Miesiąc: sierpień 2022

Marijuana use may no longer disqualify prospective applicants from joining the Air Force or Space Force, due to a possible policy change under consideration at the Air Force Recruiting Service.

Recruiting boss Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas told Air Force Times in a recent interview that his organization is exploring the option of granting waivers to recruits who test positive for THC, marijuana’s high-inducing chemical, at Military Entrance Processing Stations.

“If applicants test positive for THC when they go to the MEPS, they’re permanently barred from entering the Air Force or the Space Force,” he said. “But as more states legalize cannabis, there is an increased prevalence of THC-positive applicants.”

If a THC-positive applicant is otherwise qualified to serve and the Air Force believes they will act in good faith and forgo cannabis once in the service, Thomas said those would be grounds for a waiver.

“We have to be realistic today,” Thomas said. “We need to exercise common sense.”

The service did not answer when that policy may be finalized or how many people have been turned away for positive THC tests.

The Pentagon prohibits troops from smoking, eating or otherwise using marijuana and marijuana-derived products, including those with CBD or THC. However, it’s up to the services to set their own policies on how to handle applicants who use those products before joining the military.

The Air Force isn’t the first branch to move toward giving pot users a second chance.

In April 2021, the Navy started a two-year pilot program in which otherwise qualified applicants who test positive for marijuana or THC at MEPS can get a waiver to move on to boot camp following a 90-day waiting period. That experiment will run until April 2023.

If a recruit turns out to have THC in their system while at Recruit Training Command, the Navy’s version of basic training, waivers to let them return have been available for years, a service spokesperson said.

“No waiver can be authorized for a positive drug test for anything other than marijuana or THC,” Commander Dave Benham said.

The Army also enforces a 90-day waiting period before aspiring soldiers who test positive for THC at MEPS can ask for a waiver to join the service. If a first-time offender then pops positive for any drug on their second test, they are permanently disqualified from joining the Army, spokesperson Brian McGovern said.

The Marine Corps did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Defense Department data from 2020 provided to Air Force Times shows that 8% of Americans between the ages of 17-24 are disqualified from military service due to drug abuse, which covers a broader range of prescription and illegal drugs than marijuana alone.

The military services have little control over rules related to illegal substances, particularly in cases like pot where the drug can be legal at the state level but not federal.

All but 11 states have legalized marijuana for medical and/or recreational use: Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

More than half of all new recruits come from states where medical marijuana is legal, the federally funded think tank Rand Corp. said last year.

Combined U.S. medical and recreational cannabis sales could reach $33 billion by the end of 2022, according to the trade publication MJBizDaily. Thousands of dispensaries have sprung up across the country, while the market for products and services that use the calming cannabinoid CBD is booming as well.

Nathalie Grogan, who studies military personnel at the Center for a New American Security, said adjusting the rules on marijuana could play a role in opening the door to as much as one-third of young American men who may have disqualifying past criminal conduct.

“Over-policing of growing minority populations and some states’ legalization of marijuana may be leading to an untenable trajectory if the standards remain unchanged,” Grogan said.

Drug sobriety requirements are one piece of a larger conversation on how communities of color, which are disproportionately impacted by uneven law enforcement and sentencing, and recent criminal justice reforms to address those disparities, factor into military recruitment.

“The military now bars from service most candidates with a significant criminal record or documented history of drug use. At the same time, arrests and drug use are increasing among American youth,” Grogan said. “Arrest rates are higher in low-income communities and communities of color.”

Black people are more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people in every state, though people of both races use marijuana at similar rates, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. That can further complicate the military’s difficulties in recruiting a force that looks like America.

Amid that debate, Rand Corp. has argued that Army recruits with histories of low-level marijuana use perform on par with other soldiers.

“That should be welcome news in recruiting offices nationwide,” Rand said.

Cannabis legalization is not just a hot topic in Congress, but all throughout the United States even as the plant remains federally illegal.

Despite being a Schedule I controlled substance, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Americans are pretty split on their views of cannabis and its effects on both individual consumers and society as a whole.

