EXCLUSIVE: How White Boy Rick Is Using Cannabis To Offer A 'Hand Up' To Those In Need

Rick Wershe Jr., better known as "White Boy Rick," was released from prison in 2020 after serving over 32 years for allegedly committing non-violent drug offenses while he was a minor. Now a free man, Wershe Jr. has turned to cannabis to tell his story and help others who have been wrongfully incarcerated.

A Cannabis Calling: White Boy Rick became interested in cannabis toward the end of his prison sentence when he started learning about several benefits it offers, including its place in fighting back against the opioid epidemic.

He felt there was an opportunity for him to make a positive impact and he was drawn to the cannabis industry, he said Wednesday at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Miami Beach. 

"I give back to the community a lot through cannabis and without the cannabis industry, the things that I do in the community I wouldn't be able to do on the level that I do them," Wershe Jr. said. 

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The 8th: White Boy Rick launched his own cannabis company called The 8th, named after the 8th Amendment, which prohibits the government from imposing cruel and unusual punishments. 

"We try and give back to the community, to people that are overly incarcerated or wrongfully incarcerated, and that's what The 8th is all about. It's a brand with a mission and our mission is to bring fairness to the justice system," he said. 

The 8th offers high-end flower, live resin, vape products and gummies. Everything is hand-selected by Wershe Jr. himself. The company is committed to supporting the community through volunteer efforts and advocacy of legislative reform.

White Boy Rick was sentenced to life in prison for his alleged drug offenses and people are getting probation for the same offenses now, he said, adding that things are changing, but it's not happening fast enough. 

"Cannabis, it comes out of the ground, it's natural, it's proven the good that it's done ... I call the big pharmas 'cartels operating within America,'" he said. 

Wershe Jr.  told the crowd at Benzinga's Cannabis Capital Conference that cannabis isn't a handout for people in need, it's a "hand up."

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Photo: Benzinga