Today Grammy Award-nominated artist Afroman announced tours in Mississippi and Oklahoma, and a new single to boot. Be on the lookout for Afroman Cannabis at dispensaries dispersed throughout Oklahoma.
Last year, Palmdale, California-based star Afroman appeared on the single “WHOLEthing” for his Cosmic Wire debut with BLAZAR. This year, the duo is back with the funk-driven track, “Step it UP” on Cosmic Wire. Jerad Finck aka BLAZAR is an electronic music producer currently signed to AntiFragile Music. BLAZAR produced Afroman, Daxsen and Corey Feldman, while working alongside production team members of the Pixies, U2, Collective Soul and Pink.
Afroman’s recent 2021 tour was appropriately named “This Ain’t No Joke, This Ain’t No Gimmick, I Got to Get Paid in the Middle of a Pandemic” Tour—sharing the frustrations of many Americans. He also recently released the music video for the single, “Cuz I’m High,” the official remix of his classic “Because I Got High” that brought the rapper Kid Lennon into the public eye, also featuring YHK Destin.
Before rapping about smoking, Afroman was rapping about sagging. “The first tape I made was about my eighth-grade teacher,” Afroman said. “She got me kicked out of school for sagging my pants, which was a big deal back then. So I wrote this song about her and it sold about 400 copies: it was selling to teachers, students, just about everybody. And I realized that, even though I wasn’t at school, my song was at school, so in a way I was still there. All these people would come by my house just to give me comments about how cool they thought the song was.”
Afroman’s classic “Because I Got High” was a smash hit, and gained notoriety after its appearance on The Howard Stern Show and the Jay & Silent Bob soundtrack. Not long after, Afroman joined the lineup of Cypress Hill’s “Smoke Out” festival with the Deftones, Method Man and others, not to mention his gig headlining The Gathering of the Juggalos in 2010.
Photo courtesy of Afroman.
He made numerous appearances at festivals like the Pacific Festival with Calvin Harris and Steve Aoki, and the Snowball Music Festival 2014 alongside Pretty Lights, Griz, Rüfüs Du Sol, Busta Rhymes and J. Phlip. During 2018 Afroman shared the stage with Snoop Dogg and Bone Thugs ‘n’ Harmony on the notorious PUFF PUFF Pass tour, which also included legends such as E-40 and Warren G. Snoop Dogg is a frequent guest on Afroman tracks, and also frequently in the smoke circle.
Alongside the tours in Mississippi and Oklahoma, Afroman also is behind numerous strains and various other cannabis-related events and projects.
Afroman Cannabis is on the market, notably in dispensaries found throughout Oklahoma. In the past, Palmdale Purp is a cannabis strain brought to the market by Afroman. His strains Fro-G Kush and Blue Magic were released earlier. He also put his name behind a malt liquor beer “Cold Fro T5.”
After launching Afroman Cannabis he will tour, beginning in Mississippi and Oklahoma, aka “Smokelahoma”.
Lovers of pre-rolls and stuff-your-own cones, beware: an international shortage of cones is imminent, according to several paper and cone manufacturers and supply chain managers.
According to Alen Nguyen, CEO of supply chain management platform MainStem, the majority of the world’s cones, regardless of what company ends up sticking their labels on them, are assembled by hand in “less than 10” factories in Indonesia. The rest are handmade in India, for the most part, with just a few exceptions.
Rolling papers, in general, are mainly produced in factories in Europe, India and China, with the majority coming from European countries like Spain, France, Czech Republic and other continental nations.
Regardless of where cones are produced, Nguyen explained that a crucial aspect of their manufacturing process—the actual construction—relies on human labor. The actual rolling paper production process is “pretty automated,” and there are currently no wrinkles in that corner of the supply chain. But cones require careful assembly to preserve shape and structure without wrinkles, tears or creases while the paper is rolled and glued. The process simply hasn’t been able to be automated yet.
Being the COVID era, this means that in Indonesia, specifically, there have been factory closures and work stoppages since the beginning of the pandemic. This has led to a backlog in production and order fulfillment at a time when demand for cones has rapidly increased. Add to that a global shipping slowdown, and cones intended for weed stuffing have become the latest casualty of the current supply chain meltdown.
“Cones were invented about 20 to 30 years ago by this Dutch guy who opened one of the first facilities in Indonesia,” said Bryan Gerber, co-founder and CEO of Hemper, which also owns Hara Supply. Gerber called Hara “the largest pre-rolled cone manufacturer in the world.” He explained that, over time, someone from the original factory split off and opened another, and so on and so forth, which has resulted in the large handful of factories making cones that now exist in Indonesia.
Gerber, along with everyone else interviewed for this story, said that Indonesia remains one of the main hubs for cones because labor is cheaper there. But strict unionization laws and previous labor stoppages have inspired cone manufacturers to look elsewhere in recent years.
Labor is also inexpensive in India, where Hara constructs its cones—Gerber says that Hara’s output accounts for about 20 percent of the world’s cone supply. For manufacturers, India also has the benefit of “basically being open, COVID-wise,” Gerber said.
He added that pandemic-related shutdowns are no longer occurring, especially not in factories, so while his company is not experiencing a backlog in production like those that rely on Indonesian labor, they are weathering shipping delays, along with the rest of the world. Technically, Gerber said, they could handle overflow for cone suppliers interested in making the switch to Indian assembly, but they would all be hamstrung by the same shipping woes the rest of the world is facing.
Either way it’s sliced, this will result in a noticeable shortage of cones, which will see some brands temporarily removed from the market while things level out. There are also likely to be price increases for what does make it onto shelves, Nguyen said.
Demand for Cones is at its Highest
The shortage comes at a particularly crunched time for an already pressured market. “The demand for cones is infinite,” Gerber said. “Literally infinite.” Gerber says Hara is currently producing 16 million cones a month, which he hopes will increase to 100 million cones a month by January. He bases this on the demand he has seen from the marketplace, which both he and Nguyen commented are heavily multi-state operator-driven.
Concerning MainStem, Nguyen says that from 2019 to 2020, there was a 51 percent increase in average order size. From 2020 to 2021, so far, there was a 43 percent increase in average order size from the previous year. This means that, since the pandemic started, average customer order size is up 116 percent for MainStem’s wholesale shoppers, who are the companies that either stuff pre-rolls or sell cones under their own brands.
