Currently operating exclusively in Michigan through its partnership with Pleasantrees dispensaries, The 8th offers a carefully curated selection of premium cannabis products. The brand's portfolio includes top-shelf indoor flower grown in Class C facilities using pesticide-free methods, live resin disposable vapes, fast-acting live resin gummies in multiple flavors, and pre-rolls crafted from their signature strains.Every product bearing The 8th name undergoes rigorous testing and personal selection by Rick Wershe himself, ensuring both potency and purity. Popular strains include MAC 1, Animal Tree, Apple Fritter, Apples & Bananas, and Blueberry Muffin, each offering unique flavor profiles and effects. Their live resin gummies come in ten exciting flavors including Cherry, Blue Raspberry, and Apple Orchard.The brand maintains strict quality standards with all flower grown indoors under controlled conditions, while their concentrates and vapes utilize premium live resin extraction methods. Products are available at all Pleasantrees locations throughout Michigan, with plans for expansion to additional markets. The 8th also offers branded merchandise including clothing that allows supporters to represent the brand's social justice mission.
The 8th emerged from one of the most compelling stories in modern cannabis history. Founded by Rick Wershe Jr., famously known as "White Boy Rick," this brand was born from three decades of wrongful imprisonment and a determination to create change. Wershe became the youngest FBI informant in American history at just 14 years old, helping federal agents dismantle Detroit's biggest drug operations during the crack epidemic of the 1980s.At 17, Wershe was sentenced to life in prison for cocaine possession under Michigan's harsh 650-Lifer Law, becoming the longest-serving non-violent juvenile offender in state history. After 32 years behind bars, he was finally released in July 2020 to a world transformed by cannabis legalization and criminal justice reform movements.Launched in November 2021 through a partnership with Michigan-based Pleasantrees Cannabis Company, The 8th represents more than just premium cannabis products. The brand name cleverly references both the popular eighth-ounce measurement and the Eighth Amendment's protection against cruel and unusual punishment, embodying Wershe's mission to fight for those forgotten by the system.
The 8th operates under the powerful motto "A Brand With A Mission," dedicating itself to fighting for criminal justice reform and supporting those wrongfully incarcerated for non-violent drug offenses. The brand's core mission centers on raising awareness about the Eighth Amendment's protection against cruel and unusual punishment while advocating for legislative reform aimed at releasing those unjustly imprisoned.A substantial portion of all proceeds directly funds community support programs, volunteer efforts, and initiatives benefiting individuals affected by the War on Drugs. The 8th actively participates in local food drives and awareness events, working to educate communities about constitutional rights and the devastating impact of over-criminalization in Black and brown communities.Beyond providing premium cannabis products, The 8th serves as a platform for social change, committed to helping "the forgotten ones" – those whose voices are silenced behind prison walls. Their dedication extends to supporting families torn apart by harsh drug laws and advocating for systemic reform.
What sets The 8th apart isn't just their exceptional cannabis – it's their unwavering commitment to meaningful change. This brand represents the perfect intersection of premium quality and social consciousness that we rarely see in the cannabis industry. Rick Wershe's story gives authentic weight to every product, transforming each purchase into an act of advocacy for criminal justice reform.The quality speaks for itself: pesticide-free indoor cultivation, hand-selected products, and rigorous testing ensure customers receive only the finest cannabis. But what truly impresses us is their transparency about using profits for community support and prisoner advocacy. Their partnership with Pleasantrees demonstrates how established operators can amplify important social justice messages.For deal-seekers, The 8th offers premium value – you're getting craft-quality products while supporting a brand that's actively working to right historical wrongs. Every eighth purchased contributes to a larger movement for justice, making this more than just a cannabis purchase – it's participation in positive social change.