Organizers for the Northern Nights Music Festival announced this week that the 2022 edition of the event will be the first music festival to have dispensaries located at stages and the first to feature multiple, on-site cannabis retailers.
The event is set to take place July 15-17, 2022, at the Cook’s Valley Campground in Piercy, California.
The featured dispensaries will be scattered throughout the event and will feature “takeovers” from the industry’s top brands, according to a press release. Northern Nights was the first-ever music festival to offer onsite cannabis retail services and will maintain its primary dispensary, The Tree Lounge, as both a retail and lounge option for concertgoers. The Tree Lounge will be taking on a more rustic, farmers’ market vibe from other years, organizers said.
The event is also teasing expanded wellness programs for attendees, which include Yoga Classes, Meditation and Breathwork, Sound Bowls, Community Sharing, Education Circles, and more. The wellness programming is offered in partnership with Movement Makers Retreats and will also include “cannabis-themed activities.”
“We must be able to take time to explore ourselves, to reconnect with body+mind and the natural environment. If you’re coming to Northern Nights [2022], you can expect plenty of mindful movement offerings along with a supportive community to help guide you on your journey.” — Nate Mezmer, Co-Founder of Movement Makers Retreats, in a statement
Tickets and additional info are available via the event’s website at NorthernNights.org.
Musical acts will include Claude VonStroke, TroyBoi, CloZee, Elderbrook, SNBRN, and more.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify that cannabis retailers will be present at multiple Northern Nights stages but not all of them.
During the week of 4/20, Washington D.C. officials are providing a tax holiday for medical cannabis patients and retailers, NBC 4 Washington reports. Officials hope to attract patients back to the District’s seven medical cannabis dispensaries, which say they face stiff competition from the city’s “gray” adult-use market.
“Through Sunday, [April] 24th, the 6% sales tax is waived,” said Fred Moosally, director of D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA). “This is the first time in the District this holiday has ever happened.”
Moosally explained that also through April 24, patients could get a two-year card for free and that the doctor’s recommendation requirement would be waived for patients 65-or-older, allowing them instead to self-certify. The tax holiday is open to medical cannabis patients from other states like Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, NBC 4 notes.
Washington D.C. passed an adult-use cannabis initiative in 2014 that made it legal to possess, cultivate, and gift small amounts of cannabis in the District. However, the city has so far been blocked by the federal government from establishing its own regulated cannabis market — in fact, the Biden Administration opted in March to include a legislative rider in its budget approval that prevents the implementation of adult-use sales. The ongoing obstruction has led to a gray market that retails cannabis under the guise of “gifting.”
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nevada is suing the state Board of Pharmacy to remove cannabis as a Schedule I drug, arguing that continuing to include it on the list post-legalization wastes taxpayer dollars as criminal convictions persist.
In a statement, ACLU of Nevada attorney Sadmira Ramic said that “police departments and district attorneys in Nevada have wasted an immense amount of taxpayer dollars by seeking criminal convictions and penalties for small-time cannabis possession.”
“Despite Nevada voters’ explicit desire to have cannabis treated like alcohol, it is readily apparent that they are treated very differently. The failure to remove cannabis as a Schedule I substance not only goes against voters’ will, but it violates the Nevada Constitution which unequivocally recognizes cannabis’s medical value.” – Ramic in a statement
Despite the passage of the Nevada Medical Marijuana Act in 1998 and the Initiative to Regulate and Tax Marijuana, the lawsuit argues that the state, specifically the State Board of Pharmacy, “has failed to take action to comport with the will of Nevada voters, the Nevada Constitution, and Nevada Revised Statutes.”
“Instead of removing marijuana, cannabis, and cannabis derivatives from NAC 453.510’s list of controlled substances, the Board has continued to regulate them as Schedule I substances, a category reserved for substances that have no medical purpose and cannot be safely distributed such as methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine,” the lawsuit states. “This failure to amend Nevada’s Schedule of Controlled Substances is necessarily a constitutional and statutory violation that can only be remedied by removing marijuana, cannabis, and cannabis derivatives from the list of Schedule I substances.”
Cannabis Equity and Inclusion Community Founder A’Esha Goins said it is “disheartening that we are four years after legalization and we’re still dealing with policies that can derail people’s lives over cannabis possession.”
“We’re consistently fighting for policy changes that will ensure freedom for Black and Latinx people that choose cannabis as a treatment,” she said in a statement. “The classification of cannabis as a Schedule I substance must be stopped.”
The lawsuit was filed on April 15 in the Eighth Judicial District Court.
Adult-use cannabis legalization reduces demand for prescription drugs through state Medicaid programs, according to research published last week in the Health Economics journal. When states approve adult-use reforms, the number of prescriptions within the drug classes that align with the medical indications for pain, depression, anxiety, sleep, psychosis, and seizures significantly decline, the researchers from the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and Indiana University found.
In an interview with the Cornell Chronicle, Shyam Raman, a doctoral student in the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, described the study’s results as having “important implications.”
“The reductions in drug utilization that we find could lead to significant cost savings for state Medicaid programs. The results also indicate an opportunity to reduce the harm that can come with the dangerous side effects associated with some prescription drugs.” – Raman to the Chronicle
The study used data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in all 50 states from 2011 to 2019 – in 2012, Colorado and Washington State became the first states to legalize cannabis for adult use.
A separate study published last November in the journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids found that 65% of survey respondents reduced or stopped taking at least one prescription medication after enrolling in a medical cannabis program. Another study published in January in the Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal found that medical cannabis patients diagnosed with ADHD were likely to use fewer prescription drugs for their condition.
It’s 4/20 and this morning Leafly rang the opening bell on the Nasdaq stock exchange.
The company began trading on the exchange in February under the ticker symbol “LFLY.” The ceremony was led by Yoko Miyashita, who became the company’s CEO in August 2020 after serving as its general counsel. She was joined by Leafly employees and friends.
“We couldn’t be more excited to ring the bell at Nasdaq. Being invited on 4/20 really underlines how special of a day this is to Leafly. As more states like New Jersey come online, Leafly will be there as a place to research and order cannabis. The industry is growing so quickly and I am looking forward to the next stage of growth, for the company and the industry.” – Miyashita in a statement
Lots of enthusiasm for Leafly ringing the opening bell at the Nasdaq. Story coming later… pic.twitter.com/XhHTpEGh9U
Leafly launched in 2010 as a website to lookup cannabis strains and their various effects, then added stores and product menus, and eventually product pickup and delivery options. Leafly’s website now has over 125 million annual visitors and sells advertising to stores and brands, as well as facilitates online ordering.
