Did you ever get to try the legendary cannabis strain “Girl Scout Cookies?” GSC was an instant cult smash hit with the cannabis community, earning a reputation as one of the best strains ever created. Originally bred by “The Cookies Fam,” GSC will remain in infamy as one of the most potent and tasty strains ever to hit the market.
With the “Ocean Grown” stains like OG Kush dominating the market at the time, GSC presented enthusiasts with a new cut that looked like it could be the next big thing in cannabis. However, GSC and the cookies brand started with humble beginnings, and it wasn’t until 2020 that the strain gained widespread appeal.
The Role of Berner in Building the Cookies and Lemonnade Brands
Hip hop superstar, Berner, partnered with the Cookies Fam in 2010, and in 2012, the rapper announced the official founding of the Cookies brand. As a marketing genius, Berner helped turn the Cookies brand from an obscure west-coast collective to an international brand, with fans in countries around the world.
Berner’s unique marketing methods saw him establish a following on social media, where he would post images of bags bursting at the seams with dank, resinous nugs in attractive colors. The initial success of Cookies swept the cannabis community by storm, with Berner being the only cannabis ambassador to trademark the Cookies brand officially.
To achieve trademarked status, Berner had to get around government legislation preventing the naming of cannabis strains that is good for dry herb vape pen. In a moment of genius, Berner decided to register and trademark the SF Cookies clothing brand.
The move allowed him to advertise Cookies marketing material at leading dispensaries throughout California, flushing out the imitators using the Cookies brand to promote their strains and cuts. Berner took his game to the next level with the success of Cookies dominating the cannabis and dispensary market.
The entrepreneur split the Cookies brand into several sister companies, each with unique products and cannabis strains. The result was the establishment of “Lemonnade,” another popular cannabis strain, and the second brand under the Cookies umbrella.
Today, Cookies and Lemonnade are two of the leading brands in cannabis cultivation and marketing, with a reputation for potent, flavorful, and aromatic cannabis strains.
Cookies – The History of the Cannabis Brand
Berner founded the Cookies brand in 2012 with his partner and legendary breeder, Jigga. Jigga already had a reputation as one of the best breeders in the Bay area, and he’s the originator of the GSC strain. Cookies saw its meteoric rise to success thanks to the marketing innovations provided by Berner.
The rapper jumped onto Instagram, promoting the Cookies brand through his profile. Since IG was in its early stages, it didn’t take the rapper long to amass a large following. Berner blended music and culture to dominate the local cannabis industry, with Cookies being a respected, top-selling cannabis brand, with over 50 strains under its umbrella.
The Cookies brand has two flagship dispensaries in Maywood and Melrose, Los Angeles. Berner intends to open another location in Redding in the future.
How Did Cookies Gain Its Success?
Cookies launched onto the scene in the late 2000s, with Jai “Jigga” Chang and Mario “Mr. Sherbinski” Guzman experimenting with different strains to create the first Girl Scout Cookies cut. Berner initially met Jigga at a hip-hop event, where he stuffed half a pound of premium cannabis into the rapper’s hands after he got off stage.
The pair got on like a house on fire, with Berner promising to take the Cookies strain to the top of the cannabis industry, and the rest is history. Today, walk into any dispensary in California, and you’ll find Cookie strains and merch available for purchase.
However, the success of Girl Scout Cookies experienced a roadblock after the Girls Scouts of America issued the company with a cease-and-desist order. As a result, Berner rebranded it to “Thin Mints” while pushing the Cookies brand.
Over the next three to four years, the Cookies became the leading name in cannabis on the west coast, attracting the attention of other hip-hop superstars like Wiz Khalifa. With cannabis finally achieving legal status in California, The Cookies brand decided to expand, launching other subsidiary brands alongside its primary Cookies label.
What are the Best-Selling Cookies Strains?
If you’re heading to the dispensary to pick up some gas, you’ll probably find more than a few Cookies strains available to you. Here are the top-selling Cookies cannabis brands to launch in dispensaries across California.
- Sunset Sherbert
- Gelato
- Runtz
- Wedding Cake
- GMO Cookies
- Thin Mint Cookies
- Animal Cookies
- Platinum Cookies
Lemonnade – The History of the Cannabis Brand
With the success of Cookies, Berner decided to create subsidiaries, giving each grower under the Cookies umbrella a unique brand image. “Lemonnade” was the sister company of the Cookies brands offering potent Sativa cuts, with the finest genetics and expert breeding from some of the leading names in the game, the Cookies Fam.
The Lemonnade strains have some of the highest THC counts, with a specialization in Sativa strains known for producing euphoric and upbeat highs.
Founded by Berner and Brett Wilson in 2015, Lemonnade also has a strong marketing presence behind it, with Berner collaborating with hip hop artists and personalities, including Michael Corleone, Rick Ross, and Run The Jewels.
Like Cookies, the Lemonnade brand has a cult following, with several high-quality products and an international reputation for top-shelf cannabis strains providing the ultimate Sativa experience.
How Did Lemonnade Gain Its Success?
Lemonnade and Cookies owe its success to Gilbert Milam Jr, aka “Berner.” After building the Cookies brand, Berner started forming other partnerships with legendary bay-area growers. The man already had the formula for success after making Cookies a global phenomenon, and he did the same for Lemonnade.
The companies first “Lemonnade” strain was a smash hit, with a strong Sativa high that caught the attention of enthusiasts across California. After the initial success of the Lemonnade strain, it started to breed and introduce other Sativa-dominant plants and a range of edibles, extracts, and merch that was an instant success with the market.
What are the Best-Selling Lemonnade Strains?
If you’re on your way to the dispensary, look out for these popular strains available from the Lemonnade brand.
- Lemonnade
- Blanco
- Lemon Pepper
- Lychee
- Cake Mix
- Lemonchello 10
- Lemonchello 28
- Lions Mane
- Medellin
- Tange Ray
- Yellow Fruit Stripes