The size of the market bears this out. According to a study performed by Custom Cones USA and Headset, a cannabis industry data company, from 2019 to 2020, pre-roll sales grew 59 percent—from $704 million to $1.12 billion. In 2020, pre-rolls made up 10 percent of overall cannabis sales, up from 9.5 percent in 2019. Full 2021 data isn’t available yet, but it’s safe to say the market is steadily growing. Even if 2021 doesn’t see more growth, what already exists is big.
“Overall, we’re experiencing a two to three multiplier on manufacturing lead time in the last couple of months and at least three to five multiplier on shipping time by sea due to the back up at the ports,” Nguyen said. “This is from the manufacturer shipping to the distributors in the U.S., as well as larger clients with which we work directly with the manufacturers. This results in anywhere between 13-18 weeks for product delivery,” he predicted. He added that this is all subject to change, which means delivery times could also increase.
Several retailers—all of whom sell either pre-rolled joints, cones or both—all confirmed they were battling delays and shortages of their own stock as a result of the problems with Indonesian cone production.
“The paper and cone shortage has been a major factor in Blazy Susan’s growth over the last year. Many of the larger brands have had trouble keeping up with demand thanks to huge increases in port congestion and shipping rates,” said Colorado-based Blazy Susan CEO Will Breakell.
Breakell also mentioned another factor, which was also echoed by Gerber: production hiccups for rolling papers in China, where some of paper production has shifted over the years. Breakell said “major” power shortages have been happening across the country, resulting in some regions only being able to produce two days a week or less.
Gerber said that rising labor costs have caused rolling paper companies to look further afield. Some papers produced in China have also tested positive for heavy metals in several instances over the last decades, which has also scared off manufacturers.
The CEOs from Space Coyote, Fuzzies, Daily High Club Greenlane and Snail also confirmed they have seen disruptions in inventory due to the cone shortage. Nguyen, from MainStem, said that he has several multi-state operator clients who regularly place large orders, and that their supply will be affected.
Not every brand will see a shortage, per se, but even individual brands with more solid supply chains won’t be able to make up the difference with their own inventory. Overall, there will be fewer cones for sale, period.
“Our team has heard our competitors are having issues sourcing paper and assembling cones, thereby causing inventory shortages on their end,” Paul Marobella, president and chief marketing officer at Republic Brands, said. Republic owns OCB, E-Z Wider and Job. He explained that Republic owns its entire supply chain, including paper manufacturing and booklet assembly, and therefore will not see any shortages in its brands for either papers or cones.
Nick Kovacevich, CEO of Greenlane, which owns rolling paper brand Vibes, said that they are also seeing increased demand for paper products, including cones. Vibes’ papers are made in France, he said, and he offered consumers a reminder. “Keep in mind this will only affect pre-rolled cones and not flat paper which still allows consumers to roll their own joints,” he said. “We cannot get enough cones, but we are expanding production in two different regions to meet demand.”
Don’t know how to roll? It seems like there’s never been a better time to learn.
Pakistan appears to be the latest country to succumb to the cannabis legalization wave that has gripped the planet with increasing speed (and in a strange twist to all of this as the world struggles toward a pandemic-free future).
During a recent meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Science and Technology, the Pakistan Minister of Science and Technology, Shibli Faraz, specifically discussed not only the worth of the global cannabis market in just a few short years, but also the place of Pakistan in it.
Beyond this, the government has already moved to begin cultivation of hemp for industrial purposes. Initially such supplies will be imported—but beyond this, greenhouses will be constructed in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. Hemp production has been legal since September 2020 as has medical use.
Experiments on cannabis oil have already begun (much like in Germany, in fact) and the government has now approved four sites for growing cannabis, with plans for tight control of the same so such materials are not exported except per the mandate of strict international control mechanisms.
With so many irons in the works, it is unsurprising that the government intends to formalize the nascent industry by legislative framework by the end of the year.
A History of Cannabis in Pakistan
While the recent moves by the government to formally legalize the plant and create an industry behind it are clearly being influenced by modern global cannabis reform, there is a long history of cannabis use in the country (and of course India, from which Pakistan was separated after the end of WWII).
Hashish is widely consumed in both smoked form (charas) or in liquid form (bhang).
During the 1980s, criminal laws were put in place around drugs including cannabis, in part due to pressure by then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Ever since then, until the new legalization and reform wave of the last decade, the country’s politicians have not changed their stance.
Some have even suggested (falsely) that legalization is against Muslim beliefs, perhaps because the use of cannabis is well-documented in early and ancient Hindu and Sufi texts. Indeed, Sufis still use the drug as a part of religious worship, believing that its use provides both relaxation and an opening of the mind.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the country was a must-stop on the Hippie Highway—including the hashish market in Peshawar. This is one of the reasons that many of the most popular commercialized strains hail originally from this part of the world. See Hindu Kush as just one example.
Cannabis grown in this part of the world also has a very distinctive purple and grey color and can grow to an exceptionally tall height.
Pakistan is now ahead of India in formalizing its cannabis market (although India is almost sure to follow).
Why is this Development so Intriguing?
Pakistan is home to landrace strains of cannabis. This is cannabis that occurs naturally in the wild. This generally means that strains are more stable. It also means such plants have characteristics that may add to the overall scientific inquiry about cannabis as reform continues to march across the world.
Pakistan, in fact, may become a valuable export market for the rest of the world just from a seed perspective, for this reason. Indeed, seeds for export are already on the planning board and will be produced initially near Rawat.
Beyond this of course, there are multiple ways that the cannabis plant can be used—and it is clear that Pakistan is looking at many of them.
Cannabis, particularly when it is native to an area, is a highly sustainable crop. It is also beginning to turn into a must-grow crop for overall economic development (in both developed and emerging economies).
Josephine & Billie’s is celebrating its grand opening as the first social equity investment of The Parent Company by embracing minority brands and creating a retail store that welcomes all demographics.
On October 28, The Parent Company’s first social equity corporate venture fund investment, Josephine & Billie’s, announced it will be opening its doors to the public on Friday, October 29. The brand claims to be the first of its kind, with a unique “speakeasy-style” concept inspired by “tea pads” that were commonly found in Black communities during the 1920s and 1930s. The name is inspired by entertainer Josephine Baker and singer Billie Holiday—two prominent figures in Black history.
Headed by CEO Whitney Beatty and COO Ebony Andersen, this duo’s main goal was to create a welcoming dispensary experience for women of color. “Most stores are designed and built by white people, with one perspective,” Andersen said in a press release. “And women of color rarely get the opportunity to feel comfortable in those spaces. But Josephine & Billie’s was designed and built by, and for, women of color with that in mind.”