Gallup’s recent annual Consumption survey polled Americans on their cannabis views, habits, and more to examine trends and changes over the years.

Views of Cannabis Consumption

If you’ve consumed cannabis, you likely approve of its effects on individuals and society at large. If you haven’t, you probably believe it has negative effects.

Among those who have tried marijuana, 70% believe it has very or somewhat positive effects on consumers and 66% believe it has a very or somewhat positive effect on society. In contrast, among those who have never tried marijuana, 35% believe it has very or somewhat positive effects on consumers, and 27% believe it has a very or somewhat positive effect on society.

Overall, 53% of Americans say marijuana has positive effects on individual consumers and 49% say it has positive effects on society, while 45% say it has negative effects on consumers and 50% say it has negative effects on society.

Relatedly, another recent, separate Gallup Poll showed that 75% of Americans say alcohol consumption has a negative effect on society and 71% say it has a negative effect on individual drinkers.

While Americans seem split on their views of cannabis consumption, a Nov. 2021 poll from Gallup shows a record 68% of Americans approve of adult-use cannabis legalization.

Consumption Habits

Nearly half (48%) of U.S. adults report ever having tried marijuana, according to a new Gallup Poll. This figure is double the figure reported in 1977 (24%), and dwarfs the 4% reported in 1969 when Gallup first posed the poll question. By gender, 53% of men report ever having tried marijuana compared to 42% of women.

While 48% report ever having tried marijuana, 16% of Americans report they currently smoke marijuana while 14% report consuming edibles. Amongst men, 18% say they currently smoke marijuana while 14% say they consume edibles, while 14% of women say they smoke and 13% say they eat edibles.

On the question of have you ever tried marijuana, the 18-to-34 and 35-to-54 age demographics were relatively similar at 51% and 49%, respectively. Furthermore, amongst those aged 18-to-34, 30% report currently smoking marijuana and 22% report currently consuming edibles, compared to 16% and 16%, respectively, for those aged 35-to-54.

Respondents aged 55 and older were relatively similar when it comes to ever having tried marijuana (44%), but there are stark differences in current consumption habits: Only 7% report currently smoking marijuana, and 7% report currently consuming edibles.

Marijuana consumption didn’t differ much based on education: 47% of college graduates report having ever tried marijuana, compared to 44% for “some college” and 52% for “no college.”

Consumption did vary greatly, however, between political parties. A majority (53%) of those who identified as Democrat report having ever tried marijuana, with 20% saying they currently smoke marijuana and 17% saying they currently consume edibles. In contrast, 34% of Republicans report ever having tried marijuana, with 12% saying they currently smoke and 9% saying they currently consume edibles.

Read the full results from Gallup’s annual Consumption poll here. These results are based on telephone interviews conducted from July 5-26 with a random sample of 1,013 U.S. adults aged 18 and older living in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The margin of sampling error is ± 4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

Cory Mitchell, the operations manager at Flower Power Botanicals, a dispensary in Fort Collins, Colorado, that accepts cryptocurrency, told CoinDesk he was “able to partner and sponsor the local university (Colorado State University), be their first cannabis industry partner and reach out to the college community in a way our competitors cannot.”

CBD was my gateway into cannabis-infused skin care. I’d heard from friends that the ingredient could help with menopause-induced hormonal changes in my skin, so I decided to give it a try. Admittedly, I was unimpressed with the first few products I tried (a mask, a muscle salve, and a night cream)—which wasn’t exactly surprising considering the lax regulations around CBD marketing in skin care—but I finally found an under-eye cream that turned me into a dedicated user.

From there, I wanted to learn more about the ingredient that gave my skin a glow akin to menopausal sweat (but in a clean, less slimy way), so I set out to test some of the buzziest cannabis-infused products on my mature skin. Keep scrolling for what I discovered.

The benefits of CBD for 40+ skin

CBD is one of more than 100 naturally-occurring cannabinoid compounds, but it’s likely the one you’re most familiar with thanks to its popularity in the skin-care world these past few years.

