We’re A Month In… and We’re Just Getting Started!🔥Posted by Kebra Smith-Bolden

To God be the glory!

Lit New Haven has officially been open for a whole month! And let me tell you… what a beautiful, powerful, energizing month it has been.

From the moment we opened our doors on May 1st, the love from our community has been real. Whether you’ve pulled up to shop, told a friend about us, reposted a flyer, or just sent us words of encouragement—we feel it, and we’re grateful. Every single act of support matters.

But let me keep it 100 with you: we still need that support. Yes, we’re seeing steady growth (praise God 🙌🏾), but we are in a highly competitive, white male-dominated industry—and we are fighting every single day to stay afloat and build something different.

Lit New Haven isn’t just a dispensary. It’s a movement.

We’re creating jobs for people who’ve historically been locked out of opportunity. 70% of our staff is formerly incarcerated. All of our team members are from right here in New Haven. When you shop with us—whether you buy cannabis, a Lit hoodie, rolling papers, socks, or a grinder—you are directly pouring into this city, into our people, and into a bigger vision of equity and economic empowerment.

And we’re not just talking about it—we’re doing it.

Through our social equity plan, we are actively supporting:

• 🥊 Get Em’ Boy Boxing, where young people are building discipline and confidence through sport

• ✊🏾 Citywide Youth Coalition, leading the charge for youth-led change in New Haven

• 🎓 St. Matthew’s Unison Free Will Baptist Church Scholarship Fund, helping our future leaders access higher education

That’s the heart of Lit New Haven. Community. Culture. Cannabis. And a commitment to leaving the door wide open for those coming behind us.

So here’s my ask: Keep showing up. Come through. Tell a friend to tell a friend. Buy the socks. Grab a tee. Try something new off the menu. Because every single purchase helps us reinvest in this city we love.

We are a month in, and we are just getting warmed up. Let’s keep it Lit, New Haven. 🔥

With gratitude and faith,

Kebra Smith-Bolden

Founder, Lit New Haven 🔥