Beatty also added a statement about the need to rethink dispensary experiences for many types of consumers. “Research shows that women are more anxious than men, and data shows that black women are facing the most anxiety—and yet we have not seen a dispensary focusing on this demographic,” shared Beatty. “Josephine & Billie’s is committed to being an educational space and community where women of color, and allies, feel safe and welcomed to learn about the healing benefits of cannabis.”
Josephine & Billie’s will carry a variety of well-known cannabis products such as Monogram, Cann, Select and Kiva Confections—but with also a focus on people of color-owned, queer-owned and female-owned brands such as Ball Family Farms, Leune and California Rolls, to name a few. What makes this brand stand out isn’t just its goal for inclusivity or its unique theme. Its layout has been broken up into desired terpene profiles, such as “relief” or “focus,” to make it easier for consumers to find products that are best for them.
On June 3, Josephine & Billie’s was announced as The Parent Company’s first social equity corporate venture fund investment. Barely two weeks later, The Parent Company also announced The Peakz Company as its second social equity investment.
The Parent Company CEO, Troy Datcher, echoed the pride of contributing to the expansion of cannabis dispensaries run by minority business leaders and supporting minority-owned cannabis businesses.
“The Parent Company is committed to leveraging our financial, social, and cultural capital to create a more inclusive cannabis community,” said Datcher in a press statement. “Josephine & Billie’s unique and necessary mission to develop a welcoming and educational retail experience, particularly for women of color, exemplifies why Whitney and Ebony are the exact types of entrepreneurs that we want to stand up and stand behind with our social equity fund as we focus on shaping this industry’s future and uplifting all communities.”
The brand welcomes people from all walks of life, and, according to its website, strives to make it welcoming for all. “We love helping women of color learn about cannabis. From THC percentages, strain types, terpene profiles, there is no question not worth asking. In our space, we are [effect-focused], an aim to help you heal, ease tension or uplift. Our M.O. is, we got you, sis. We’re here to encourage self-care and joy and to educate every woman that walks in the door, giving her a little more than she came in with.”
Con 26 años de edad, metiéndose en el freestyle competitivo “de grande” y sin un palmarés tan ancho ni tan largo, Barba Roja logró convertirse en uno de los elegidos para competir en “la madre de las batallas”. ¿Qué tiene de especial? ¿Cuál es su fuerte? Y, fundamentalmente, ¿cómo lo logró?
Por estos días, el carismático MC de Coghlan se agiganta de puro contento: por primera vez, clasificó a la Red Bull: Batalla de los Gallos y en La Barbaloneta hay lugar para todos y todas.
A la sazón, Ari, alias Barba Roja, vive en Avellaneda, conduce un programa de radio (Civilización o Barba), dejó su trabajo en mensajería y anda mostrando que tantos años de teatro están rindiendo sus frutos: hace unos meses formó parte de Días de Gallos, la serie de HBO Max sobre la movida del freestyle. Y ahora, después de un pilón de under, llega el coqueteo con el mainstream. “Los sueños se cumplen”, avisa.
Muy lejos de casa
Casi nadie lo sabe, pero el nombre real de Barba Roja es Ari Strok Blanch. No se llama Ariel, ni se llama Aarón: Barba Roja es “Ari”, que en hebreo quiere decir “león”. Rápidamente, Barba Roja explica lo que ya explicaba antes su abuela: “Ella quería que me llamaran por mi nombre: Ari, no Ariel. Y ahora me dicen Barba Roja. Le re cabió a mi abuela”, bromea, como cada vez que abre la boca.
Después de cursar el colegio en el Santa María de los Ángeles, en Coghlan, y el secundario en el Liceo 9, de Belgrano, Ari tuvo un despertar artístico: quería meterse en el teatro, quería actuar, quería hacer de todo.
Hasta que en 2009, un amigo suyo –Peque Style- empezó a rapear. Una rima, dos rimas, tres mil millones de rimas. “A ver, tirate una vos”, le dijo Peque Style. Y Ari -de jetón- comenzó a deslizar sus primeros versos.
Pero todavía faltaba para Barba Roja, aún la improvisación era apenas un chiche.
Ari tuvo una adolescencia llena de tablas, de escenarios, de luces. Incluso, para 2010, se subió a los shows de la banda Circus para ensayar unas rondas de freestyle. “Lo hacía con mis recursos, como podía. Tampoco era tipo ‘este pibe rapea muy bien’”, confiesa entre risas.
Súbitamente, en medio de turbulencias post-adolescentes, de un trabajo como delivery, de un alquiler en una pequeña pensión y de un secundario que aún late incompleto, Ari se sintió imantado por la idea de viajar. Un poco fueron sus amigos, otro poco fue la circunstancia y otro poco más fue su futuro incierto: agarró su mochila y se fue.
Llegaron Brasil, Colombia, Panamá y Costa Rica; un año de viajes y cambios.
Y fue ahí, en el medio del trip brasilero, que en un hostel en el que un puñado de argentinos agitaba las aguas, donde Ari se convirtió oficialmente en Barba Roja y se lanzó a rapear. “Estuvo épico”, recuerda.
En rigor, el por qué del apodo Barba Roja no hay siquiera que explicarlo, pero sí vale mencionar que fue una vieja compañera de teatro la que lo sindicó con su actual alias batallero.
“Yo tenía muy poca experiencia freestyleando. Siempre fui showman, siempre me gustaron las luces pegándome en la cara. En ese momento, con muchas limitaciones, hice que la gente gritara una rima mía. Y estuvo buenísimo”.
Siguió el trip, arribaron nuevas latitudes, nuevos amigos, flamantes experiencias.
“En Brasil vendía comida en la playa. El freestyle era un hobby. En Colombia trabajé en un hostel, vendiendo desayunos. Después, fui a ver a un amigo a Costa Rica y empecé a laburar en un hostel, pero también empecé a caer en lugares que hacían música en vivo. De golpe, después de rapear, me daban el morfi. Rapeaba por un platito de comida”.
Para agosto de 2017, la expectativa aventurera de Barba Roja siguió engordando enormemente y sus planes, también. Junto a Magamo, cantante de Nafta y Militantes del Clímax, armaron una banda para trabajar durante la temporada: The Rainy Season Brothers.
“Vivíamos en Santa Teresa, en Costa Rica, a una cuadra del mar. A partir de noviembre, durante todos los días, nos pagaban para que tocáramos. Era el tipo más feliz del mundo”.