Every year April rolls around and the 4/20 pitches start overpopulating my inbox. As I read them each morning, I can’t help but sigh — then I try to take a moment and remind myself that I wasn’t always this jaded about 4/20. I used to regard the 20th day of April as a high holiday before working in the cannabis industry.
The first time that I celebrated 4/20 was my freshman year at San Francisco State University. A few of my soccer teammates invited me along to Hippy Hill, a hill just through the bridge from Haight Street that connects the famous street to Golden Gate Park. Each year, people from all cultures who have weed in common gather at the Hill to picnic, smoke herb, sell their wares, and enjoy the company of fellow stoners.
My first time walking out from under the darkened tunnel, where you’ll always hear an errant whisper offering party favors, it felt like walking into a new reality. As the sun shone back into my eyes I saw a woman sitting atop the Janis Joplin tree, people covering the grass of the hill, and strangers dancing to a full reggae band doing their thing in the shade. I thought to myself, “this is why I came to this iconic city for college, because this is something special that is only available right here, right now.” From that day forward, April 20 was a day I held in high esteem.
Hippie Hill, San Francisco, CA, 2009
That same sense of wonder is what drew me to apply to every dispensary in the city in 2011, desperately hoping to snag a coveted budtender job. Just days from graduating from college with no answer from any of the shops where I had dropped resumes, I decided to pursue other work. Around the same time, a friend took me to a burner party in Oakland where I met a bunch of his friends, including one who was the manager of one of those dispensaries. The next day, he called me because he was looking for new budtenders and ran into my resume in “the stack.” It turned out that he also had been playing the congas in that reggae band in the shade at Hippy Hill — that’s how kismet the cannabis industry can be.
But that air of good vibes and industry excitement was soon washed away by the realization that what was once a medicinal plant providing me comfort and solace was now a tool of capitalism that I was using to pay my bills. On top of that, the industry is so heavily regulated and saturated that the struggle of trying to create something can sometimes drive the good vibes right out of a retail dispensary. But the intensity of this realization didn’t hit me until I was working at my third or fourth pot shop — those first few shop experiences had been blessed with my initial optimism. And that’s the progression when you start a budtender job: the newbies are stoked. The second generation, who haven’t become oldtimers at the shop yet but have been there long enough to have opinions, have a tenacity about them. And then there are the grizzled veterans who are jaded by the realization that promoting from within and progressive change are the last things their bosses are interested in.
“For the budtender, 4/20 is an exhausting gauntlet of wall-to-wall customers and feet that ache long after you clock out.”
By the time I was working in my fifth shop in my third state, watching the same shit take place, I had officially settled into the jaded, grizzled old-timer category. By that time, the magic of 4/20 was gone and I have commiserated with many other career budtenders about this same experience. At one time, I would excitedly get on the bus down to Hippy Hill on 4/20 for an afternoon that organically evolved into a raucous good evening. But once you’re in the industry, 4/20 consumes the whole month of April with planning specials, orchestrating special buys, and planning events that help you stand out from the five other dispensaries within a mile. For the budtender, 4/20 is an exhausting gauntlet of wall-to-wall customers and feet that ache long after you clock out.
Each 4/20 that I worked, I would sit down after finally calling it a day and think fondly of that one afternoon when I witnessed stoner harmony on Hippy Hill for the first time. And I somberly wonder if my dad was right when he told me that no matter how much you love something if you do it as a job it will eventually end up feeling like work. To me, that is the reality of cannabis now. What was once a subculture filled with freedom and excitement has become another sector of American business. As each new capitalist venture takes a foothold in the space, another layer of culture peels away from the activist-built industry. That isn’t all bad, but it’s something that has been weighing on me.
The question of whether a cannabis industry and cannabis culture can exist simultaneously seems, to me, like a similar quandary facing a seasoned budtender pondering the meaning of 4/20. Hell, it’s the same as a teenager who feels both pride and remorse as their favorite band makes it big and becomes beloved by the masses. So this 4/20, I will try to tap back into the original sense of wonder that brought me here in the first place. I’ll tap into the wonder even when I feel disdain watching people treat budtenders like garbage because they’ve been waiting in a long line. I’ll try to remember the whimsy of the 4/20s of past as I empathize with the farmers and inventory workers who build cool sales and promotions only to hand over astronomical amounts of their earnings to the state in the form of taxes.
With this story in mind, I hope you walk into this 420 with an empathetic heart for the budtenders serving you behind the counter, the inventory manager crunching numbers, the marketing team watching their promotions play out, and the transit companies bussing bud around town. All of these people make sure consumers enjoy themselves instead of celebrating the high stoner holiday themselves – so please remember to always tip your budtender.
But enough from me — check out some more 4/20 budtender reactions below! Thankfully, not everyone here is as jaded as I am (yet).
Melina Luz Baeza — current budtender
“For this 4/20, I really would’ve loved to see a celebration of cannabis employees being essential workers throughout the ongoing pandemic. Instead, it’s a Black Friday, goodie grab bag vibe for clients. Which is totally expected. I suppose I just thought some of that appreciation would come back around to those of us doing those work.”
Randi W. — former budtender (now works for a cannabis processor)
“Working in the stores on 4/20 was wildly busy, but I do miss the camaraderie between my coworkers and I – and an after-work joint with the team really hits different after a day that busy. It does feel more like a day for folks to stock up on cheap weed and be irritated that they have to wait in a line than a day of celebrating the plant, but I guess that’s capitalism for you. I’m just happy we have a dedicated cannabis holiday – we’ve worked hard and we deserve it.”
Martha M. — former budtender, now a cannabis PR agent
“4/20 was a huge deal for me before I started working as a budtender just because it was a day that me and my friends could call our own and really go all out for. At the time, cannabis wasn’t as mainstream so it was almost like a secret or inside joke for us. Once I started working in dispensaries and had to work on 4/20, it became like any other holiday to me. While still a special occasion, it became like any other day because as a budtender, every day is pretty much 4/20.”
Lisha D. — current budtender
“I would always plan around 4/20 to be a day where I could honor my relationship with cannabis. When my dog came into my life, it felt cosmic that his birthday was on April 20th. Often times in my past corporate life, I would find myself with a job that did not excuse 4/20 as a legitimate holiday. There was always some sense of shame associated with smoking but never with drinking, or maybe it was internalized shame. But 4/20 was always a day for me and my girl Mary Jane. A reminder of the beautiful plant and what she has offered me. Now as a new budtender, or as I like to call it, a cannabis consultant, I want to continue to elevate my cannabis relationship and ritual in an intentional and conscious way.”