“CBD is known to be an anti-inflammatory,” explains Kiley Brewster, a licensed- esthetician at Woodhouse Spas in New Jersey. Additionally, “Cannabis can help fight against aging due to its antioxidant properties that help fight free radical damage,” she says.

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All of this spells good news for those of us with mature skin. Free-radical damage is one of the main culprits behind skin aging, and hemp oil’s natural moisturizing abilities can be helpful for those dealing with dry skin as a result of lowered estrogen levels post-menopause. Plus, inflammation can deplete your body’s natural levels of collagen and elastin, leading to more visible fine lines and wrinkles, which is where CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties come in handy.

But how does it work? „CBD binds to a special set of receptors in the skin known as TRPV-1 receptors, where it can help feelings of heat, itch, and pain,” Joshua Zeichner, MD, a New York-based dermatologist, previously told Well+Good. „This explains why it has a soothing effect on the skin. Just as other natural oils are used in skin care, the natural fatty acids and antioxidants in hempseed oil [which CBD is derived from] make it a good choice for people with dry skin and eczema.”

Our bodies have an endocannabinoid system—cellular receptors—in nearly all tissues, including the skin. “CBD molecules are fat-soluble, which allows merging with the endocannabinoid system in a natural and organic process,” says Adelina I. Sanchez, a medicinal massage specialist in Texas who uses cannabis-infused products in her practice. “Topicals allow CBD to reach CB2 receptors directly.”

To reap the full benefits cannabis has to offer mature skin, look for a formula made with full-spectrum extracts, which use different components of the plant—including other complexion-friendly cannabinoids like CBG (which is rich in antioxidants), and CBC (an anti-inflammatory).

„If you just have one cannabinoid, such as CBD, you’re missing out on the over 100 additional cannabinoids that work together to produce the entourage effect,” Jessica Assaf, The Cannabis Feminist, previously told Well+Good. „I really believe in the whole plant, full-spectrum extract or oil as the active ingredient in skin-care products.”

One more thing worth noting? CBD products won’t get you high. THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, may be present in trace amounts—but you’ll never find more than .3 percent of the stuff due to federal laws.

4 cannabis products I tried—and loved—on my mature skin

Kiehl’s Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Concentrate — $52.00

This stuff is made from cold-pressed hemp seed oil, and promises to “calm the feeling of stressed skin while helping balance hydration.” And that, it does.

The cannabis-infused formula fortifies and moisturizes the skin barrier, keeping the harmful elements our skin encounters on a daily basis—like pollution and UV damage—at bay. It’s not anti-aging specifically, but it is anti-inflammatory, which means that it helps skin look less dry, dull, red, and wrinkled. It absorbs quickly, immediately alleviates feelings of tightness, and isn’t so greasy that I can’t immediately layer my other products (namely, moisturizer and primer) on top of it.

As for the smell—which Kiehl’s calls a “pleasant herbaceous aroma”—well, let’s just say it takes me back to my youth. Case in point? Once, when I visited my youngest on campus, I momentarily thought it was the scent of my Sativa facial oil wafting out of the dorm room window. (Spoiler alert: It wasn’t.)

Happy Dance Look Alive CBD Eye Cream — $26.00

Actor Kristen Bell developed her Happy Dance line of CBD-infused products to turn down the volume on life’s chaos, and that’s kind of what this cream did under my eyes. While CBD soothes the delicate skin in the area, a slew of other skin actives are also at work. Peptides and quinoa extract reduce puffiness, dark, circles, and bags, while avocado oil locks in moisture and soften skin.

The formula isn’t as oily as some of the other eye products I’ve used: It’s perfectly moisturizing, great for layering with makeup, and leaves my eyes looking bright and buzzy in the best possible way.

Truly Beauty Hemp Oil Facial Serum — $25.00

Truly Beauty’s Hemp Oil Facial Serum goes on like an oil and absorbs like a serum, and as the website marketing claims, really does “live up to its buzz.” It pairs hemp seed oil (a fatty-acid-rich anti-inflammatory) with vitamin A, which stimulates cellular turnover to help kick your body’s natural production of collagen into high gear.