Con la temporada bajando, en marzo de 2018, emprendió la vuelta: sin un mango y con lo justo.
“Yo me hubiese quedado, pero me volví porque creía que estaba para competir acá. Por momentos pensaba que era Wos”.
Así, con casi nula experiencia en batallas (salvo un dignísimo debut en una competencia de San José en la que perdió frente al campeón local SRK), decidió meterse de lleno en el circuito competitivo de Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires me mata
“Mi sueño era competir en el Quinto Escalón”, confiesa Barba Roja. Sin embargo, para ese momento, la competencia de Parque Rivadavia ya estaba finalizada y su mito comenzaba a agigantarse.
Sin más, empezó a presentarse en el Pintágono, en Las Vegas Freestyle, en El Eje de la Rima y en cada competencia que se cruzara.
Pagó el derecho de piso hasta que, a fuerza de carisma, comedia y punchlines, llegó a la final de la fecha 2 de la temporada 2019 de El Eje de la Rima. “Para mí, fue un antes y un después”, cuenta.
Durante largos sábados y domingos siguió presentándose en todas las competencias que se cruzara, mientras que en la semana continuaba con su trabajo en mensajería.
Así las cosas, en mayo de 2019, ganó una fecha en Anfree y entendió que, todo esto, era un camino: “Gané una fecha medio deslucida, en la que en octavos bajé a Rama, en cuartos a Noodle, en semis a BRK en el que tiré uno de mis mejores acotes y en la final a Dream, un picante de Monte Grande”, recuerda.
Enseguida, también clasificó a la Nacional de Circuito Baires y se batió a duelo con Tuqu Ran, uno de los pesados de la escena, con un público bien grande. “Perdí con mi amigo el Tuqu, fue un orgullo”.
De esta manera, a fuerza de presentaciones y buenas batallas, el Barba fue instalándose en la escena doméstica. “Di buenas batallas pero no me llevé ningún logro”.
Años versátiles
Con la llegada de la pandemia, Barba le escapó a las competencias vía Discord, hizo un programa por Instagram (Las 12 del Barba), co-condujo un programa durante los fines de semana en la Rock & Pop (Súper Freak) y sacó unos temas que tenía guardados (“Paradojas”, “Proyecto 8” y “Salí a Buscarme”).
Ya para comienzos de 2021, se presentó en la Alianza Freestyle, en Merlo, y dio batallones en la Perros de Calle y en la Sangre Gaucha.
Enseguida, llegó la serie Días de Gallos, una publicidad para el chocolate Kit Kat y algunos shows como host de eventos. “Ya no estoy trabajando con la moto, pero siempre está la posibilidad. Lo que pasa es que ahora puedo manejarme como quiero y haciendo cosas que no podría de estar con un laburo fijo, como competir un jueves o grabar un tema un martes”.
A la sazón, en la serie hace de un rapero “con cara de malo” (sic).
—¿Cómo fue filmar Días de Gallos?
—Fue hermoso. Me encantó conectar con referentes como Stuart, Klan y Cacha. Me llevé una alta relación con Klan. De hecho, me dijo para juntarnos y yo por dentro me estaba haciendo caca, pensando en que no lo podía fanear. Ese día volví a mi casa pensando “esto es increíble”. Fue un sueño para mí: de estudiar teatro a hacer una serie que tiene que ver con el freestyle, me pareció alucinante.
Las vueltas de la vida: de extra a protagonista
Como hace algunos años, pero este en particular, Barba Roja se anotó en la Red Bull con la expectativa de romperla, de dejarlo todo. En la batalla de clasificación le tocó versus el cordobés Cold. No hubo vencedores ni vencidos, pero Barba dio un papel muy destacable.
“Cuando salieron los videos de las clasis, a la gente le encantó mi minuto. Le encantó a Papo, también a Jony Beltrán.Todos los que reaccionaron, fliparon. Parecía que tenía chances de clasificar”.
Hasta que un día, de sorpresa, mientras estaba haciendo de extra caracterizado como judío ortodoxo en una película con Celeste Cid, recibió una llamada de Federico Stuart y Taty Santa Ana, en nombre de Red Bull.
Había clasificado por primera vez en su vida a la Red Bull: Batalla de los Gallos y se estaba enterando en el medio de un rodaje, haciendo de extra en una película de la que ni siquiera recuerda su nombre. “Cuando me avisan que quedé, el director de la película me llama al plano y fui llorando. Entré mal, fui el peor extra en la historia del cine”.
Con el correr de las horas, fue cayendo en gracia y fue también una ristra de lágrimas y agradecimientos.
—Lo viví siempre con mucha emoción. Me lo había re puesto en la mente como para alcanzarlo. Todavía no sucedió. Todo está por venir. Lo viví mucho desde la emoción. Lloré mucho. Hay una palabra para todo esto y es, como dije, emoción.
—¿Y cómo te ves para la Red Bull?
—Voy más allá de los resultados. Me veo rompiéndola, brillando y que sea lo que Dios o Bizarrap, Lit Killah y Trueno quieran.
—¿Qué onda clasificar por primera vez la Red Bull de “grande”?
—Elijo no pensar mucho lo de la edad. Y no entrar en esa de “tenés tantos años, el tren ya se fue”. Decidí manejarme siempre con respeto, eso hace que todos también te respeten a vos. Una vuelta, estaba en el Pintágono y, después de competir, me quedé hablando con G5, que tenía 14 años. Yo andaba por los 24 y él me contó una secuencia que tuvo en el aula. Y compartir eso con él es algo que demuestra respeto.
Sean todos bienvenidos a La Barbaloneta
Que de la mano, de La Barbaloneta, todos la vuelta vamos a dar: sentimiento colectivo, afán de unidad y un MC nac & pop.
Fue por un tuit gracioso de Daro Dos Santos [organizador de El Eje de la Rima], fue gracias a un retuit de quién sabe quién, fue por el clamor popular: La Barbaloneta, esa banca coral al Barba, nació en las redes sociales y hoy celebra este presente ominoso.
“La gente que se sube es gente que quiere que me vaya bien. Me parece también que hay algo relacionado con la edad, con cumplir los sueños. No digo que el resto de pibes no lo estén cumpliendo, pero vi a muchos decir ‘que esté el Barba en la Red Bull es la representación de que los sueños se cumplen’. Es decir, ‘si este tomuer llegó a Red Bull, vos también podés”.
Una sequita, nomás
Cuando compite, no fuma, pero sí le manda cuando está en casa, por mirar una película o en situaciones de relax. Pero hubo una vez, Dios sabe cuándo, que Barba Roja subió a competir fumado y su arma para zafar la situación, una vez más, fue la comedia.
