(image: credit GKUA Ultra Premium)
If you’ve listened to the music of groundbreaking rapper and entrepreneur Lil Wayne, his love of cannabis shouldn’t be much of a surprise.
Now, Wayne is making a lasting impact in the cannabis space with his cannabis brand GKUA Ultra Premium.
“I used to just want to get high, now I smoke to get inspired…with GKUA, I’m sharing a feeling that I love,” explained Lil Wayne in an interview with NME Magazine.
Lil Wayne Tested And Approved
Wayne is using his star power to build a platform that combines the thrill of celebrating budding talent with high-quality weed.
Beau Golob, the president of GKUA, spoke with Cannabis & Tech Managing Editor Patricia Miller about GKUA’s unique products, Lil Wayne’s involvement with the company, and their mission to highlight creative artists.
Even though GKUA launched in Los Angeles in December of 2019, the demand for their products has brought the brand to other states, such as Michigan and, by the end of this year, Oklahoma.
GKUA’s product line, which all contain the Lil Wayne stamp of approval, include lab-tested flower, concentrates, THC vapes, and vape batteries.
GKUA’s distillate pod system helps reinforce this idea of a luxury, lifestyle brand.
“[The pod] is a ceramic coil. It has four air aperture holes where most cartridges only have two. It also has a magnetic snap or a magnetic connection, and it’s not variable voltage, it’s self activated. So, it really is designed to give the person using it one of the best user experiences,” said Golob. “And trust me, we’ve tested almost every pod on the market to find one that we feel is in a league of its own. So, we’ve had it out in the field in California… The consumers have it in Michigan and everybody’s just raving about it.”
Promising The “Best High Of Your Life”
Golob added they spend considerable time researching and testing what goes into the products they sell to ensure the best ingredients and the most satisfying high.
This includes researching manufacturers, touring facilities, and examining their lab reports and certificates of analysis before making any final decisions.
“We try to pick the people that are doing things of the highest level, the award winners, people that have those Cannabis Cups and have been in the market for a long time. We’re making sure we partner with the right people and that we’re putting the right products in the jars and in the pods to support that ultra-premium niche in the market,” said Golob.
This is more than just a celebrity-endorsed cannabis line, in fact, it’s Wayne’s enthusiastic, hands-on approach that could help secure the brand’s longevity.
He wants to be more than just a face to a product, he wants to be recognized as a cannabis pioneer.
“Wayne is fully behind this in the sense that he wants to be known as a leader in the space, he’s not just taking a few pictures, he’s wanting to visit the states and visit the stores. And he wants to be one of the top guys, wants to be number one for cannabis,”said Golob. “Everything we’re doing, we’re just trying to do it on the highest level… We’re sourcing some of the highest level, newest, innovative products coming out in the market.”
Inspiring Artists Through Cannabis
Artists throughout history have raved about how cannabis helps get their creative juices flowing.
Scientists even found traces of cannabis on pipes in William Shakespeare’s home.
There are also studies that prove cannabis is a stimulant that can lower your inhibitions, helping you feel more capable of exploring new ideas.
It makes perfect sense then why Lil Wayne and GKUA would want to use their platform to inspire and uplift artists, musicians, models, dancers, song writers, fashion designers, and visual artists.
“I feel that music and cannabis go together perfectly. They’re a perfect compliment. And that’s why we got into working with Wayne and Young Money. We want to do these big concert parties and events since people love cannabis, they love music. And we feel that Wayne’s love of both is just a perfect compliment,” said Golob.
While Golob’s promised VIP parties are currently on hold due to the ongoing pandemic, GKUA has big plans for the star-studded events.
The company plans to throw these parties on a regular basis, where a ticket into the event would be the purchase of a GKUA product.
While GKUA also promotes aspiring talent on their social media, the VIP events would be the perfect place for artists to show off their skills.
“We have a whole company of people that are so passionate about what we’re doing, not only with Wayne and with our team, we feel that we’re really going to make a difference in the cannabis industry by promoting it through music and with other celebrities,” said Golob. “We want to be known as one of the celebrity brands that’s inspiring people. And our mission is really just to help people be more creative.”
The Future Of GKUA
On November 17, Lil Wayne was charged in the Southern District of Miami with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
The charges come from an alleged December 23, 2019 incident, according to CNN.
“Carter is charged with possessing a gold-plated handgun in his luggage on a private plane,” Wayne’s attorney Howard Srebnick told the Rolling Stone. “There is no allegation that he ever fired it, brandished it, used it or threatened to use it. There is no allegation that he is a dangerous person. The charge is that because he was convicted of a felony in the past, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.”
Previously, in March of 2010, Wayne was sentenced to one year at Rikers Island in New York, for having a loaded, semiautomatic gun on his tour bus in 2007. Due to this, Lil Wayne could face 10 years in prison if convicted.
Golob released a statement stressing that Wayne’s personal life and any legal issues he is working through do not effect GKUA as a brand or cannabis company. GKUA is about producing the best cannabis products on the market for their customers.
“Although Wayne is part of GKUA, as a brand and company we support many artists and creators and we continue to inspire people with our products and will excite GKUA fans with our future events,” said Golob. “We continue on our mission, as a strong company, at the exact same pace and with the same goals. Although we are all emotionally affected by the circumstances, GKUA is growing as planned and is expanding to more states rapidly.”