It’s ultra-lightweight and easy to apply sunscreen on top of, and I love that when I wear it outside I can be sure I’m getting an extra dose of antioxidant protection. The scent is light—almost non-existent—which is important for travel considering how often the smell of my Kiehl’s oil attracts the attention of TSA.

Smashbox The Mindful 5 Facial Primer — $42.00

Part makeup, part skin care, this primer will give you the best of both worlds. It gets the name “mindful 5” from its combination of five complexion-friendly ingredients: Cannabis Sativa hemp seed oil and green tea (for fighting inflammation); red algae (for enhancing the moisture barrier); probiotics (to support the skin microbiome); and a primer-oil complex.

It’s slightly sticky when you apply it, so you have to wait a few minutes before layering on makeup, but once it dries it’s extra-helpful for locking foundation into place. The combination of the formula’s Sativa oil and green tint helps minimize redness in my skin, and on days when my complexion is showing limited signs of visible damage I’ve found that I don’t even need to put foundation on top of it— I can wear the primer on its own and it gives me a nice, even glow.

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As more states legalize cannabis for recreational use, weed-infused drinks are touted as a healthier alternative to alcohol.

More bars and alcohol brands are introducing beverages that contain THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis that gets people high. Breweries in Minnesota are now offering THC-infused seltzers after lawmakers legalized edibles, although the trend started earlier in more weed-friendly states such as Colorado and California.

THC-infused drinks might appeal to people who want a social buzz without the effects of alcohol, and some products are marketed as low-calorie, natural, and “hangover-free.”

But health experts are skeptical about the health benefits of this relatively new form of consumable cannabis due to a lack of research.

Since cannabis is still an illegal drug on the federal level, controlled clinical trials on the health effects of THC are extremely limited. A “standard dose” of cannabis has yet to be established, said Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD, a medical toxicologist and co-medical director at the National Capital Poison Center.

“I am sure that there is a ‘toxic’ threshold dose of cannabis,” Johnson-Arbor said. “In terms of liquid formulations, we don’t have that information yet.”

Most weed-infused drinks on the market say they contain around 2–10 mg of THC. For some people, just 2 mg of THC could cause a high, while others might not experience the same effects even on higher doses, according to Leah Sera, PharmD, MA, BCPS, co-director of the Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

“The effects of THC are extremely individualized—everyone responds to cannabis products differently,” Sera told Verywell in an email.

While the National Institute on Drug Abuse established a standard unit of THC as 5 mg for the purpose of clinical research, there are no official recommendations on what’s safe for consumption.

What Are the Risks of Weed-infused Drinks?

Some THC-infused sodas like CANN claim to be hangover-free, but that’s misleading.

Whether someone feels “lingering cognitive effects” the day after consuming THC beverages would depend on different factors, such as how many drinks they consumed and their tolerance level, according to Tory R. Spindle, PhD, an assistant professor and researcher at the John Hopkins Cannabis Science Laboratory.

Some cannabis drinks are made with a relatively new nanoemulsion technology that allows THC to be absorbed faster than other edibles. While the liquid form might kick in within five to 10 minutes, some edibles can take up to four hours to reach their peak psychoactive effects.

Experts worry that people might reach for more drinks than they can tolerate while waiting for a buzz. And since individuals can react to edibles very differently, it’s much harder to gauge how much product they should consume.

THC can lead to slower reaction time and impaired coordination, and the effects can last more than eight hours, so it’s best not to drive after using any amount of cannabis. Overconsumption of THC can also lead to nausea, paranoia, and increased heart rate.

Will We See More Research on THC-Infused Drinks?

Experts say there is still a lot to learn about cannabis drinks and how they impact behavior and long-term health.

“It’s kind of like the Wild West with these products and there’s very little regulation,” Margaret Haney, PhD, a professor of neurobiology and director of the Cannabis Research Laboratory at the Columbia University Medical Center, told Verywell.

Cannabis is currently classified as a Schedule I drug, which the Drug Enforcement Administration defines as a drug with “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” LSD and heroin are also Schedule I.