“Si se me cae esa, estamos al horno”.
En tanto, por las noches, el Barba suele darle mecha. “¡Todos los días!”, grita de fondo su novia.
En boca del MC: “El otro día, fumé para escribir un tema y funcionó. Va a ser un tema bailable que todavía no tiene nombre”.
Asimismo, en camino a la despenalización, Barba Roja asegura que “con el Reprocann se dio un paso muy grande. E, incluso, me gustaría que se amplíe mucho más. Pero vamos de a poco”.
—Y a vos, ¿qué te gustaría que te pase a futuro?
—Me gustaría estar de vuelta en alguna serie con un personaje picante, seguir sacando temas y seguir rompiéndola en las compes, más allá de los resultados. Quiero que todo fluya.
Créditos de foto: header (@Xipson_), Carolina (@zurdoph) y River Plate (@j.o.t.a.d.e).
According to Switzerland’s government agency in charge of public health and welfare, cannabis should no longer be banned but rather comprehensively regulated. As a result, the National Council now has the task of creating said framework and for an integrated medical and recreational infrastructure. The first city to kick off this enchilada of cannabis will be the country’s largest and its capital of Zurich.
There are several issues at play here beyond regulating the industry at a national leve—a task in truth that has only been achieved by two countries to date (Uruguay and Canada). Switzerland is backing into all of this with a country-wide trial.
This is deliberately limited to 5,000 study participants per canton, but it will begin to create a “state-by-state” organization for the industry to grow. Such participants will have to show that they are already cannabis users. This should not be hard to do. About a third of the Swiss population has admitted that they have smoked cannabis at some point. About 200,000 admit to smoking regularly.
Cities will be able to conduct scientific studies—both on the economic impacts of a new industry as well as the impact of recreational cannabis sales (and accessibility) on a local level.
Local manufacturers must obtain a production permit from the Federal Office of Public Health to ensure quality standards.
Participants will be able to purchase cannabis from both pharmacies and social clubs.
Shutterstock
What is the Significance of this Development for Switzerland?
Right now, there are three pending adult use markets in Europe. This includes Luxembourg, which has now decided to move forward more or less on schedule to create the same and Portugal, which is still in the process of deciding how to do that at a legislative level. Then there is Holland, which is also a different animal at this point, with a regulatory schema that is federal, even if the coffee shops in the larger cities are still largely an independent force.
The Swiss trial, however, is intriguing for several reasons.
The first is that it is designed to promote a domestic cultivation market, and further one that includes recreational (high THC) cannabis. Beyond this, the Swiss market will begin to feature products not much seen in Europe to date—namely extracts and edibles. This is a massive next step in the discussion, even if it will take the EU itself a little while to adjust on a regulatory front.
Regardless, the relative freedom from EU regulations will create an interesting outlier in the middle of the entire European conversation that will not be ignored. This includes the other legalizing states. It will also, certainly, include the other two trade partners in the DACH trading region (Austria and of course the big cannabis Kahuna in this entire conversation, Germany).
After the national election here, there has certainly been an injection of renewed optimism about change on the horizon. There are now multiple legal challenges floating around the discussion, starting with the CBD front.
Beyond that, there is also a new hope that at least decriminalization if not a German recreational trial is in the works.
The Swiss trial, in other words, may move a lot of levers on the reform front—and not just domestically.
There is also another discussion in the room, however. Namely, if cannabis can be sold in pharmacies without a prescription, where does the line between “medical” and “recreational” cannabis lie?
The GACP vs GMP Discussion
Beyond extracts and edibles, perhaps the greatest impact the Swiss trial will have is to begin to define the line—starting with cultivation—between pharma grade cannabis and that bound for recreational markets.
The first place this will show up is cannabis sourced from indoor vs. outdoor cultivation sites. GMP cannabis must be grown indoors (for starters). Given that Switzerland has a short natural growing season, the likelihood is that most of the domestic cultivation bound for either market will be grown indoors.
Beyond this, however, cannabis in Switzerland will be routed through existing pharma, food, beverage and cosmetics channels. Novel Food is going to be waived (for the purposes of the trial at least).
This means that for the first time, there will be a fully baked cannabis market, leaving no part of the plant, by cannabinoid, or use, or product, out of the mix.
This is very different from anything else seen in Europe right now, and it is going to start to make a difference just beyond Swiss borders. Namely, it is very likely that the “recreational,” high-THC market here may also finally defeat the Novel Food genie—and for all cannabinoids grown in the region, if not extracted in a way that is recognized as “normal” here too.
For all these reasons, the pending national trial in Switzerland is likely to upset the cannabis (apple) cart just by showing what is possible.
The states who border the country and are poised on the verge of more reform themselves, are absolutely watching.
Today Puffco announced the release of its latest product, a 3D Chamber designed to optimize user experience of the award-winning Puffco Peak Pro.
The 3D chamber heats on all sides, fully enveloping the dab material evenly. Bringing the heat into the bowl itself—where the oil sits—results in bigger clouds, better flavor, more efficiency and a faster heat-up time, the company promises.
The 3D chamber uses 30 percent less battery power and produces more vaporous dabs at a lower temperature, optimizing the experience for the dabber. Additional heat sensing capabilities also provide more accuracy, keeping the bowl at its pre-set temperature.
Photo courtesy of Puffco
Connoisseurs and dabbers already know about the cutting-edge torchless design of the Puffco Peak Pro—providing electronic heating accuracy without losing any quality. It’s the “best and first” smart rig design, capable of next-level customization and control. The company plans on doing the same with its new chamber technology.
“Puffco created the Peak to make the best experience in cannabis accessible to everyone, designing it to evolve along with its users’ needs and wants,” Puffco CEO and Founder Roger Volodarsky explains. “The 3D chamber delivers on that evolution with better flavor, improved battery efficiency, and more vapor—even from such delicate materials as water hash. It levels up the entire experience instantly.” Puffco was originally founded by Volodarsky in 2013 and is still held privately, with headquarters in Los Angeles, California.
Fans of the standard chamber need not worry: The 3D Chamber is capable of the same four pre-set heat settings as the Peak Pro Standard Chamber, and can be customized on the Peak Pro Platform. Keep in mind that any firmware updates are required to use the 3D chamber.
The 3D Chamber will be available in late October through www.puffco.com.