Danielle Z. — current budtender
“Back in the day when I still lived in Virginia, on 4/20 a few of us would pitch in on a quarter and roll it up into one big blunt… Occasionally, someone would make rice crispy treats. But those were also the struggle days of stretching out a $60 eighth by strictly smoking gravity bongs, so anything “extravagant” was only for celebratory occasions. I’m now lucky enough to live in Washington and work in this industry, so now I smoke and consume as much cannabis as I want with no need to wait for a “holiday” to indulge. This will be my sixth 4/20 doing inventory and receiving… and I must admit, it’s no longer a day I celebrate. It’s like the Black Friday of the retail cannabis world. I’m normally exhausted and looking to book a vacation by the time it’s all said and done. But as I’m writing this and smoking my eighth joint of the day, I try to remind myself that my younger self would be so stoked to be where I’m at today.”
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) today filed a lawsuit against the Biden Administration to try and block a federal rule that prohibits medical cannabis users from buying firearms or holding concealed-carry permits, NBC News reports.
The lawsuit argues that the question about cannabis use on the federal form required to purchase firearms violates the Second Amendment rights of state-approved medical cannabis patients and violates a congressional budget provision preventing federal agents from interfering with state-approved cannabis laws.
The form asks whether the purchaser of a firearm is an unlawful drug user, and cannabis remains illegal under federal law. Registered medical cannabis patients must answer “yes” to that question or risk a five-year prison sentence for making a false statement on a federal form.
“Medical marijuana is legal. Guns are legal. This is all about people’s rights. And I don’t care who I have to sue to fight for their freedom.” – Fried in a statement to NBC News
Fried’s office oversees both concealed weapons permits and medical cannabis dispensaries in Florida. Florida voters approved medical cannabis reforms in 2016 with 71% in favor – there are also 2.5 million concealed weapons permit holders in the state.
A spokesperson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives told NBC News that the agency “can’t speculate on possible litigation or discuss any pending litigation” but blamed federal lawmakers for not changing the Controlled Substances Act and the Gun Control Act, which respectively regulate cannabis and firearms.
In response to the U.S. Senate’s inaction on cannabis reform, ice cream giant Ben & Jerry’s is teaming up with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on April 20 to ask fans to pressure the U.S. Senate to pass reforms similar to the House, Marijuana Moment reports.
Ben & Jerry’s has used 4/20 in the past to raise awareness about cannabis but this effort takes aim at the body that has been holding up federal progress under both Democratic and Republican control – the U.S. Senate.
Fans and supporters are asked to submit a pre-written letter describing the patchwork of cannabis laws across the U.S. and the racially biased enforcement of those laws. Noting the passage of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act in the House, the pre-written letter says, “it’s time for the Senate to act.”
“The Black and Brown community have borne the high cost of cannabis prohibition and the system of mass incarceration that it has fueled, while white men reap the financial benefits of the legalized cannabis industry. That’s why the Senate must immediately pass legislation that begins to right the wrongs of the decades-long war on drugs by legalizing cannabis and expunging records while restoring equity to the booming legal cannabis industry.” — Chris Miller, Ben & Jerry’s Global Head of Activism Strategy, in a release
The U.S. House passed the MORE Act last week followed shortly after by the Senate claiming they would take the issue up this month. However, that timeline has already been pushed back, leaving activists to wonder whether the legalization reforms are likely to come this year. As for President Joe Biden (D), he has not come out in favor of the MORE Act but White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said he “agrees that we need to rethink our approach” on the issue.
As Earth’s carbon dioxide concentration reaches 420 PPM, its highest average reading in 3 million years, concerned climate activists, journalists, environmental filmmakers, and regenerative cannabis farmers come together to discuss the potential of cannabis to disrupt and mitigate the effects of global warming or very quickly exacerbate it
VENICE, Calif., April 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, thought leaders across climate science, regenerative agriculture, media, and cannabis invite conscious consumers to The Hopper Compound (the storied home of late movie star Dennis Hopper) for an event centered around the convergence of the climate crisis and global cannabis 4/20 holiday. Channeling the pro-environmental values of cannabis consumers into direct climate action, the ‘420PPM ON 4/20’ event aims to raise awareness about the very real potential of cannabis to help cool, or further warm the planet.
“The 420 numeral holds a high place in cannabis culture. Breaching the 420 ppm milestone creates this one-time convergence of climate and cannabis where we can activate a space for people to channel the positive energy of the cannabis community into climate action, particularly with regard to the increasingly overwhelming choices facing cannabis consumers,” explained organizer, climate scientist, and journalist, Peter Deneen.
Research shows that the annual total amount of energy used to power indoor cannabis grows is equivalent to powering 2 million homes, with emissions equal to 3 million U.S. cars. Additionally, we now know that indoor cannabis cultivation labs produce 25 times more CO2 than outdoor grows, with regenerative outdoor grows not only having a carbon footprint of virtually zero but also helping to sequester carbon.
Produced by New Rituals in partnership with Sun+Earth Certified, Onda Wellness, Sespe Creek, Flying Embers Kombucha, Chemistry, Brother David’s, and Cornerstone Wellness – whose collective vision is to support a world wherein cannabis products are grown under the sun, in the soil of Mother Earth without chemicals, regeneratively and sustainably, by fairly paid farmers and farmworkers – the ‘420PPM ON 4/20’ begins at 4:20 pm and includes an inspiring afternoon-to-evening of conversation and workshops dedicated to climate solutions and intentional cannabis consumption.
Added co-event organizer, Alexis Kafkis: “When you see how detrimental industrial-scale cannabis cultivation is for the environment, you can’t unsee it. It’s time to move past the novelty of legal cannabis and become more mindful of the integrity of the cannabis products we put in our bodies—where was it grown and how was it cultivated? Our purchasing decisions impact the environment. It doesn’t make sense to eat organic food, but smoke industrially grown, chemically-treated cannabis. We have an opportunity right now, while the cannabis industry is young and emergent, to instill values that will guide us toward regenerative practices. This plant can help us do right by the planet, and together with our ‘420PPM ON 4/20’ partners, we look forward to educating consumers as to how.”
In addition to a preview of the documentary film, Tending the Garden, ticket holders will enjoy high yoga as well a series of panel discussions featuring Tina Gordon (founder of regenerative cannabis farm, Moon Made Farms), Stephen Smith (founder of Onda Wellness, first certified biodynamic CBD oil + world’s first verified regenerative CBD oil), Heather Dunbar (director of marketing and communications for Sun+Earth), Aura Vasquez (community organizer), Chelsea Sutula (founder of Sespe Creek Collective, the first Sun+Earth-certified cannabis dispensary), Mary Carreon (drug + culture journalist), Daniel Stein (owner of regenerative cannabis farm Briceland Forest Farm), Lynne Lyman (former director of California State Drug Policy Alliance), and Tending the Garden documentarian, Claire Weissbluth.
