Long Beach lit up this fall with something that felt bigger than a party — it felt like a statement. On October 11, 2025, Catalyst Cannabis brought Party on Pine roaring back to life, reclaiming its place as one of the most authentic, unapologetic celebrations of community and cannabis culture in the country. And this wasn’t your average local event tucked in a dispensary parking lot — Catalyst shut down two full city blocks in front of its Pine Avenue location. To our knowledge, no other cannabis retailer in the United States has ever pulled that off.
The return of Party on Pine wasn’t just another excuse to spark up and dance — it was a testament to how far the culture has come, and how much further it’s willing to go. From the moment the gates opened at 4 PM, the air buzzed with a mix of bass, laughter, and the sweet smell of legal liberation.
Vendors lined the streets, food trucks kept the crowd fed, and the stage pulsed with energy as hip-hop legend DJ Quik took the mic as the headlining act. For five solid hours, Pine Avenue felt less like a downtown corridor and more like a living, breathing celebration of freedom, music, and plant medicine.
From Retail to Revival
Catalyst founder Elliot Lewis has always been clear that his mission was bigger than retail. When Catalyst first opened its doors on Pine Avenue, Lewis wasn’t just building another dispensary — he was staking a claim for cannabis as a legitimate part of the local economy and community fabric. He saw the potential for revitalization, for turning underused city blocks into something vibrant, inclusive, and unapologetically local.
“Super humbled by the turn out form the cannabis and Long Beach community. The credit goes to Wayne Tay and the rest of the team for pulling it together. And shout out to DJ Quik who had all of Pine Street in DTLB dancing” said Lewis.
Party on Pine originally started years back as a small community event, a way to gather neighbors, artists, and cannabis enthusiasts in one place without shame or stigma. It was raw, fun, and real — just like the brand itself. But over time, the parties faced resistance from city regulators and conservative voices still uncomfortable with cannabis being out in the open. Permits were challenged, locations were shuffled, and what should’ve been a celebration sometimes became a negotiation.
Yet, Catalyst didn’t fold. They adapted. When Pine Avenue wasn’t available, they hosted “Party on Elm.” When the red tape got thick, they kept pushing. And now, the return of Party on Pine isn’t just nostalgia — it’s redemption. It’s proof that persistence pays off, that culture wins when it refuses to bow to stigma.
Community First, Always
The most powerful part of the event wasn’t the music or even the headliner — it was the people. Families, creatives, small business owners, medical patients, and longtime advocates filled the streets shoulder to shoulder. There were no divides, no judgment, just collective joy. Catalyst transformed what could have been a standard retail promotion into something that felt more like a civic festival — one that happened to be powered by cannabis.
The sight of an entire city block filled with music, art, and smiling faces around a legal cannabis brand sent a message far louder than any billboard could. It told Long Beach — and everyone watching from beyond — that cannabis isn’t the enemy of community, it is community. It drives jobs, brings people together, and creates shared spaces for culture to thrive.
There’s an old myth that cannabis retail stores bring down neighborhoods. Catalyst just blew that to pieces. They didn’t hide behind tinted glass or security guards; they opened the doors, took over the streets, and invited everyone to join. That’s normalization in motion — not by debate or legislation, but by living it out in public.
A Cultural Shift in Real Time
Events like Party on Pine are how normalization really happens. They strip away the politics and show what responsible cannabis culture looks like — people enjoying themselves, respecting each other, and taking pride in their city. It’s not just about selling flower or extracts; it’s about rewriting the social contract between cannabis and the mainstream.
Seeing people of all ages dancing to DJ Quik’s set under city lights — legally, joyfully, and safely — marked a major milestone. For decades, cannabis was treated like something that had to be hidden, whispered about, or done behind closed doors. But here, on a warm Long Beach night, the plant took center stage. Cannabis wasn’t the secret guest at the party — it was the party.
And in doing so, Catalyst turned public space into proof. Proof that the cannabis community can self-regulate, self-celebrate, and self-heal. Proof that local economies can thrive on inclusion, not exclusion. And proof that a dispensary can be more than a point of sale — it can be a cultural cornerstone.
DJ Quik, The Perfect Bridge
Bringing in DJ Quik as the headliner wasn’t just a booking decision — it was a bridge. Quik is West Coast hip-hop royalty, a man who’s lived through the same cultural transitions as cannabis itself — from underground to mainstream, from criminalized to celebrated. His performance anchored Party on Pine in the heartbeat of Long Beach and paid homage to the deep roots of hip-hop’s relationship with the plant.
As Quik dropped classics and new cuts under the neon glow, the crowd’s energy felt almost spiritual. Cannabis and hip-hop have always walked parallel paths — both born from resistance, both criminalized by misunderstanding, both thriving now as art and medicine. On Pine Avenue that night, the two collided in perfect harmony.
The Catalyst Effect
Catalyst didn’t just throw a party — they made history. What they achieved with Party on Pine should inspire cannabis operators everywhere. This is what happens when you stop waiting for permission to exist and start building culture in real time.
By reclaiming the streets for celebration instead of protest, Catalyst showed what a mature cannabis industry looks like — one that uplifts, educates, and gives back. And by doing it in full view of the public, they helped normalize the idea that cannabis isn’t an outsider to the community — it’s an integral part of it.
For Long Beach, the economic ripple was clear: more foot traffic, more visibility, and more energy downtown. For the culture, the message was louder: cannabis belongs here, in the open, in the light, celebrated with pride.
A New Kind of Normal
In many ways, Party on Pine represents the next evolution of legalization — beyond laws and licenses, into lifestyle and legacy. When a cannabis retailer can throw a city-sanctioned block party that shuts down streets and draws thousands without incident, it’s a sign that normalization isn’t theoretical anymore. It’s happening.
Catalyst didn’t just reopen a street; they reopened a mindset. They turned stigma into sound, prohibition into celebration, and hesitation into harmony. What once would’ve been called radical is now becoming routine — and that’s exactly how progress should feel.
So here’s to Party on Pine, to Catalyst, to DJ Quik, and to the people who danced without fear. This wasn’t just a block party; it was a moment in history where cannabis, culture, and community came together — and no one can put that back in the box.
Long Beach has spoken. Cannabis belongs on Main Street now — and thanks to Catalyst, Pine Avenue will forever be part of that story.