The company manufactures devices for cannabis concentrate connoisseurs including the Puffco Peak, Peak Pro and the easy-to-carry portable Puffco Plus. The company is known throughout the industry for its award-winning product designs and advanced cannabis concentrate technology.
The company has sold over one million orders of the Puffco Plus since first launching the product in 2016. The company’s recent products are selling at an ever faster pace. The company released The Puffco Hot Knife, an innovative battery-powered dabbing tool earlier this year. You don’t even have to wipe off concentrates with the tool, because it features a ceramic tip that heats rapidly, thus allowing the concentrate to slide off on its own.
Puffco Peak Pro at Puffcon
Puffco is all about meeting its consumers face-to-face, showing appreciation, which was highlighted recently at a local event.
The 3D Chamber made its debut earlier this month at the inaugural Puffcon Block Party. Puffco fans, including High Times representatives, attended the first-ever Puffcon Block Party event on October 2 and had a chance to try out the 3D Chamber’s capabilities first-hand, prior to its public release and on-sale date.
The event transformed approximately four blocks of Downtown Los Angeles, located near the 110 freeway.
The inaugural Puffcon Block Party even featured performances from Flatbush Zombies, Action Bronson and Buddy, and an all-star line up of vendors ranging from Talking Terps and Trove SF to All My Hats Are Dead and Elbo. Puffcon Block Party was free to any vaccinated consumer over the age of 21 who owned a Puffco Peak Pro or Peak OG, or who bought one of the items before the registration closed.
The event featured vendors ranging from, as the event’s “shakedown street” was filled with unique merch and creative wares.
The addition of the 3D Chamber provides better vapor clouds and better flavor, among other perks to the Puffco Peak Pro family of products.
You’re not alone if you’re a big fan of CBD gummies. Mess-free, scent-free, and affordable—what’s not to love about this easy and accessible way to enjoy the many benefits of CBD?
There’s one problem, though—with so many different products out there, it can be hard to feel confident that you’re making the right choice with your purchase. To purchase high-quality products, you will want to make sure that you are buying the best of the best CBD gummies.
We’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll map out our favorite CBD gummy companies so that you can make an informed buying decision.
The Benefits of CBD Gummies
There are many advantages to relying on gummies for your CBD fix. Although you can also vape or smoke CBD, these inhalation methods may irritate people with sensitive lungs. Also, some consumers feel that ingesting CBD via gummies gives them more control over the amount they take, since the dosage is more consistent compared to smoking or vaping.
Eating CBD gummies gives you all of the same benefits as with other consumption methods—many people report CBD gummies help them manage pain, insomnia, inflammation, anxiety and more.
cbdMD is a well-respected CBD retailer with the mission of bringing the benefits of CBD to all. They exclusively offer THC-free products and use their standardized, broad-spectrum blend that carefully blends cannabinoids and terpenes to allow the full effects of CBD to be felt.
cbdMD offers their CBD gummies in packs of 30, with 300, 750, or 1500 mg options. Each bottle comes with a mixture of mouth-watering sour flavors (strawberry, tropical, orange and raspberry). cbdMD also offers a CBD gummy with a vitamin-C boost for the health-conscious.
Highlights:
cbdMD uses extensive, third-party testing
All of cbdMD’s products are exclusively made from USA grown hemp
If you’re on the hunt for the best CBD gummies for sleep, then have we ever got a showstopper for you.
FAB CBD offers two types of CBD gummies, uniquely organized by the time of day the customer should take them. There is both an anytime variety and a nighttime variety, which is where we’re placing our focus.
Among these nighttime chew’s ingredients are CBD distillate and melatonin, a supplement commonly used to help encourage drowsiness. Interestingly, the product also contains Ashwagandha, an herb that has been cited as a sleep aid.
Highlights:
FAB CBD gives back a portion of its profits to the community
FAB CBD offers a wide range of CBD products as well as flavors
CBDistillery is a brand at the forefront of the CBD movement, offering some of the best CBD gummies on the market. They are a reliable company that offers transparent, third-party lab testing and a litany of positive customer reviews.
CBDistillery offers both CBD gummies for sleep and relaxation, the latter of which could be helpful for customers who are looking for the perfect gummies for anxiety. It is also possible to buy a full-spectrum CBD gummy, which may appeal to those looking for a CBD product for general use.
Highlights:
CBDistillery has a brand mission of removing the stigma from CBD products.
The CBDistillery website does an excellent job of making important information accessible.
The CBDistillery is certified by the US Hemp Authority (USHA).
Medterra is a CBD company known for its high-quality products. As a company that focuses exclusively on CBD, they offer a wide range of items for both humans and pets, but perhaps the most notable product of all is their CBD Keep Calm Gummies.
If you’re shopping for the best CBD gummies for anxiety, then this is an excellent choice for you. These gummies offer 25 mg of CBD per gummy, as well as 50 mg of L-Theanine, which is an amino acid that some users cite as helpful in managing stress, anxiety and mental function.
Highlights:
Medterra is U.S. Hemp Authority Certified.
Medterra offers customer service by email or telephone six days a week.
Medterra has sold more than 900,000 CBD tinctures and more than 200,000 gel capsules.
Charlotte’s Web is one of the foremost companies on the CBD scene, so we knew they had to be a part of our CBD gummies review. The company offers three different CBD gummies, each with its unique functions.
There are the standard sleep gummies, which come complete with full-spectrum CBD and melatonin. Next are the Calm gummies, which blend full-spectrum CBD with relaxing lemon balm. Finally, the company offers the Recovery gummies, some of the best CBD gummies for pain that you could find on the market. These come with a blend of turmeric, ginger and Charlotte’s Web’s proprietary full-spectrum CBD.
Highlights:
Charlotte’s Web is one of the oldest CBD brands.
Charlotte’s Web is certified by the US Hemp Authority.
All available products are third-party tested.
Ingredients (Recovery gummies): CBD from full-spectrum hemp extract, ginger, turmeric, tapioca syrup, beet sugar, FOS, water, MCT oil, pectin, natural flavors. Less than 1% of citric acid, sodium citrate dihydrate, organic sunflower lecithin, tapioca starch
Discount code: Use coupon code AMMA for 15 percent off.
Buyer’s Guide
How to Choose a Good CBD Gummy
Courtesy of AMMA
There are many great CBD gummies out there that you could purchase, but how do you know that you are getting the best CBD gummies?
It’s important to vet the CBD companies that you buy from. This means looking for signs that a company is legitimate and reputable—do they have a healthy selection of online views? Do they have a professional website? Do you know anyone who has had experience ordering from them? Have they been talked about in any media outlets?