“Everyday consumer choices, whether it’s the food you eat, the soap you use, or the cannabis you smoke, all impact the world for better or for worse,” said David Bronner, founder of Brother David’s, the first Sun+Earth Certified cannabis brand in California. “Regenerative organic agriculture promotes soil and community health and mitigates the effects of climate change by sequestering carbon in soil. Chemical-intensive cannabis grown indoors under fossil-fueled lights is making things worse. It’s as crucial to choose sungrown regenerative organic cannabis, as it is to choose regenerative organic food. We are at a critical point where we have to profoundly shift the cannabis industry toward a more ecological climate friendly model.”
Website: www.420ppm.live Instagram: @420ppm / Doors open at 3:00PM
ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS Pete Deneen is an environmental writer focused on human impacts to natural systems. His storytelling focuses on solutions to the spiraling crises of climate, plastics, water, soil, and social and environmental justice, with the intent of inspiring action to address the challenges facing humanity and the natural world.
Lexi Kafkis is a creative director who partners with brands, start-ups, and individuals in the cannabis, wellness, and lifestyle spaces to do good for people and planet. After years of work in bicoastal cannabis communities, she saw the need for spaces for conscious consumption and connection with the cannabis plant, leading her to found New Rituals, a brand pioneering new standards of cannabis experiences.
Following the recent launch of Arizona’s adult-use cannabis market, The Clarendon Hotel & Spa, a 4-star boutique hotel in Phoenix, has diverted from the norms of the hospitality industry and started encouraging guests to light up in one of their new, cannabis-friendly rooms. The Midtown hotel was purchased in 2019 by Pro Hospitality Group which decided to take the cannabis-friendly route after the passage of Arizona Prop 207. Ganjapreneur recently sat down with Daron Brotherton, owner of The Clarendon and Pro Hospitality Group, to learn more about what the hotel offers to the cannabis crowd, how they are expanding these offerings, and their expansive plans for the future.
“We decided to become cannabis-friendly and embrace Prop 207 in Arizona and let people know that there’s a four-star hotel embracing cannabis as a lifestyle rather than a stoner culture,” said Brotherton. “We’re trying to embrace cannabis as a wellness lifestyle and eventually create a platform that will carry that torch and extend to wine, spas, hotels, and good living in general.”
Sixteen of the hotel rooms are currently cannabis-friendly and over time they may convert a total of 40 rooms, or about 40% of the hotel. Guests are provided with air purifiers for their rooms, which are also deep cleaned and aired out for four hours after check-out. Because large parts of the hotel are not designated as cannabis-friendly, guests are encouraged to partake in their room or at designated areas of the hotel grounds during their stay. As the hotel further expands its offerings, it will extend unique advertising opportunities in cannabis-friendly spaces. For example, brands will be able to lease a cannabis-friendly room for 6-12 months — much like they could a billboard — and during this time, the company can place their choice of promotional materials and decor in their room, as long as it stays within their contract with the hotel.
Guests who want to consume flower outside of their room can visit the cannabis lounge which is also available to members and day pass holders. A pass into the cannabis lounge gains visitors access to various smoking devices, the pool, discounts at the restaurant & spa, and complimentary shuttle rides to a dispensary. The lounge also serves mocktail refreshments but the hotel is legally required to keep alcohol and cannabis use separate.
This summer, the team will suspend the alcohol license at the pool for designated cannabis consumption hours where vaping and edibles will be permitted. The rooftop Skydeck will be another potential cannabis smoking space during events because the liquor license can be suspended upstairs but kept intact in the bar down below.
The team also hosts budtender appreciation parties where brands and retailers sponsor budtenders’ complimentary passes throughout the year. In addition, the team is planning an art walk featuring live installations and cannabis consumption zones.
As their offerings grow, the events calendar will too, and many of the events will feature the work of their Head Chefs Chef Jordan Savell, a Hell’s Kitchen alumni, and cannabis Chef Derek Upton, who both have experience in fine dining and cannabis infusion. Currently, the chefs serve a specially designed seasonal tapas menu at partner restaurant The Edgemont on Central on Thursdays and Fridays. They look forward to crafting menus for infused six-course VIP meals and small plates alongside whiskey tastings and wine dinners. The Clarendon team is still developing its events calendar and is currently open to discussing any event size or concept.
The newly cannabis-infused luxury boutique art hotel is the prototype for a larger vision for Pro Hospitality Group. The team that purchased The Clarendon currently owns seven other hotels and plans to raise that number to 10 this year. Eventually, the group will build out five to ten cannabis-friendly hotels under Elevations. The Elevations brand intends to encompass far more than just a hotel chain and hopes to grow into a platform for bringing cannabis into the fold of luxury wellness.
Opening up the first hotel in the franchise to cannabis consumers is only the beginning of this process, which Brotherton speaks of with open excitement. “We’d like to see our cannabis franchise branch off throughout the country and that’s what we’re working on right now. Some of these hotels we’d like to see dispensaries in them, not in all of them, and then just taking it back to the platform, now we would have a lifestyle platform with franchised hotels and you can be a member and just earn points like you would for a Marriott or a Hilton.”
Eventually, there will be a direct booking option on The Clarendon Hotel & Spa website. For now, those visiting Phoenix, Arizona (or Phoenicians looking for a staycation) can book cannabis-friendly rooms at The Clarendon through Bud and Breakfast or by calling the front desk. Learn more about The Clarendon Hotel & Spa, their events, advertising opportunities, and more at goclarendon.com.
Michigan cannabis regulators last week placed a hold on products from Sky Labs but have not publicly offered any explanation, MLive reports. Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) spokesman David Harns told MLive that he “can’t acknowledge or confirm an investigation.”
Attorney Denise-Policella, who represents Sky Labs, told MLive that the hold was placed last Thursday on all of the company’s products, all worth more than $5 million.
“At 4 p.m. they received a call from a client and literally all of their product started going on administrative hold. [The CRA] said it’s related to an investigation. It does not appear to be a public health or safety matter, but I’m speculating, because they didn’t issue a recall.” – Policella to MLive
Policella said the products that were placed on hold by the CRA all seem to originate from the same licensed grower and includes products that have passed testing and already been shipped to licensed retailers. She added that Sky has previously had a batch of products placed on hold by the CRA for 13 months without explanation.
