Crabcakes & Cannabis—A Brand Born from Maryland Pride
At first glance, the name might make you think of seafood and joints—but Crabcakes & Cannabis (C&C) isn’t about food or weed. Instead, this Annapolis-based brand channels the vibe, humor, and cannabis-enthusiast spirit of Maryland while proclaiming loud and proud, “We don’t sell Crabcakes. Or Cannabis. We cook up dope accessories and clothing that celebrate the Free State.”
C&C was founded by Jennifer Culpepper—a Maryland native and the creative force behind branding agency Brand Joint. The brand’s origin story is as grassroots as they come: Jen originally made a parody version of the Maryland flag as an artwork for a blog post about Maryland’s then-emerging medical cannabis program. That playful design found life on a simple T-shirt—and quickly turned into a side hustle. What started as a creative outlet among friends soon blossomed into a full-blown lifestyle brand.
Culpepper’s idea was simple but powerful: combine state pride, humor, and cannabis culture into merch that speaks to Marylanders and weed-friendly folks alike. The brand’s tagline, “Sometimes Broiled. ALWAYS Baked” captures that tongue-in-cheek energy perfectly.
What They Offer—From Apparel to Accessories
Crabcakes & Cannabis built a diverse product catalog that caters to fans of cannabis culture—without dealing actual cannabis. Their offerings cover a wide range of merch, including:
- T-shirts and hoodies, often featuring clever plays on Maryland icons, cannabis motifs, and the brand’s irreverent sense of humor.
- Hats and beanies, letting you rep the brand casually.
- Accessories and lifestyle items—for example, rolling trays, flags, and novelty gear like their “multifunctional crab mallet” that doubles as a smoking-themed item.
- Curated bundles and gift-style packs, ideal for thoughtful gifts or for building a full-on “Maryland cannabis culture” vibe.
By early 2020s, the brand reportedly had over 35 products and was popular among Maryland’s “budtenders and the canna community” for its novelty, local flavor, and aesthetic.
Culture, Controversy, and Community
C&C isn’t just about merch—it’s also about community. The brand aimed to “spread joy and build a community of cannabis-loving Marylanders.”
To that end, they launched the Joint Action Initiative—a program designed to connect the cannabis industry with local Maryland communities through volunteer work, fundraising, and other forms of social impact.
But not everything has been smooth sailing. In 2023, global seasoning company McCormick & Company (maker of the iconic Old Bay seasoning) sent a cease-and-desist letter over a popular C&C “parody sticker,” which mimicked the Old Bay jar—but with a cannabis-leaning twist.
Though C&C stood by the sticker as protected parody under free speech, the costs and risk of litigation proved prohibitive. CEO Culpepper said they discontinued the sticker despite believing no reasonable consumer would confuse it with a seasoning product.
This episode speaks to the tension that often exists when cannabis culture—which thrives on humor, rebelliousness, and subversion—intersects with mainstream business protections and trademark law. It’s a reminder that even merch and culture can be deeply political.
Why Crabcakes & Cannabis Resonates—Especially in Cannabis Culture
The ethos of cannabis culture has long been about more than just consumption. It embraces community, subversion, creativity, and a sense of shared identity.
Crabcakes & Cannabis captures that perfectly—it doesn’t sell weed but sells a vibe: Maryland pride, humor, cannabis-friendly attitude, and a shared inside-joke kind of identity. Their apparel and accessories let people signal belonging to that subculture while nodding to local roots.
By blending the irreverence of cannabis culture with regional flavor and a sense of community, Crabcakes & Cannabis built something more than a store—they built a local legend among those “in the know.”