As cannabis culture expands, Different Leaf is rethinking what it means to document and define it—bringing in curators from the worlds of art, music, and fashion to shape its future.

Since its inception in 2019, Different Leaf has been a trusted source for thoughtful, high-quality editorial on cannabis. Founded by publishing veteran Michael Kusek, the magazine set a new standard for exploring cannabis in the context of travel, wellness, food, and culture.

But now, Different Leaf is taking a new direction and relaunching as a cultural platform in a bid to reshape the way cannabis is perceived and integrated into the creative industries.

At the heart of this evolution is a new curatorial team: Ryan Schreiber, founder and former Editor-in-Chief of Pitchfork, and Denise Markonish, Chief Curator of Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA). Together with Kusek, they will guide Different Leaf’s new trajectory, bringing a rotating cast of guest editors from the worlds of art, music, fashion, and creativity to reimagine each issue.

A new era for cannabis media

With cannabis legalisation expanding across the United States and globally, mainstream media coverage has increased, but often with a transactional or medical lens. Different Leaf’s relaunch responds to this limited perspective, positioning cannabis as a cultural force that has shaped and continues to influence contemporary art, music, and design.

“Different Leaf is the connective tissue between creativity and the evolving culture of cannabis,” says Kusek. “We hope that Different Leaf offers a platform to explore the creative cultures shaping our contemporary discourse through the lens of cannabis, which, while often overlooked, is ever-present across these creative industries.”

Guest-edited issues & expanded formats

As part of this evolution, Different Leaf will transition to a biannual publishing model. Each issue will be curated by a guest editor who will have full creative control over its theme, contributors, and design. These guest editors will come from the worlds of contemporary art, music, fashion, and beyond, providing fresh perspectives and interdisciplinary storytelling.

The first issue under this new format is already in development and will be guest-edited by a high-profile contemporary artist selected by Markonish, to be announced this spring.

In addition to its standard softcover and hardcover editions, Different Leaf is launching a premium edition, a limited, signed, and numbered collectable version that includes artist-designed smoking accessories crafted by the guest editor.

New website & artist collaborations

To coincide with its relaunch, Different Leaf has unveiled a newly redesigned website, showcasing its expanded editorial direction and digital collaborations. The first of these commissions features artwork by Los Angeles-based painter Devin Troy Strother, setting the tone for future artist-driven digital content.

These collaborations underscore the importance of visual art in the evolution of cannabis culture, positioning Different Leaf as an intersection of publishing, curation, and creative expression.

A legacy of cultural exploration

Since its founding, Different Leaf has been committed to investigating the cultural, political, and historical dimensions of cannabis. Originally focused on the emerging Massachusetts cannabis industry, the magazine expanded its reach nationwide in 2021 before going on hiatus in 2023 to redefine its purpose.

Now, in 2025, it returns as a platform for cultural investigation and creative dialogue, amplifying the voices of artists, designers, and musicians who have long incorporated cannabis into their work.
As the cannabis industry continues to grow and evolve, so too does its relationship with creative communities. Different Leaf’s relaunch signals an important cultural shift, reinforcing cannabis as a creative catalyst rather than just a commodity.

As Kusek puts it: “Our goal is to create something entirely new—something that doesn’t just reflect culture but actively contributes to it.”

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