“The (CRA) is welcome to investigate whatever they would like,” she said in the report. “It is my opinion that the (CRA) does not have the authority – and should not have the authority – to deprive companies of their product. It has the ability to drive people out of business and blame it on … an ongoing investigation that they’re not required to tell us the details of.”
In November, Michigan regulators issued a recall of products tested by Viridis Laboratories and Viridis North which affected products at more than 400 retail locations throughout the state. That move led to a lawsuit by Viridis which ultimately led to a judge blocking part of the recall, saying it was “in all likelihood based upon an arbitrary decision.”
Policella speculated that the reluctance of the CRA to issue a formal recall on the products may be due to that case in which the Court of Claims judge questioned some of the CRA’s actions leading up to the recall, which was the largest ever recall in Michigan.
New Mexico’s first cannabis social use lounge has opened in Las Cruces, KFOX14 reports. The license was granted to Sol Cannabis.
Company co-founder Kwame Ponshock said getting the license is “groundbreaking” for both Sol and the entire state.
“I wanted to have a refuge for people like myself and be able to utilize cannabis in a cannabis friendly zone with other cannabis users gives us a way to adapt and be more public.” – Ponshock to KFOX14
Under the state’s legalization law, public cannabis use can be met with a $50 fine. Ponshock said the lounge gives “a home” to cannabis consumers.
“…It’s exciting for us to be able to spread the joy and love cannabis has brought us,” he said in the report.
Brett Burke, co-owner of Sol, told KVIA that he can “foresee people instead of stopping at the brewery for a beer after work, that they stop by for a cannabis cocktail to wind down before they go home.”
Bria Sargent, a Sol patron, told KFOX14 that sometimes cannabis consumers “feel isolated because alcohol is in everybody’s faces.”
“Now we have something that is medicinal,” she said, “it’s herbal and comes from the earth and we get to actually do our thing.”
Adult-use cannabis sales launched on April 1 and New Mexico saw more than $4.5 million in both adult-use and medical cannabis sales during the opening weekend – nearly 70% of which were from adult-use sales.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) said during a panel discussion earlier this month that his administration is exploring whether the city could allow cannabis cultivation on the rooftops of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) facilities which would be overseen by staff and residents, Gothamist reports.
The plan would likely receive pushback from the federal government, which subsidizes more than half of NYCHA revenues through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Olga Alvarez, a spokesperson for HUD’s regional office, told Gothamist that the agency “has not been approached on this issue.”
“There isn’t much more to say, marijuana is illegal in public housing.” – Alvarez, in an email, to Gothamist
Adams said that under the plan, “the proceeds and education can go right into employing people right in the area.”
In a statement, Charles Kretchmer Lutvak, a spokesperson for Adams, admitted that federal law was a roadblock to Adams’ rooftop cultivation plan.
“(Federal) laws still on the books continue to harm the same communities that have been targeted for decades,” he said in the statement to Gothamist. “The House passed legislation to this effect earlier this month, and we need those who are obstructing progress at the federal level to follow New York’s lead.”
The House of Representatives passed the MORE Act on April 1 – which would legalize cannabis federally – but the measure has not been taken up by the Senate. Democratic leadership in the Senate has indicated they would introduce a separate proposal, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, in August.
Real-World Cannabis Seed Company Backing its NFT With Real-World Benefits
April 19, 2022, TEMPE, AZ – (Business Wire) – Today, Tempe, Arizona-based Seed Connect, LLC, a cannabis seed supplier with one of the USA’s largest marijuana seed banks, announces it will be launching its Cannabis Crypto Seed Headz Non-Fungible Token (NFT) collection.
The official day of launch is April 20, 2022 at 4:20 PM EST, which coincides with the international day of celebrating cannabis worldwide.
In this inaugural collection of 2,000 NFT Cannabis Crypto Seed Headz, Seed Connect will celebrate cannabis by capturing the spirit and personality of some of its favorite seeds in its artwork.
“This is the first marijuana NFT collection minted, where marijuana growers of all skill levels can gather to celebrate the exquisiteness of the sacred seed through our artwork, as well as get substantial smokin’ deals in the real world that are backed by one of the leading brick and mortar marijuana seed businesses,” says Dante Anthony, Seed Connect Co-Founder.
In addition to owning a unique, limited-edition piece of art, Cannabis Crypto Seed Headz NFT holders will get many benefits such as free seeds from its seed bank, mega discounts on future seed purchases, Zoom conferences and events, access to a private Discord community, whitelisting for future NFT releases, as well as access to a future, private club in the metaverse.
Cannabis Crypto Seed Headz will use the Polygon network known for its quick transactions and low fees, with an opening mint price for each NFT at $120.
“Holders are going to get much more than that in value since the seeds we are including with every minted NFT are worth that alone,” says Dante. “We sourced great artists to represent our NFT collection, but what was equally important was creating some significant utility for our holders to enhance our NFT’s value.”
With only 2,000 prized NFTs in the collection and an April 20 NFT launch, it is highly recommended that potential purchasers sign up for a Coinbase digital wallet and set up a Metamask account with Polygon MATIC cryptocurrency for purchase of this unique NFT collection.
About Seed Connect
Based in Tempe, Arizona, Seed Connect is a cannabis seed supplier with one of the largest marijuana seed banks in the USA. With both brick-and-mortar and online operations, Seed Connect is committed to our customers’ success with the supply of high-quality cannabis seeds and complementary support services. Our staff is well versed in growing marijuana plants, and we share our passion with our customers so they can have the best growing experience in the places that permit such horticulture and use.
For more information on purchasing a Cannabis Crypto Seed Headz NFT and setting up a digital wallet, go to www.nftseedheadz.com
For more information on Seed Connect, visit www.theseedconnect.com or contact Dante Anthony at dante@seedconnectllc.com or call (602) 318-9728.
A new Pollfish poll found 60% of respondents believe that cannabis has a positive impact on society, while 61.5% said they felt cannabis plays an important role in supporting economic growth in the U.S., and 62.6% believe the cannabis industry “is important for the local economy,” according to a Forbes report.
Another 67.6% also supported the lifting of federal banking restrictions on cannabis companies.
In all, 43% of the 1,100 Americans 21-and-older polled lived in a state that has legalized cannabis for adult use, while 26% lived in a state with only medical cannabis access; 22% lived in a state where cannabis is fully outlawed.
Among cannabis consumers polled, 67% had purchased cannabis through legal channels, with 31% of those saying they consumed cannabis for medical use, 22% for stress, 16% for recreational purposes, 13% for sleep, and 10% for wellness. More than half – 55% – said they had tried cannabis for the first time in the last year, while 40% consumed cannabis one to two days per week.
