Project was formed by a coalition of cannabis industry leaders, executives, and artists dedicated to bringing restorative justice to the cannabis industry. LPP was founded out of the belief that if anyone is able to profit and build wealth in the legal cannabis industry, those individuals must also work to release and rebuild the lives of those who have suffered from cannabis criminalization.” LPP
Uncle Ike’s is partnering with these organizations, because we believe their missions align with our desire to support significant changes towards equity in our communities. They exhibit strong governance and strategic plans which we understand are vital for effective charities to make every dollar count.
Washington Wildfire Relief Fundraiser
Washington State experienced a horrific wildfire siege this year which had a devastating effect on our friends and community. On November 6th, Uncle Ike’s, in partnership with Walden Cannabis, donated all profits from purchases of Walden Cannabis products to the Community Foundation of NCW to help with ongoing recovery and relief efforts.
Holiday Letter Writing Drive
This holiday season Uncle Ike’s has partnered with the Last Prisoner Project to support their Letter Writing Drive. With COVID restricting access to visitations and frequent lockdowns restricting internet access, this past year has been exceptionally more difficult and isolating for the incarcerated. Sending a holiday letter to those imprisoned under cannabis criminalization can really go a long way in lifting spirits. Receiving a handwritten letter is a personal reminder that they have not been forgotten. Ike’s has letter writing stations in all of our shops’ breakrooms for employee participation, and they encourage YOU to write a letter of your own.
Donation Boxes
All Uncle Ike’s locations have donation boxes where customers can drop their change or cash contributions. Your giving is matched 100% by Ike’s, up to $10,000 per month, and goes directly to the charitable organizations with whom we proudly partner.