There are enormous regulations in place when scientists try to conduct research with a Schedule I drug, Haney explained.

“So the consequence is it’s very hard to conduct good, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical studies with cannabis,” she said. Without these studies, it’s challenging to fully understand how cannabis edibles affect the human body.

Cannabis use has been shown to lead to dependence or a use disorder. But the likelihood of someone developing marijuana use disorder after drinking THC-infused drinks is still unclear.

“There’s an enormous industry that is promoting cannabis products, for pretty much every indication, and it’s all happening in lieu of any data,” Haney said.

MONROE, Mich. – On Monday, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 876 announced that a Michigan-based cannabis company location became unionized.

According to a press release, Lume Cannabis Co.’s Monroe location will be the first shop out of the 40 in the state that’ll be the newest Local 879 members.

The Monroe Lume shop started a unionizing campaign in July.

“Unions built Southeast Michigan, and we’re honored to be the newest part of the rebuilding effort. A unionized Lume means better working conditions for employees, better relationships between the store and corporate management, and an improved experience for cannabis enthusiasts,” stated Michael, a ‘Luminary’ at the Monroe location.

Lume is considered to be the largest cannabis retailer in the state. The votes that allowed for this Downriver location to unionize were tallied on August 26 by the National Labor Relations Board.

Any cannabis worker interested in forming a union can click here to learn more.

Other cannabis news 🍃

City of Detroit opens applications for commercial adult-use marijuana business licensing

Senate Democrats introduce bill to end federal prohibition on cannabis

Michigan State Police halt marijuana THC tests after lab problems

Another series of California marijuana bills—including one to ensuring that medical cannabis patients across the state have access to delivery services—are heading to the governor following last-minute votes in the legislature ahead of Wednesday’s end-of-session deadline.

In the past several weeks, about a dozen cannabis reform bills crossed the finish line in Sacramento, pending action from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).

One of the latest developments is the passage of legislation from Sen. Scott Wiener (D) that would prohibit localities from banning medical cannabis deliveries in their areas—a move that advocates say will both improve patient access and help fill voids throughout the state where no cannabis license types have been authorized.

“With over 300 California cities banning any and all sales of cannabis, millions of Californians are effectively blocked from purchasing legal medical cannabis,” Wiener said in a press release on Wednesday.

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“We must ensure everyone who needs access to medical cannabis has access—that includes seniors, people living with cancer, HIV and other chronic or life-threatening illnesses,” he said. “Otherwise, people have to turn to the illicit market, which creates safety risks and undermines the regulated, legal market. This is not an acceptable situation, which is why we need to ensure that everyone can access medical cannabis delivery.”

Advocates were also especially pleased to see a measure providing employment protections for most workers who use marijuana off the job clear the legislature on Tuesday, after earlier versions stalled in committee in past sessions.

Also earlier this month, a key reform to streamline record sealing for people with eligible marijuana-related convictions passed the legislature.

Another passed measure would set the state up to allow interstate cannabis commerce. The sponsor of that legislation, Sen. Anna Caballero (D), said in a statement on Tuesday that “California can and should lay the groundwork for a multi-state legal cannabis market, which will benefit our rural economy and our workers and put a dent in the dangerous illicit market.”

California is leading the way to create more trade opportunities for the emerging legal Cannabis market. SB 1326 will give California a competitive advantage and it’s on its way to the Governor’s desk! https://t.co/wyBbwLwkkN

— Anna Caballero (@CASenCaballero) August 30, 2022

An additional bill that was passed this week and is now moving to the governor would amend the state’s medical cannabis law to authorize marijuana products for non-human animals and protect veterinarians who issue cannabis recommendations for pets.

But while these measures have received ample attention from advocates and stakeholders, Newsom will have his hands filled as more enacted bills make their way to his desk in the coming days.

Here’s a rundown of the recently passed marijuana bills that are on the way to the governor: 

SB 1326: Caballero’s measure would set the stage to allow for interstate marijuana commerce from California to and from other legal states, contingent on an official assurance that the activity would not put the state at risk of federal enforcement action.