Among the non-consumers, 33% had never consumed cannabis legally, with 21% saying they were not interested in using cannabis at all. Twenty-four percent of non-consumers said they would be interested in trying cannabis for medical reasons, 21% would try it to deal with stress, 15% would be interested in trying it for recreational purposes, 10% for wellness purposes, and 8% for sleep. The majority of non-consumers said they would be interested in trying an edible product first.
The poll was conducted on behalf of Jushi Holdings between March 17 and March 30 and was overseen by Julian Scaff, associate professor at ArtCenter College of Design, interaction designer, futurist, and Jushi experience director.
New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin issued a memo last week outlining that it is acceptable for police to use cannabis while off duty, the New Jersey Monitor reports. On-duty use would still be cause for disciplinary action, including termination.
“To be clear, there should be zero tolerance for cannabis use, possession, or intoxication while performing the duties of a law enforcement officer. And there should be zero tolerance for unregulated marijuana consumption by officers at any time, on or off duty, while employed in this state. The safety of our communities and our officers demands no less.” – Platkin in the memo
The policy also prohibits employers from firing or refusing to hire workers “solely due to the presence of cannabinoid metabolites in the employee’s bodily fluid.”
“Should there be reasonable suspicion of an officer’s use of cannabis while engaged in the performance of their duties, or upon finding any observable signs of intoxication-related to cannabis use (including following a work-related accident subject to investigation by the agency), that officer may be required to undergo a drug test,” the memo states, clarifying that any drug test must also include a physical examination as THC can remain in the bloodstream for weeks after use.
Adult-use cannabis sales are set to begin in New Jersey on April 21 after the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission approved applications from seven of the state’s medical cannabis operators to expand into adult-use operations.
Cone Denim is partnering with hemp processing firm BastCore on a U.S.-grown hemp denim collection using hemp cultivated in Alabama and U.S.-derived cotton dyed with natural indigo grown in Tennessee. Using hemp in the production of denim instead of cotton saves 50% of the water used in production and requires no chemicals, wet processing, pesticides, or herbicides, the report says.
In a statement, Cone Denim President Steve Maggard said the partnership with BastCore “opens great opportunities to create sustainable denim made from U.S. sourced agriculture products located in close proximity to Cone’s manufacturing operations in Mexico.”
“U.S. farmers have world-class sustainable growing practices and produce quality products used in Cone’s denims including cotton, corn for sizing starch, natural plant-based indigo, and more recently, hemp. We are proud to support the American agriculture industry and work alongside like-minded partners who share our passion and commitment.” – Maggard in a press release
Cone’s U.S. hemp collection includes a range of fabrics featuring classic 3×1 and comfort stretch to modern workwear constructions, the company said.
BastCore Managing Director Austin Bryant said the partnership with Cone is “a perfect fit” and meets the company’s “mission to bridge the gap between farmers growing hemp and industries demanding cost-competitive, sustainably produced raw materials.”
“The expertise and passion of Cone’s product teams provided great collaboration in navigating through those challenges to bring the many advantages of hemp fibers to denim,” Bryant said in a statement.
The collection will be launched at the Kingpins Amsterdam Show which runs from April 20-21.
Senate Democrats expect to introduce a cannabis legalization bill in August after initially announcing plans to file a bill this month, The Hill reports. The effort is being led by Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (NY) and Sens. Cory Booker (NJ) and Ron Wyden (OR).
In a statement, Schumer said the proposal – the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act – would remove “cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances” and “help repair our criminal justice system, ensure restorative justice, protect public health, and implement responsible taxes and regulations.” The majority leader had previously indicated the bill would have been brought “towards the end of April.”
Last month the House passed a separate bill – the MORE Act – but the legislation has not been considered by the Senate, which is split 50-50 between the parties but controlled by Democrats as Vice President Kamala Harris holds the tie-breaking vote. Democrats would need 60 votes to overcome a likely filibuster by Republicans, which means they would need support from 10 members of the GOP in the chamber.
In December, a YouGov poll found that 57% of Americans back broad cannabis legalization at the federal level, including 70% of Democrats, 61% of independents, and 40% of Republicans. A November 2021 Gallup poll found that 68% of Americans backed the reforms, including 83% of Democrats, 72% of independents, and 48% of Republicans. It was the highest level of support for cannabis legalization that the pollster had found since it started asking about the issue in 1969.
Adult-use cannabis sales in New Jersey are set to commence on April 21 at 13 dispensaries run by current medical cannabis operators. Following the announcement, Gov. Phil Murphy (D), via Twitter, called it a “historic step” in the state’s work to “create a new cannabis industry.”
On Monday, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) approved applications from seven of the state’s medical cannabis operators to expand into adult-use operations. The NJ-CRC said the firms must first pass operational inspections and commission chair Dianna Houenou said she had received commitments from the companies that selling to all adults would not lead to “adverse effects” for patients.
Houenou on Thursday said the commission remains “committed to social equity” as the state moves from medical to adult-use sales.
“We promised to build this market on the pillars of social equity and safety. Ultimately, we hope to see businesses and a workforce that reflect the diversity of the state, and local communities that are positively impacted by this new and growing industry.” – Houenou in a statement
New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission Executive Director Jeff Brown said officials “have been intentional and deliberate to do everything in our power to set the market on good footing to start.”
“This is an exciting time for New Jersey,” he said in a statement.
A list of locations set to open on April 21 will be posted on the NJ-CRC website as soon as the operators confirm the date on which they will begin operations.
New York officials have approved conditional licenses for 52 cannabis cultivators. The approvals are for companies and farmers currently licensed to grow hemp; the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) said it had received more than 150 applications since the March 15 opening of the online application portal.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) in February signed a bill to create conditional licenses for the state’s current hemp operators.
“New York’s farms have been the backbone of our state’s economy since before the American Revolution, and now, New York’s farms will be at the center of the most equitable cannabis industry in the nation.” – Hochul in a press release
State Sen. Liz Krueger (D) said that the approval of the licenses “will help ensure an adequate supply of cannabis when the first round of social and economic equity adult-use retail stores open later this year.”
Officials also announced they are working on regulations to allow registered medical cannabis patients to grow their own plants. The rules for patients follow the requirements included in the state’s legalization law, allowing up to three mature plants and three immature plants per person and a cap of six mature and six immature plants within any private residence. Under the law, individuals cannot begin growing at home until sales commence. The proposal would also allow caregivers to grow up to six plants for one patient and one plant per additional patient. Patients would only be allowed to have one caregiver.
