Summer 2022 Recap: New Products, Stores and Events

We've come a long way since 2016, and this year was one of the most eventful yet. From partnerships with Mission Green to Mike Tyson at Zen Leaf Dispensaries in two different states, summer 2022 packed a punch.

With our mission in mind, we continue on our path of offering elevated wellness to as many patients and customers across 12 states! Six new Zen Leaf Dispensaries opened in four states this summer - and we didn't stop there. We saw a host of new strains in several markets, and an entirely new brand, Savvy.

Buckle up and let's take a ride through Zen Leaf's summer '22.

Zen Leaf Events and Partnerships

We kicked our summer off with the idea that cannabis can and should do better - and what better way to showcase this with activism and events. Get the full details on this summer's events and partnerships.

100th Dispensary Celebration

In early June, Verano celebrated the opening of the 100th dispensary. Verano celebrated this huge achievement with the help from Zen Leaf and our sister retail locations, MÜV. Our 100th dispensary was the first Zen Leaf Dispensary grand opening celebrated over the summer, marked with swag and cannabis deals throughout all 100 dispensaries. Zen Leaf Dispensary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania is a true milestone for Verano, MÜV and Zen Leaf.

Mission Green

Mission Green is a nonprofit organization that works to secure clemency for individuals incarcerated for non-violent cannabis offenses. Clemency is the compassionate release of a person suffering under an unjust sentence, a necessary action in the cannabis space to right the injustices that are currently lauded in legal medical and recreational states. Our partnership with Mission Green and founder Weldon Angelos began in June, and thus far, with your help, we have raised to raise over $20,000 in donations.

Mike Tyson at Zen Leaf

Over the summer, two Zen Leaf locations were visited by former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson. On June 24th, Mike entered the ring in Illinois at Zen Leaf Prospect Heights, providing insights to the Tyson 2.0 cannabis line and connecting with fellow cannabis enthusiasts. September 3rd, Mike Tyson went on a tour of dispensaries in New Jersey, with his busiest stop being Zen Leaf Neptune. Get the full details of what a Mike Tyson dispensary event is like in our post, Meet Mike Tyson at Zen Leaf Dispensaries.

Windy City Smokeout

Windy City Smokeout is a Chicago staple event that Verano and Zen Leaf were proud to sponsor this summer. WCS showcases the talents of pit masters from across the US that, including locals Lilli's Q, Bub City, and Soul and Smoke. Entertaining the well-fed crowds were well-known musical artists like Willie Nelson, Tim McGraw, Sam Hunt, and Miranda Lambert. 

To celebrate our sponsorship, we gave away tickets to the show and had the festival's first-ever cannabis-friendly consumption lounge, where we also gave away a Traeger Grill + Smoker! 

Illinois High Times Cannabis Cup

The Illinois Cannabis Cup High Times 2022  was in full swing this summer. The competition features cannabis product entries from dispensaries and cultivators throughout Illinois, including our house Verano cannabis products. Zen Leaf Dispensaries were chosen as a judge kit location in support of the statewide event.

Verano placed in the top three in several categories:

• 1st Place, Medical Cannabis Flower: Guru 10
• 3rd Place, Medical Vape Pens: Sunshine OG Reserve Live Resin Cartridge
• 3rd Place, Medical Cannabis Edibles: Encore Pineapple Raspberry Gummies

Thank you, Illinois, for voting Verano!

Zen Leaf Dispensary Grand Openings

Elevated wellness is that much closer to home with each new Zen Leaf dispensary that pops up. Providing even more ways for our cannabis community to experience the Zen difference. From Pennsylvania to Michigan to West Virginia, we added six new Zen Leaf locations over the 2022 summer, making that Zen Leaf total reach 56 now. Stay in the loop by subscribing to your favorite location and view our newest locations below:

• June 3: Zen Leaf Wynnewood opened the 14th Zen Leaf location in Pennsylvania.
• July 15: Zen Leaf Wheeling, located in West Virginia, is the 3rd Zen Leaf location in the state. 
• August 1: Zen Leaf Buchanan in Michigan expanded to accommodate more medical and recreational cannabis visitors.
• August 2: Zen Leaf Jessup relocated to Elkridge; a beautiful dispensary located at 6000 Marshalee Dr.
• August 5: Zen Leaf Neptune launched adult-use sales for the many recreational cannabis consumers in the area.
• August 19: Clarksburg, West Virginia opened as the 4th Zen Leaf location in the state serving medical patients.
• September 7: Zen Leaf New Kensington joined Pennsylvania as the 15th Zen Leaf Dispensary in the state.

New Brands, Programs and Products at Zen

Verano added a host of new products and brands over the summer, with Zen Leaf reaping the benefits. With new Verano packaging in Pennsylvania and Maryland launching their rewards program, it's been a fun and busy time of year. Our largest launch of the summer, though, goes to Savvy.

Savvy Cannabis

Savvy cannabis is for the aficionados seeking more for less. The street-smart and wallet-smart marijuana line is a bulk purchasing option available in quarters, half-ounces, and 1-gram vapes. Savvy can be found in Arizona, Nevada, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Ohio at Zen Leaf Dispensaries, in addition to Florida at MÜV Dispensaries.   

Maryland Rewards

Zen Leaf has a rewards program in most of the states we operate in. As long as state laws allow us, at least. In July '22, the Zen Leaf Maryland Rewards app was introduced, a savings program that allows you to earn points with every purchase you make. These points add up to discounts on future purchases, ranging from $5 to $60 off, depending on the point level. Make sure you're a part of the program to start earning today!

A New Era of Verano, Now in Pennsylvania

New Verano packaging launched nationwide and, at the same time, Pennsylvania launched Verano for the first time.

The clean, easy-to-read packaging is perfect for the fresh cannabis that has been placed inside. This new packaging encompassed both Verano Reserve and Verano Essence in products like flower, pre-rolls (where approved by states), concentrates and vapes.

More to Come in 2022

While summer 2022 was a great one, there is far more to come this year - think new dispensaries, new partnerships, and new products. Be sure to stay in tune with the Zen blog and subscribe for email notifications for all things new at Zen Leaf!