AB 2188: Assemblymember Bill Quirk’s (D) bill would “make it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a person in hiring, termination, or any term or condition of employment, or otherwise penalize a person” solely because of off-duty marijuana use. It would eliminate employment-based THC testing, with exceptions for certain positions, such as federal employees or those working in construction.

SB 1186: The bill from Wiener would “prohibit a local jurisdiction from adopting or enforcing any regulation that prohibits the retail sale by delivery within the local jurisdiction of medicinal cannabis to medicinal cannabis patients or their primary caregivers by medicinal cannabis businesses.”

AB 1706: Assemblymember Mia Bonta’s (D) legislation is meant to enhance justice reform provisions of the state’s marijuana law by mandating the courts to process record sealing and other forms of relief for people with eligible cannabis convictions on their records in a specific timeframe. Courts would have until March 1, 2023 to seal records for qualifying cases that weren’t challenged by July 1, 2020.

AB 1885: The bill from Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D) would prohibit regulators from penalizing licensed veterinarians who recommend medical cannabis for animals and revise state law to include definitions for marijuana products intended for animal consumption. The Veterinary Medical Board would also be required to create guidelines for veterinarian cannabis recommendations.

AB 2568: Sponsored by Assemblymember Ken Cooley (D), the bill would “provide it is not a crime solely for individuals and firms to provide insurance and related services to persons licensed to engage in commercial cannabis activity,” according to a summary.

AB 1954: From Quirk, the legislation would make it so doctors could not discriminate against patients by denying medication or treatment based on a positive THC test if the person is a registered medical cannabis patient in the state. It further stipulates that medical professionals couldn’t be penalized for administering treatment to a patient who uses medical marijuana in compliance with state law.

SB 988:The legislation from Sen. Ben Hueso (D) would amend an existing law that requires certain California medical facilities to accommodate medical cannabis use by registered patients. It would specify that it the responsibility of patients and caregivers to obtain, administer and adequately store cannabis products—and also remove them from the facility after a patient is discharged.

AB 1646: This bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Phillip Chen (R), would “authorize cannabis beverages to be packaged in containers of any material that are clear or any color.”

AB 1894:  Assemblymember Luz Rivas’s (D) bill would add advertising and labeling requirements for cannabis vaporizer products, stipulating that they should be properly disposed and would constitute hazard waste if thrown away improperly.

AB 2210: Another bill from Quirk would prohibit state marijuana regulators from “denying an application for a state temporary event license solely on the basis that there is a license issued pursuant to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act for the proposed premises of the event.”

AB 2925: This measure from Jim Cooper (D) would mandate that the State Department of Health Care Services submit reports to the legislature, starting no later than July 10, 2023, that accounts for cannabis tax revenue that has been distributed to the Youth Education, Prevention, Early Intervention and Treatment Account, as required under the state’s marijuana law.

Newsom has a long record of supporting marijuana reform and backing the state’s market, so he’s generally expected to sign these measures. But despite his record, he recently vetoed a key piece of drug policy reform legislation from Wiener that would have authorized a safe drug consumption site pilot program in the state—a move that’s prompted widespread criticism from the harm reduction community.

San Francisco officials have since signaled that they’re prepared to defy the governor and launch an overdose prevention program regardless of the veto.

In another disappointment for reform advocates, a separate Wiener bill that would have legalized possession of limited amounts of certain psychedelics was recently pulled by the sponsor after its main provisions were gutted, leaving just a study component that advocates say is unnecessary given the existing body of scientific literature on the subject.

Here’s an overview of other recent drug policy developments in California:

Last month, California officials awarded more than $1.7 million in grants help promote sustainable marijuana cultivation practices and assist growers with obtaining their annual licenses. A total of $6 million will be allotted through the program, which was first announced in August 2021 and will remain open for applications through April 2023.

Regulators also recently announced that they are soliciting input on proposed rules to standardize cannabis testing methods in the state—an effort that they hope will stop marijuana businesses from “laboratory shopping” to find facilities that are more likely to show higher THC concentrations that they can then boast for their products.