Once you know a company is trustworthy, you might want to consider personal considerations before you make your purchase. Is it necessary to you that a company offers free returns? Are you looking for a money-back guarantee? Do you despise watermelon-flavored candy, and are you willing to go to great lengths to avoid it? Also, in general, it’s best to avoid gummies that have long lists of artificial ingredients and preservatives. It’s possible to find gummies that feature organic, vegan or gluten-free ingredients if that’s important to you.
How to Use CBD Gummies
If you’re sold on the concept of CBD gummies, you may be wondering how exactly to indulge.
Once you have your hands on your first pack of CBD gummies, you should start with the lowest recommended dosage and work your way up if the effects aren’t strong enough. Make sure that you take the gummies far in advance, if possible—it may take up to an hour for gummies to have an effect on some people, which is important to consider if your main reason for taking CBD is for pain management.
As far as dosing goes, it’s best to follow the specific instructions of the manufacturer that you have purchased from. Start off slow because, again, the effects of CBD gummies can take quite a while to be felt to their fullest extent. This might mean cutting a gummy into halves or quarters.
It’s always best to talk to your healthcare provider about your CBD use, especially if you are using CBD for pain management or if you’re on any other medications.
Final Thoughts
CBD gummies are a wonderful invention and help many people around the world to manage pain, calm anxiety, and/or sleep better. If you’re new to CBD and need some help choosing the right product, you’re in the right place—every gummy on this list has been vetted by our team of experts for quality, consistency and efficacy.
That means you can rest easy—we’ve already done the research for you, so you can choose any of the products from this list and be sure you’re getting the best of the best.Looking to do more research on CBD? Learn about the different types of CBD gummies or read the Beginner’s Guide to CBD.
“Empecé a fumar cannabis en la universidad. Durante mi segundo año”, revela la leyenda de la NBA Allen Iverson. “En mi año de novato, conseguí algo bastante fuerte, y eso cambió mi proceso de pensamiento en torno a fumar”.
Convertido en un connoisseur de la marihuana, Iverson ha unido sus fuerzas con Viola Brands, de Al Harrington, para lanzar una línea de productos y artículos de cannabis bajo el nombre de The Iverson Collection.
Pero el mundo de la marihuana no siempre ha sido fácil para Iverson. De hecho, el atleta fue arrestado por posesión de cannabis en 1997.
“La primera vez que fumé, el efecto desapareció muy rápido. Era mi primer día en el campus y el entrenador vino a nuestro departamento a buscarme y yo estaba muy high. Fui directamente a limpiar y todo, y él sólo subía para ver cómo estaba porque era mi primer día en el campus. Pero tenía mucho miedo de que se diera cuenta de que estaba drogado. Así que mi primera vez fumando fue una sensación genial, hasta que descubrí que me estaba buscando”.
El partner adecuado y el enfoque correcto
“En el pasado, mucha gente se me había acercado para hablar de cannabis. Pero ninguna de las ofertas me pareció adecuada. Hasta que recibí una llamada de Al [Harrington]”, explica Iverson cuando se le pregunta por la asociación con Viola.
“Al me explicó lo que estaba tratando de hacer con su visión, cómo está tratando de ayudar a la gente -principalmente a nuestra gente, cómo está tratando de educarla y aumentar su consciencia sobre los beneficios del cannabis y del estigma que lo rodea”.
Atraído por la personalidad de Harrington y por su misión de ayudar y educar a la gente, mientras empodera a las comunidades de color, Iverson finalmente se subió al tren del cannabis. “A partir de ese momento, me metí de lleno. Para mí, formar parte de la primera multinacional de cannabis de propiedad negra es algo importante”.
Pero la relación entre las dos leyendas de la NBA va mucho más allá del negocio: es muy personal.
“Si pudiera compartir un porro con alguien, vivo o muerto, seguiría siendo Al Harrington”, asegura Iverson. “Lleva años hablándome del porro y confía en que estaré bien con el cannabis que comparta conmigo, que será adecuado para mí. Así que confío en él; eso me hace sentir cómodo”.
Para Harrington, Iverson también era el complemento perfecto para Viola. “Cuando pienso en lo que estamos haciendo en el espacio del cannabis, siendo una compañía de propiedad negra y siendo inusual… Sólo pensé en cómo Allen había impactado no solamente en la liga sino también en jugadores como yo. Allen fue alguien que cambió el juego, muy disruptivo, y siempre siendo él mismo. Eso es lo que siento también por Viola“.
Y continúa: “Allen realmente se la pegó a la América corporativa, que no se sentía cómoda con mucho de lo que estaba haciendo”.
Esto, argumenta Harrington, abrió las puertas a toda una nueva era de jugadores de básquet. Ahora, le toca a Viola hacer algo similar para los empresarios del cannabis, especialmente cuando se trata de emprendedores de color.
“Cuando pienso en el impacto y la concientización que queremos aportar, no se me ocurre nadie más grande en el mundo del deporte con quien hacer esto aparte de Allen”, añade.
Según el dúo, la asociación surgió después de que Iverson visitara los 18.000 pies cuadrados de cultivo de Viola en Detroit, el marzo pasado.
“Al ver la operación a gran escala, la verdadera dedicación a la planta, junto con el compromiso inquebrantable de Viola para aumentar la participación de las minorías y la propiedad en la industria del cannabis (actualmente sólo el 4%), Allen estaba seguro de que esta asociación estaba destinada a ser”, explicó Harrington en una entrevista anterior para Forbes.
Dominante índica, para nuestra gente
El primer producto cannábico de la Iverson Collection es una flor de predominancia índica denominada ‘96. El nombre es una referencia al año en que Allen “The Answer” Iverson fue reclutado para la NBA.
La variedad es el resultado de un cruce entre Secret Kush Mints y Grape Stomper.
Este complejo perfil de sabor combina un robusto aroma a caramelo de uva con notas de pino y menta. Como explica Harrington, la ‘96 está recubierta de tricomas de cristal y muestra una variedad de colores que se inspiran en los verdes vivos de la Secret Kush Mints y en los morados característicos de la Grape Stomper.
Al y Allen explican que el concepto fue cuidadosamente elaborado para su propia cultura.
“Siento que nuestra cultura gravita más hacia las índicas que las sativas”, dice Harrington. Sin embargo, asegura que The Iverson Collection pronto contará con sativas e híbridas, así como con muchos otros productos interesantes.
