ILLA Canna’s Blaze Mota and Cheech’s Stash release Ready-to-Drink 50mg THC infused Cheeche’lada - hitting California retailers next month.
From the cannabis brand that celebrates Chicano art and culture, comes a collaboration with a Chicano legend that is truly "Hecho en Los Ángeles.” A Los Angeles native from the block of 36th and San Pedro in South Central, Cheech Marin joins the Blaze Mota familia in sharing his take on "it’s michi time".
Or as Cheech says, "it's like a Michelada...but more Cheech."
Cheeche’lada is made with Calihana’s Non-Alcoholic Craft Mexican-style Lager and mixed with a blend of tomato, lime, and spices. It is infused with Vertosa fast acting nanoemulsion, offering an initial onset time within 15 - 30 minutes.
At 50mg of THC, Cheeche'lada is a higher dose variant of Blaze Mota’s Mota’lada (20mg THC). Blaze Mota’s Mota’lada launched across California in May of this year, as the first ready-to-drink, cannabis-infused Michelada.
"We wanted to produce a cannabis-infused Michelada that could rival any alcohol-based canned Michelada,” explained Alex Said, ILLA Canna’s VP of Beverage. “The first challenge was finding a partner that produced a high-quality Non-Alcoholic beer base, which we discovered at Los Angeles based brewery Calihana. Calihana uses vacuum separation, which is one of the best ways to dealcoholize beer without compromising body and flavor. We then needed to ensure we had a stable and compatible cannabis emulsion for our base liquid of tomato, lime and spices. We worked closely with Vertosa in testing various emulsions before identifying the best recipe that produced a balance of flavor and fast-acting effects.”
Both partners prioritized ensuring that the Cheeche’lada felt differentiated from its Mota’lada counterpart.
“It needed to feel amplified but still sesh-able to reach that ‘Cheech Level Experience.’ 50mg was the sweet spot of effects between ‘Not Feeling It’ and ‘Way Too Much,’ said Joey Marin, Head of Product for Cheech and Chong Cannabis. “That sweet spot is what Cheech was looking for with this product.”
The Cheeche’lada personality is further brought to life in the brand creative, directed by Jasmine Marin. “Amidst the vivid tapestry of Chicano culture, I envisioned the Cheeche'lada: a whimsical blend of surrealism and levity. Crafted with a wink to the stoners, it's a playful nod to a vibrant heritage," explained Jasmine Marin, Creative Director, Cheech and Chong Cannabis.
Cheech and Chong brands recognize the huge growth potential for cannabis beverages and are invested. The company recently launched High and Dry, a line of Hemp-Derived THC Seltzers.
“It is second nature to grab a cold drink out of the cooler…and pairing beverages with experiences feels instinctual,” says Joey Marin.
Cheech Marin along with a few other star-studded cannabis enthusiasts including KLOS' Frank Kramer and Cypress Hill's B Real will be celebrating the Cheeche’lada release with a launch party at The Woods West Hollywood on Friday, September 1 from 2-5pm.
SuLo Distro is the exclusive distributor of the Cheeche’lada. Cheeche'lada will be hitting retailers throughout California next month, and available for online ordering through Blaze Mota’s website beginning Sept. 15.
About Cheech Marin and Cheech's Stash
Cheech Marin, an irreverent stoner, actor, director, author, and art collector, along with being half of the comedy duo Cheech and Chong, embodies the pioneering spirit of the cannabis industry. His iconic movies like Up in Smoke and Nice Dreams have significantly shaped stoner culture. Cheech's success expanded with Born in East LA, a movie reflecting his unique perspective as a Chicano growing up in Los Angeles, challenging stereotypes and advancing Chicano identity. In June of 2022, Cheech opened The Cheech, America’s inaugural Chicano Art Museum, in Riverside, California. As part of Cheech's commitment to cannabis, he runs Cheech's Stash, a family-run business, where his daughter, Jasmine, serves as Creative Director and his son Joey oversees all product and partnerships. Their brand embodies quality, validated by a rigorous five-point testing protocol, while Cheech's vision, encapsulated by the slogan "It Will Always Be Good," drives his dedication to sharing the positive aspects of cannabis.
About Blaze Life Holdings
Blaze Life Holdings was founded in 2017 by two cannabis visionaries: Los Angeles real estate investor Scott Kim and Paul Burgis, former COO and CFO of Los Angeles-based Golden Road Brewing, which was acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2015. They saw the opportunity for a sophisticated, vertically integrated cannabis business that operationally parallels the craft brewing industry, adapted to drive efficiency and growth in a rapidly growing cannabis beverage industry. The BLH group comprises ILLA Canna (cultivation facility, branded products, and retail), SuLo Distro (full-service cannabis distributor with beverage capabilities), and Delta Bev (cannabis manufacturing), focused on providing clear and simple co-packing solutions for cannabis brands with a focus on beverages.