Office of Cannabis Management Executive Director Chris Alexander said the agency is “working hard” to finalize the regulations, which have already been the subject of one round of public comment and will be the subject of another 45-day comment period beginning May 4.
“We understand that patients are looking to this new option to access medication at a low cost, and we are doing everything possible to speed up this process while working within the rules of New York’s regulatory system,” Alexander said in a statement.
The OCM said it had received more than 160 comments on the regulations prior to the January 18 closing of the previous public comment period.
In a March 19 story, “Study raises questions about the risk of using medical marijuana for mood and anxiety disorders,” CNN spends the bulk of the article outlining the alleged risks of cannabis use disorder and the supposed dangers of medical cannabis use by patients with mood and anxiety disorders uncovered by researchers at the Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital with the Center for Addiction Medicine. But the report buries a key finding: those who participated in the study experienced “greater well-being” and “improvement in insomnia.”
Presence of bias:
Structural bias occurs in two ways: when the organization itself is bias toward a topic or issue or when the story is set up in a way that buries other important facts. The latter is especially harmful since 60% of people who share a story on social media do so without reading past the headline, according to a 2019 Columbia University study. We can extrapolate from the study that the same percentage probably doesn’t even read the whole article themselves and their opinions are based on just the headline. We at Ganjapreneur see it in our social media comments, too – too often someone comments with a question that is actually addressed in the story.
The study CNN reports on followed 269 adults from the Boston area with an average age of 37 who wanted to obtain medical cannabis cards, the participants were divided into two groups: one of which was allowed to get the cards immediately and begin using medical cannabis while the other group served as a control and waited 12 weeks before obtaining cards.
“All participants were able to choose their choice and dose of cannabis products from a dispensary as well as frequency of use. They could also continue their usual medical or psychiatric care. People who obtained cards immediately were twice as likely to develop cannabis use disorder, the study found. Ten percent had developed the disorder by week 12, and that figure rose to 20% if they were using marijuana for anxiety or depression.” – CNN, “Study raises questions about the risk of using medical marijuana for mood and anxiety disorders,” Mar. 19, 2022
Okay, now that sounds pretty damning but let’s provide some context since CNN isn’t defining their terms here. The DSM-5 outlines cannabis use disorder as requiring: “Use of cannabis for at least a one-year period, with the presence of at least two of the following symptoms, accompanied by significant impairment of functioning and distress.
There are 10 other qualifying symptoms associated with the disorder:
Difficulty containing use of cannabis- the drug is used in larger amounts and over a longer period than intended.
Repeated failed efforts to discontinue or reduce the amount of cannabis that is used
An inordinate amount of time is occupied acquiring, using, or recovering from the effects of cannabis.
Cravings or desires to use cannabis. This can include intrusive thoughts and images, and dreams about cannabis, or olfactory perceptions of the smell of cannabis, due to preoccupation with cannabis.
Continued use of cannabis despite adverse consequences from its use, such as criminal charges, ultimatums of abandonment from spouse/partner/friends, and poor productivity.
Other important activities in life, such as work, school, hygiene, and responsibility to family and friends are superseded by the desire to use cannabis.
Cannabis is used in contexts that are potentially dangerous, such as operating a motor vehicle.
Use of cannabis continues despite awareness of physical or psychological problems attributed to use- e.g., anergia, amotivation, chronic cough.
Tolerance to Cannabis, as defined by progressively larger amounts of cannabis are needed to obtain the psychoactive effect experienced when use first commenced, or, noticeably reduced effect of use of the same amount of cannabis
Withdrawal, defined as the typical withdrawal syndrome associate with cannabis, or cannabis or a similar substance is used to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
What CNN fails to provide is the context for the diagnosis of cannabis use disorder in the cohort – and let’s be real here, some of these are completely subjective. Dreams about cannabis? Does that mean I have a grief disorder because I often dream about my dead cat? Tolerance? That’s going to happen with any substance – I have a tolerance to caffeine, does that mean I have a caffeine use disorder?
Look, I’m not trying to go on a diatribe here about cannabis use disorder, I am not a physician and I’m not trying to play one, but CNN should have dug deeper into what symptoms the study participants reported to provide context and avoid context bias.
Adjective bias is also apparent in the report, wherein the second graph contains the word “weed” twice and makes sure to call cannabis use disorder “marijuana use disorder” and the author regularly uses “marijuana” when cannabis would be sufficient.
The accompanying video, which has really nothing to do with the study, also uses the word “pot” despite having an overall positive message pertaining to medical cannabis use. This could be considered photographic bias since the video is an old upload, plugged in just because it has to do with medical cannabis but not the study itself – it doesn’t really offer anything to the narrative.
How to remedy:
Oh, CNN, you’re quickly going to get a broad structural bias label as just about every story authored for your outlet shows some bias toward cannabis. As mentioned above, you would be greatly served by providing context, in this case: what were their alleged symptoms? Perhaps the inclusion of an outside expert would help balance the story as researchers will always back their conclusions even when ‘more research is needed’ as is the case with this study (only including one voice in an article is gatekeeping bias).
Including the non-alarmist parts of the study (improvement in insomnia and greater well-being) in the first or second graph would also help balance this particular article and maybe mentioning that at least 70% of study participants did not meet the criteria for cannabis use disorder would provide some additional balance and context.
So, let me rewrite that headline for you: “Study finds 70% of mood and anxiety disorder patients who receive medical cannabis report no adverse effects.”
Medical cannabis patient registrations in Louisiana have soared this year, according to a KPVI report. The increase coincides with cannabis flower being made available to patients on January 1. In all, there is a 600% jump in medical cannabis recommendations compared to this time last year.
“It was immediate, yes January 3, it was a lot,” said Doug Boudreaux, owner of Hope Pharmacy in Shreveport. “The first couple of weeks we did have a line out the door and we implemented an online ordering system. So, now there are three different ways for people to order their medicine.”
Numbers from the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy indicate more than 29,000 patients made purchases in the first quarter of 2022, a 60% increase from the end of 2021, the report says.
Boudreaux told KPVI many patients enter his store looking for flower, “but when we tell them all the other options, they’re happy to do other things.” He said besides flower, his store offers tinctures, edibles, and salves.
Medical cannabis first went on sale in Louisiana in 2019 but the program had a slow start due to restrictive regulations. In 2021, the Louisiana legislature legalized the sale of medical cannabis flower and decriminalized small amounts of cannabis. Adult-use cannabis legislation was introduced in Louisiana last year but failed to make it to the governor’s desk.
