Heat, humidity and occasional rain didn’t dampen the power of the 2025 National Cannabis Festival (NCF), a weekend that promoted peace, positivity and progress through policy discussions, vendors, and crowd-rocking acts at the Fields at RFK Campus July 18-19.
With several performances from local artists, thought-provoking discussions, engaging activities, and more than 140,000 attendees, the two-day event was not only fun, but showcased the strength of both District and cannabis culture.
“The legalization of cannabis in Washington, D.C., was a part of a progressive movement, and a lot of artists and people were a part of the movement. And so when they got the win, when it was made legal in Washington, D.C., I think that it was somehow directly connected to a lot of artists,” said D.C. native Nyame-Kye Kondo, also known by her stage name Meche Korrect.
For Kondo, a multihyphenate artist and arts educator, taking the festival stage as Meche Korrect on July 18 was a full circle moment.
“I feel very privileged. I remember when the National Cannabis Festival started and I attended a while back, and it was cute,” she told The Informer a few hours before her festival debut. “I remember back then thinking, ‘Oh, man, I should be on this stage.’ And now I am. I’m excited.”
However the road to the NCF stage was not direct.
“I’ve been performing for basically my whole life, since I was very young, but I actually was on a hiatus when I got this opportunity, and I only really got it because I had planted a seed in the past and had forgotten about it,” the 35-year-old artist explained. “So I feel blessed.”
Having facilitated a camp all summer— including the Friday of her performance— the festival, featuring artists such as: Big Boi, Three 6 Mafia, Ty Dolla Sign, Curren$y, Backyard Band and Black Alley, was a major change from her recent routine.
“I think that being a Washington native, this is a really great opportunity and so I feel good about it, and I feel like everything I’ve gone through kind of leads up to such a positive opportunity,” she explained.
A graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts, the vocalist and storyteller performed new tunes and previously recorded music alongside a live band, and included multimedia elements, African dancers and even a hula hooper.
“I’m just taking audiences on a little journey real quick,” she said, “and giving them something nice at the beginning of this great show.”
Directly following Kondo’s performance, fellow Duke Ellington alumna Kailasa Aqeel-– lead vocalist and co-writer for Black Folks Don’t Swim? —- lit up the stage with the band’s electrifying, funk-filled and soulful set.
After their engaging set, she said it was an incredible honor being featured on the same lineup as legendary artists who have inspired her for years, as well as others like Kondo, who she has known most of her life.
“These are performers that I look up to and I’ve seen perform and been impressed with over the years,” Aqeel told The Informer soon after she and the band electrified the festival stage. “It’s exciting.”
Putting on for D.C., Promoting Advocacy, Education, Unity
Like Kondo and many of the artists on the lineup, for Aqeel, getting to the National Cannabis Festival stage has come after years of hard work, collaboration and an unwavering determination to uplift people through music.
“I started with the band in 2018, and we’re here today— seven years later,” said Aqeel, 33, before recognizing NCF for its intentionality in providing a platform for D.C. artists to shine. “It’s important to be acknowledged after continuing this practice of writing, collaborating, rehearsing, and expressing ourselves on stage and in the world.”
In her second year performing at the festival, Kayce Bailey, lead singer of the celebrated band Black Alley, emphasized the importance of the festival highlighting local artists.
“The music scene in D.C. is so popular. It’s so ingrained in the culture of the city. Like, you cannot come here and not put [local artists] like us on the stage. The people in D.C. want to hear a little go-go… I appreciate the National Cannabis Festival for doing that,” Bailey told The Informer, on Friday, before lighting up the stage. “Backyard is going to be here tomorrow. I know that’s going to be lit.”
Beyond the music, Bailey said that the band enjoys participating in the festival for some of the positive messages promoted through its programming, noting NCF “as a great cause” that “brings awareness.”
“I feel like there are a lot of efforts in the cannabis industry that could be helpful to people— mental health, even physical health,” she said. “This is an event that… brings joy to people.”
For Caroline Phillips, NCF founder and executive director, the goal has always been about creating a safe space to network, advocate, and come together in the name of cannabis. Through summits, community engagement, advocacy, and the annual festival, Phillips has stayed true to her commitment of not only uplifting the cannabis industry, but fighting to make it more equitable after years of Black and brown people being disproportionately incarcerated due to harsh marijuana laws and sentences.
“We’re so excited to host another epic National Cannabis Festival celebration at this critical time for cannabis advocacy,” Phillips said in a statement before the two-day event.
Thankful for the opportunity to take the stage Friday night, Kondo also noted she appreciated the empowering nature of National Cannabis Festival programming.
“It really shines light on the educational aspect of cannabis, which I think is important,” she said, before highlighting its ability to unify people in the name of cannabis culture and music, even at a divided time for the nation. “I know that some people may not deem something like [cannabis] important, but I feel like the National Cannabis Festival brings good people together.”