Photo Credit: South Shore Pottery

In October, NCF announced 7 ideas advancing to the 420 Week Contest finals for a chance to produce an event as part of a week-long schedule of programs. The final round of judging was done by NCF fans and followers who voted for their favorite 420 Week Events on Instagram. Keep reading to learn about our winners!

The votes are in, and out of more than 100 applications, the people have picked three winning high-deas to round out NCF’s 2023 420 Week. Meet the winners below and follow NCF for announcements about a variety of cannabis-inspired events at venues across the D.C., from April 15th-23rd.

South Shore Pottery Shop

Number of Votes: 258

Event Idea: Paint Your Own Ceramic Bowl or Bong

Applicant: Deanna Day

At a musical festival in July of 2022, while selling our hand painted bongs and bowls, we were approached by a local dispensary. They asked if we would like sell our hand painted pieces at their dispensary. That question ignited the spark, leading us to change the course of our 13 year old business. We decided to close our brick-and-mortar location and transition into a mobile paint your own pottery studio to be more accessible to our traditional audience of pottery-lovers and our new friends in the cannabis community. 

Before that music festival, we were hosting “Paint Your Own Bong and Pipe” events at our shop on the South Shore of Boston. The events regularly sold out, and we realized with our new mobile business model, we could take our show on the road.

A few months ago we were online and stumbled upon the National Cannabis Festival website. We saw the application to submit an event idea, and since our business had taken off with these events we decided to take a chance and submit our application. Our business has evolved so much over these 13 years, and none of these changes would have come without us taking chances. 

We are so humbled that taking a chance paid off and that we get to bring this experience to fans of a big national event. We hope everyone comes to create with us. You don’t need any experience. We are a mother/daughter duo, artists, and teachers. We are here to help you bring your creativity to life!

With provided guidance, supplies, and many different techniques to choose from, each bong and pipe will be a treasured piece of art made by your own hands. This 420-week experience will be filled with amazing memories that you’ll never forget!

Instagram: @southshorepottery

The Bentley BRVND

Number of Votes: 294

Event Idea: Coffee Club: Wake and Bake

Applicant: Shepsworth Bentley

My name is Shepsworth Bentley, and I am from Baltimore, Maryland. I'm a musical artist, host, and event organizer. 

My favorite thing about cannabis is how it brings people together. There's a certain social aura connected to it, and I've made great lifelong friends through cannabis. Being an artist and entertainer, I have a passion for putting on innovative, interactive, and inclusive events. Making events inclusive is especially important to me because a lot of events do not provide opportunities for marginalized groups, and I want to change that since as a Black man, I understand what it's like to be marginalized. My motivation to create inclusive events is how The Bentley BRVND was born.

I found out about 420 week while doing some research on expanding myCoffee Club events. 420 week seemed like an amazing opportunity for Coffee Club, because who doesn't like to wake and bake? Coffee Club is an alcohol free, all inclusive, NO COVER event, which means everyone is welcome.

Instagram: @thebentleybrvnd

National Association of Black Cannabis Lawyers

Number of Votes: 299

Event Idea: NABCL Presents: Seat at The Table 420 Spot

Applicant: Natacha Delinois Andrews

My name is Natacha Andrews.  I am an attorney, author and advocate originally from NJ.

My favorite thing about cannabis is being part of a community and culture as it comes of age. It is extremely exciting to be involved in shaping something that will have such a huge impact for generations to come. Cannabis is not new, but in this moment, as prohibition ends, it is something many of us are openly experiencing for the first time.

The thing I love most about what is happening with cannabis is the fact that if we do it right,  the re-legalization of the plant has the potential to overhaul American systems that have been broken for far too long.  Prior to entering the cannabis market, I practiced as an immigration lawyer. In 2019, while on a trip to Seattle, I experienced what it was like to be in an open adult use state and it was eye opening. Having spent well over a decade working with families, some of whom wound up being permanently separated as a result of low level, non-violent cannabis related convictions, it shocked me to see the freedom and progressive acceptance of cannabis EVERYWHERE. As I marveled at the wonder of the sights, smells and experiences around me, and took note of the wealth being created in the city, I thought about all the people I worked for who did not have the luxury of investing in a cannabis future while they sat in their prison cells awaiting deportation. When I returned from my trip, I decided that holding my breath while the government “figured it out” was not enough. I began educating myself on all things cannabis and then I sought to connect with other attorneys like me.  When I couldn’t find them, I create the National Association of Black Cannabis Lawyers (NABCL) so that they could find me.

My NABCL colleagues and I found out about the 420 Week Contest because we follow NCF on Instagram. We entered because attending last year’s National Cannabis Policy Summit and National Cannabis Festival was such a complete game-changer for us, that we knew we wanted to be a part of the event. We saw an opportunity to build on the momentum of 2022 and to share the resources, opportunities and connections we’ve made with others looking to make a positive impact on the cannabis legalization landscape. Our event is a great networking opportunity for any attorney/policy maker/law student or advocate who wants to meet like-minded people interested in an inclusive, equitable and reparative cannabis industry. How can we learn more about your company/organization? To find out more about NABCL and keep up with advocacy efforts in your area, join ourThe420Spot Dischord Server or visit our website at www.NABCL.com

Instagram: @nabcl_llc