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The Vlasic Classic golf tour is growing into a uniquely powerful networking event. Founded by cannabis entrepreneur Willy Vlasic, the annual nationwide charity golf tournament is a movement built on purpose, community and philanthropy, all while spending a day on the green\u2014literally and figuratively.<\/p>\n
Now in its third year, Vlasic Classic supports organizations like the Last Prisoner Project<\/a> and Freedom Grow<\/a> to secure the freedom of those unjustly incarcerated for non-violent cannabis offenses. The tour made stops in both Michigan and Missouri, bringing together industry leaders for a weekend of golf, connection and charity.<\/p>\n The first stop was the Cardinal Golf Course at St. John\u2019s Resort<\/a> in Plymouth, Michigan, on June 28. The venue was a deliberate choice, as the resort itself is a nonprofit, with all funds supporting local and international humanitarian efforts.<\/p>\n As one participant noted, it\u2019s rare for cannabis brands to get to play on such an impeccable course, and the opportunity was not lost on the attendees. The location also holds a key connection to the broader golf world, as the course is a host for the LIV Golf Team Championship, making it a powerful landmark in both the sports and cannabis spaces.<\/p>\n The atmosphere was a unique blend of professionalism and personal touch. The entire event was a family affair, produced with the intimate, hands-on involvement of Willy Vlasic<\/a> and his team. Willy\u2019s father and nephew even came out to welcome players before the first tee-off. This personal touch extended to every detail, from the laid-back, friendly atmosphere to the generous and thoughtfully curated gift bags.<\/p>\n Beyond the course, the event included a lively welcome party sponsored by Kushy Punch and a culminating after-party at Willy\u2019s home, complete with a live rosin-press demo by Access Rosin, pizza and a DJ. It was a perfect mix of a professional, large-scale event with a personal, communal feel.<\/p>\n Activations at every hole\u2014from a longest-putt contest with a weed stalk putter to a $10,000 hole-in-one challenge\u2014kept the energy high, all while driving donations to the cannabis prisoners\u2019 cause.<\/p>\n The blend of local Michigan brands, such as hardware company Vapin\u2019 Ape, and national companies like Sweed, an e-commerce platform for dispensaries, also facilitated valuable interstate networking opportunities.<\/p>\n \u201cWilly and his team put on an incredible event,\u201d says Kellen O\u2019Keefe, president of Sweed. \u201cWhat\u2019s really great is that we\u2019re dealing with the decision-makers. We\u2019re going straight to the qualified purchasers and the people that we\u2019re looking to sit down with. To be able to play golf with them for four hours and talk about our product is an amazing opportunity.<\/p>\n Brandy, an account executive for Northern Michigan at Kushy Punch, echoed the sentiment. \u201cThis is my second Vlasic event, and business-wise, today went really well,\u201d she said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of really good possibilities and potentials available, especially for Kushy Punch, just being able to kind of re-establish themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex Sturton, owner of Vapin\u2019 Ape, highlighted the shared values, saying, \u201cWe really like the intersection of sports and cannabis of the Vlasic Classic. There are a lot of people who like to smoke and go and participate in something competitive.\u201d<\/p>\n The Third Annual Missouri Vlasic Classic continued the mission August 22-24 with a weekend of golf, fun and philanthropy at Old Kinderhook. The event was a testament to the community\u2019s support, with 124 golfers and 37 sponsors, representing over $1 billion in annual revenue from across the Missouri cannabis industry and beyond.<\/p>\n The tournament\u2019s playful energy, featuring rocket ball launchers, drone drops and a \u201cBeat the Pro\u201d hole, was balanced by its serious philanthropic goals. The event successfully raised over $16,000, with $10,000 going to Freedom Grow, $5,000 to the Last Prisoner Project, and $1,300 to Deshaun Durham to help him start his pre-law degree. The weekend culminated with a huge raffle, including a 3-day golf trip to Kiawah Island.<\/p>\n Among the sponsors in Missouri was Highsman, the cannabis brand founded by NFL legend and Heisman and NFL MVP winner, Ricky Williams<\/a>, one of the pioneers of the evolving relationship between professional sports and cannabis advocacy.<\/p>\n Williams sees his partnership with Vlasic Classic as more than just a business move; it\u2019s an extension of his life\u2019s work. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen cannabis as just a brand play; it\u2019s always been about healing and making things right after decades of prohibition,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n For Williams, Highsman\u2019s support for the Last Prisoner Project and Freedom Grow isn\u2019t charity, but \u201cjustice in action.\u201d He believes in the power of an event like this to create real equity in the industry, and it\u2019s a mission that resonates deeply with him.<\/p>\n The vibe on the course was a perfect representation of Williams\u2019s brand ethos, \u201cSpark Greatness.\u201d He says that the atmosphere was one of \u201cpure competition, but with a lot of laughs and good energy.\u201d He believes this is the \u201csweet spot\u201d where having fun and pushing yourself can be done for a larger purpose. \u201cAs an athlete, I know connection comes from playing together, and when that same spirit fuels philanthropy, the impact is real,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n When discussing the impact of the Vlasic Classic, Ricky Williams emphasizes that \u201cimpact is what matters.\u201d He finds it deeply meaningful to see tangible results from the event\u2019s fundraising efforts. \u201cWhen I see real dollars going to free people and support equity in this industry, that\u2019s when advocacy earns respect,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s powerful to watch change actually happen. That\u2019s what keeps me grounded in the work.\u201d<\/p>\n Williams believes that the cross-state unity on display at the Vlasic Classic is \u201cabsolutely essential\u201d for the future of the industry. \u201cIt\u2019s how we create scalable change, shift public perception, and level the playing field,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen industry players join forces across borders, we\u2019re not just growing revenue\u2014we\u2019re rewriting the rules for equity, access and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n For a man who has constantly challenged norms, from his football career to his personal life, being an advocate in the cannabis space is a natural fit. \u201cI\u2019m not here just to put my name on things, I\u2019m here to disrupt, to empower and to be real,\u201d Williams says. \u201cIt\u2019s about paving a new path so the next generation doesn\u2019t have to fight the same battles.\u201d<\/p>\n The Vlasic Classic is about so much more than a golf tournament. As Willy Vlasic stated, their mission will continue \u201cuntil everyone is released from prison for non-violent cannabis offenses.\u201d It\u2019s a bold promise that is being backed up by real action, one swing, one sponsor and one freed prisoner at a time.<\/p>\n The event is a celebration of the power of the cannabis community, showing that when the industry comes together for a purpose, it can make a tangible difference that resonates far beyond the green.<\/p>\n The next round of the Vlasic Classic<\/a> gold tournament tees off again on November 8 at\u00a0 Vegas Vlasic Classic with Nuwu. Expect a day filled with golf, good causes and a whole lot of green at the The Wolf Course at Paiute Resort.<\/p>\n The post A Summer on the Green With Vlasic Classic Charity Golf Tour<\/a> appeared first on Cannabis Now<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The Vlasic Classic golf tour is growing into a uniquely powerful networking event. Founded by cannabis entrepreneur Willy Vlasic, the annual nationwide charity golf tournament is a movement built on purpose, community and philanthropy, all while spending a day on the green\u2014literally and figuratively. Now in its third year, VlasicContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":234,"featured_media":83318,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[50,19240,7599,69,10223,179,2063,19241,19242,19243],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83317"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/234"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83317"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83319,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83317\/revisions\/83319"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}The Michigan Classic<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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<\/a>The Missouri Classic<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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A Champion\u2019s Perspective: An Interview With Ricky Williams<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/a>The Power of the Green<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nRead More: A Summer on the Green With Vlasic Classic Charity Golf Tour<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"