Meanwhile, California officials are distributing another round of community reinvestment grants totaling $35.5 million with tax revenue generated from recreational marijuana sales.

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) announced last month that they’ve awarded 78 grants to organizations throughout the state that will support economic and social development in communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs.

The amount of funding and number of recipients increased from last year’s levels, when the state awarded about $29 million in grants to 58 nonprofit organizations through the CalCRG program.

California has taken in nearly $4 billion in marijuana tax revenue since the state’s adult-use market launched in 2018, the Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) reported late last month. And for the first quarter of 2022, the state saw about $294 million in cannabis revenue generated from the excise, cultivation and sales tax on marijuana.

The state collected about $817 million in adult-use marijuana tax revenue during the last fiscal year. That represented 55 percent more cannabis earnings for state coffers than was generated in the 2020-2021 period.

California officials also announced in January that the state had awarded $100 million in funding to help develop local marijuana markets, in part by getting cannabis businesses fully licensed.

Arkansas Marijuana Campaign Says A Vote For Legalization At The Ballot Is A Vote ‘To Support Our Police,’ In New Ad

Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.

[Los Angeles, CA] August 31, 2022 — PRESS RELEASE — Hot off a record-breaking launch of Cookies in Miami, Fla., TRP continues its nationwide expansion on its home turf. Bringing one of the world’s most recognized cannabis brands to one of LA’s most exclusive and picturesque neighborhoods of Brentwood, TRP is excited to open a new Los Angeles location for Cookies with a gorgeous dispensary on San Vicente Boulevard on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. In an industry with complex rules and regulations that vary from state to state, TRP has been the engine behind the successful rollout of Cookies dispensaries in eight states (CA, NV, OR, WA, OK, CO, FL, MA) and counting, providing expertise and enterprise level infrastructure to exclusive partners including Cookies, Dr. Greenthumb’s, and Insane.

Regarded as one of the cannabis capitals of the world where hype and premium genetics reign supreme, it makes sense that TRP is best suited to take on the challenging task of spearheading the newest Los Angeles store opening for Cookies Brentwood. Situated next to the iconic Brentwood Country Mart, TRP was able to open the very first dispensary located in the Westside neighborhood, standing beside other high-profile retailers including James Perse, goop, and Christian Louboutin, beloved by the community for decades.

“TRP opening Cookies Brentwood just weeks after a successful Cookies Miami launch is exactly the challenge at which we excel,” says co-founder and CEO of TRP, Brandon Johnson. “Our team at TRP is experienced at operating in multiple markets. We encompass everything from adapting standard operating practices to complying with different regulations while catering to the unique customers in each market.”

The excitement generated from the Miami launch will no doubt create a halo as TRP meets the demand for a more accessible and updated storefront with the elevated customer experience that is expected from TRP’s owned and operated Cookies stores. The newest location will seamlessly capture a new and existing customer base with exclusive cannabis offerings as TRP builds strong relationships with the local community as well as serves as an educational resource for premium cannabis genetics. 

“Brentwood is one of the most exclusive and coveted neighborhoods in the country,” says president and co-founder of TRP, Daniel Firtel. “Securing real estate here is a challenge no matter who you are, let alone a cannabis company. It’s these types of challenges that set TRP apart as an operator in cannabis. We’ve been able to take one of our core competencies in real estate to achieve a small win for the industry.”

TRP’s expansive retail, cultivation and distribution network is imperative to the success of brands as they look to scale across the U.S. and the world’s segmented cannabis market. The greater Los Angeles community is invited to join and support TRP in breaking opening day records for their high wattage grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 10, 2022, at 9 a.m. PDT, further locking in its foothold in the cannabis space as the largest owner and operator of Cookies dispensaries nationwide. The TRP team looks forward to bringing the grand opening back to California to see Cookies loyalists and new customers explore the store, shop, and if they’re lucky, receive giveaways from the TRP team, as the entire crew gears up to meet their new neighbors and community members.