Mesobis, an amalgamation of “Mesoamerica” and “cannabis,” exists at the point where Latin American culture meets the industry. Co-founders Nelson Cury and Santiago Cervantes are old friends from boarding school who reunited to build a cannabis brand that embodies their cultures. Mesobis launches today (April 14) with a trio of Gomitas, which are all-natural gummy candies infused with THC in Latin American flavors. The founders filled Ganjapreneur in on the brand in a recent conversation.
Each gummy is molded into the shape of the Pyramid of the Sun and comes in three iconic flavors. California cannabis consumers can now find the following three flavors: Mango con Chile, Tamarindo con Chamoy, and Acai. Each flavor was inspired by either Cervantes’s original home of Mexico or Cury’s hometown of Brazil. While they started with gummies to match the flavors of their heritage, the team hopes to add more product categories to their line as the brand grows.
The co-founders aren’t just focused on the California adult-use market: the brand will also function as an art studio based out of their Van Nuys studio. Soon, they will release high-end streetwear and will continue collaborating with local artists on projects like a recent reimagining of the Gomitas flavors in the form of larger-than-life characters deemed ‘Mesobians’ from Mexico City-based artist Orly Anan. The art studio’s mission is to create a cannabis brand for Latin Americans that is infused with culture as well as THC.
“We believe in the power of creativity and empowering creatives to make pieces of art or experiences that can have some meaningful impact in people’s lives. That’s also our goal with the gummies – for people to learn about cannabis, learn about themselves, and learn about their culture. We just feel art and what we’re trying to do go hand in hand,” said Cervantes.
Their entry into the cannabis space was due in part to good timing. Cury has been in cannabis finance for some time and after reviewing pitch decks for years, he realized that nobody was marketing to him, a first-gen Latin American cannabis consumer. Simultaneously, Cervantes was creating a concept for a Mexican cannabis brand ahead of federal legalization in the country. Due to the stalled legalization process, that project was tabled. But the pair of old schoolmates happened to run into each other again in Los Angeles and realized they both had a passion for the cannabis industry. They combined Cury’s understanding of the space with Cervantes’s creative vision, and the concept of Mesobis was born.
Both men saw a gap in the market: while there are some Latin American-owned cannabis companies, few embody the culture in their products or branding. Cury noted that the majority of Latin Americans in the US were born in the states, and there is a renaissance of re-acculturation in that community. First-generation Latin Americans are searching for their history and Mesobis founders hope that their products can reconnect these consumers while also providing a taste of home to Latin Americans who have moved to the states.
“All this culture that is Latin America comes from a place and a time and we would like to be able to share that with people who are now living outside of their countries far away from their homes and have still a way to reconnect with their roots, remember who they are, and become more themselves,” said Cervantes.
It took months of R&D to finalize the Gomitas flavors, consistency, and packaging to ensure the flavors were right and the candies didn’t melt. They worked with multiple formulators to first get the shape, then the consistency, the flavor, and finally the outer chili coating, which took problem-solving to make sure it sticks to the candy in the package. The final result is a perfectly molded, chili-coated candy that has a soft consistency with a smooth bite. And this offering is just the beginning. Their intentional branding and offerings are an attempt to break the cannabis stigma that is still common in Latin American households.
While speaking with Cury and Cervantes, I couldn’t help but wonder why there aren’t more cannabis brands built for and by Latin Americans. It turns out that the stigma in Latin culture is still very prominent, and that stigma is one of the main reasons they infused Mesobis with so much intention. Cury explained, “It’s about elevating cannabis to a status that we haven’t seen in Latin America to try and break these taboos and making cannabis in Latin American culture so cool that it should motivate other people to start their own cannabis brand.” After starting Mesobis, both founders faced judgment and fear from their loved ones, but the way they see it is, if not them, then who will start the movement?
This connection to the culture is apparent when Mesobis reps bring Gomitas into Latin American-owned and operated shops; there is an immediate connection to the brand and the flavors. They believe that the same connection can lead their elders to see that cannabis can be healing and inspiring – it isn’t just a “gateway drug”.
“That was always the point with Mesobis, we knew that there needed to be a brand that looked a certain way, that felt a certain way, so that we could overcome these cultural barriers and these often misguided perceptions of what cannabis is, which comes out of the war on drugs,” said Cervantes. “Unfortunately, Latin America has had a lot of turmoil because of drug trade and cartels, so it’s understandable. When you look at our aesthetic, the reason we’re going so sophisticated is because we understood that if we want to have a brand that has a chance to later launch in Latin America, that my parents or my grandparents could look at and could feel comfortable consuming, it’s going to have to look like any other brand they would purchase, but it’s cannabis.”
Soon after the Gomitas hit shelves, Mesobis plans to drop their merch line of t-shirts, hoodies, and hats featuring prints from Mexican artists. In time, they will launch their full high-fashion streetwear line conceptualized and designed by Culiacán designer Esteban Tamayo. The line is built for the modern Latin American cannabis consumer and will be able to go day to night – from the airport to a fine restaurant – adding another layer of culture and class.
Ultimately, Mesobis founders are building their company with the intention that something as simple as a gummy candy can break the cannabis stigma built by propaganda and controversy. To find Mesobis Gomitas near you, or to stay tuned for their clothing drop, check the website or follow Mesobis on Instagram.
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) on Monday approved applications from seven medical cannabis operators in the state to expand into adult-use operations. The companies, Acreage CCF New Jersey, Curaleaf, Columbia Care, Verano, GTI New Jersey, Ascend New Jersey, and TerrAscend, must first pass operational inspections before they can sell to adults without medical cannabis cards.
Dianna Houenou, chair of the commission, said that the “approvals were given based on commitments” of the medical cannabis firms – known as Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs) – that there would be no “adverse effects” for patients with expansion.
“Expansion into the adult-use market – with a substantial advantageous start ahead of new applicants – is a privilege that must not be taken lightly. We expect these ATCs to uphold their promises to patients and communities; and that recreational customers will be adequately served. The NJ-CRC will be holding these businesses accountable to the commitments that led to their approvals. It is now on these expanded ATCs to keep up with demand – both medicinal and recreational.” – Houenou in a press release
The NJ-CRC also approved 34 conditional license applications for cultivators and manufacturers, bringing the number of conditional license approvals so far to 102, the agency said.
Jeff Brown, CRC executive director, said the approvals bring the state “closer to the opening of the market.”
“We are approving applications for new applicants and have now made way for the ATCs to expand,” he said in a statement. “We are now tasked with completing inspections of the ATCs and getting them permitted to open for business to the general public.”
The approved companies operate a total of 18 dispensaries in New Jersey but only 13 were granted approval to sell to adults.