“Pero el primero tenía que ser realmente representativo de nuestra cultura. Índica, con sabor a uva, ya sabes”, añade Iverson. “La cepa ‘96 no sólo sabe bien, sino que también te permite sentarte y relajarte -y tal vez ver los mejores momentos del baloncesto”.
De hecho, no sólo el efecto de la ‘96 fue diseñado para un cultivo específico. El sabor a uva también conlleva su propio legado.
“A nuestra cultura le encanta el ‘gas’, el cannabis que sabe a gasolina o a gasóleo. Queremos esa cosa fuerte. Así que, cuando pensamos en esta oportunidad con Allen Iverson, sentimos que tenía que saber a gasolina y a uva. Y lo conseguimos, sin duda”, dice Harrington.
“Quería algo que me recordara al Dom Perignon, y era esto”, añade Iverson.
Además de cannabis, The Iverson Collection incluye productos no relacionados con la marihuana. La gama inicial de productos incluye camisetas, buzos, picadores, encendedores, pelotas de básquet y mucho más.
Iverson y Harrington también se estarán asociando en la reedición de la marca CBD de este último y en otras empresas en los próximos meses.
Bienestar y salud
Aunque The Iverson Collection no se comercializa estrictamente como una línea de cannabis medicinal, tanto Iverson como Harrington le dan un uso medicinal.
“Lo uso con fines médicos, sin duda”, declara Harrington. “Con la vida que llevo ahora, dirigiendo un negocio, siendo marido, criando niños y cuidando de mi familia, necesito algo para relajar. Y luego, también lo uso para mi cuerpo, para tratar las muchas lesiones que he tenido durante mi carrera. Hace unos 10 años que no tomo ningún medicamento de venta libre. Es tan común en mi familia que hasta mis hijos saben lo que son los cannabinoides”.
Iverson asiente todo el tiempo, de acuerdo con su buen amigo Al. “La gente tiene sus propias opiniones y eso es algo bueno. Desde mi punto de vista, soy la prueba viviente de que un consumidor de cannabis es activo. No es que el porro te haga perezoso: es sólo un estado de ánimo”.
“Esto es definitivamente un estilo de vida. Es medicina, pero también es para salir con tus amigos”, complementa. “Esto es algo en lo que realmente creo. Creo en la medicina de las plantas”.
Preguntado por los estereotipos que afirman que los consumidores de cannabis son perezosos e improductivos, el dúo de la NBA estalla en carcajadas.
“Ya ni siquiera se habla de eso. Que lo googleen”, dicen al unísono, entre risotadas. “Sí, que lo googleen”.
Y Harrington continúa: “Cambiamos el estigma a diario manteniéndonos activos, productivos e inteligentes… Cuando la gente se enteró de que Allen se dedicaba al cannabis, todos empezaron a acercarse. Desde entonces, he visto a otras 50 grandes celebridades queriendo entrar en la industria. Y eso me encanta. Ésta es una industria multimillonaria que tenemos frente a nosotros. Y creo que sería una pena que la gente que se parece a nosotros no se beneficie de ella”.
Pero para que todo esto funcione, dice, el cannabis tiene que estar regulado a nivel federal, “algo así como el licor”. Y el cambio está cerca.
Sin embargo, hay un asunto más urgente: la clemencia y la eliminación de los antecedentes penales.
“Eso es lo que realmente importa. Dejar salir a la gente que está en la cárcel por mantener a sus familias, mientras nosotros hacemos lo mismo y podemos hacerlo legalmente”.
A group headed by a former Arkansas lawmaker has joined the charge to reform cannabis policy in the state by organizing a group to campaign for a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana. Eddie Armstrong, a former Democratic state representative from North Little Rock, is listed as the chair of the organization Responsible Growth Arkansas in a filing with the Arkansas Ethics Commission submitted on October 15.
The text of the proposed constitutional amendment had not yet been filed with the office of the Arkansas Secretary of State as of the beginning of the week. The group’s statement of organization, however, notes that the organization will “advocate for the passage of an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to allow the regulated sale of adult-use cannabis in the state,” according to media reports.
In an email to reporters, Armstrong wrote that more details of the proposed constitutional amendment to legalize recreational cannabis will be released in the upcoming weeks.
Armstrong is a former minority leader of the Arkansas State House of Representatives, where he served as a legislator from 2013 to 2019. He is also a founder of Cannabis Capital Corp., a Chicago-based consulting firm serving the medical marijuana industry, according to a 2019 article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Medical Marijuana Legalized in 2016
Arkansas voters legalized medical marijuana in 2016 with the passage of Issue 6, a constitutional amendment ballot measure that received 53 percent of the vote. Under the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment, patients can receive a doctor’s recommendation to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis for the treatment of one or more qualifying medical conditions.
Medical marijuana dispensaries began serving patients in 2019. However, statutory limits on the number of cannabis cultivators and retailers could soon leave patients with an inadequate supply of medicine, says medical marijuana advocate Melissa Fults.
“There can only be a maximum of 40 dispensaries and that is not enough to cover the state of Arkansas,” said Fults. “They kept spouting that it was only going to 30,000 patients. We’re about to hit 80,000.”
Separate Cannabis Legalization Amendment Also Proposed
Responsible Growth Arkansas is not the only organization campaigning to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state. Under a separate ballot measure from Arkansas True Grass known as the Arkansas Recreational Marijuana Amendment of 2022, cannabis would be legalized for adults ages 21 and older, including provisions to cultivate up to 12 cannabis plants at home. The measure would also release nonviolent marijuana offenders from incarceration, probation and parole and expunge records of past marijuana convictions.
The proposed constitutional amendment would also establish a regulatory structure for the production and sale of recreational marijuana. Sales of adult-use cannabis would be subject to an eight percent marijuana excise tax in addition to the state sales tax. Local jurisdictions would also be permitted to levy a five percent tax on recreational marijuana sales.
Jesse Raphael, a spokesperson for Arkansas True Grass, said that the adult-use cannabis measure would also support the state’s medical marijuana program.
“Medicine in Arkansas is very good but very expensive for the patients. We’d like to see that changed with patients also able to grow their own,” Raphael told local media earlier this month.
For either cannabis legalization measure to qualify for the ballot under state law, supporters must collect at least 89,151 signatures of registered voters, a figure equal to 10 percent of the ballots cast for governor in the 2018 general election. Under legislation signed into law this year, canvassers collecting signatures for proposed ballot measures must be residents of Arkansas and may not be paid on a per-signature basis. The deadline for gathering signatures is July 8, 2022.
