Witness them together, and it’s immediately clear: Wendy Zeng and Christina Wong have a special bond. 

They cozily share Zeng’s living room couch as we start our virtual interview, their answers weaving together effortlessly with every question. It’s impossible to deny the pair’s electric chemistry, even though they only met in 2021.

By 2022, they held their first event for Mogu Magu: a culture and cannabis collective for folks who “occupy the in-between,” immigrants, and those who know that feeling when you don’t quite fit in. 

Mogu Magu: A Collective is Born

Zeng and Wong connected over these experiences when they first met, initially bonding online over weed and food before realizing they lived in adjacent LA neighborhoods and meeting up in person.

Both forged their own professional paths within the cannabis industry, largely centering food as an avenue of accessibility for those who may otherwise be intimidated by the broader community conversations. In those beginning stages of their friendship, they relished their instant bond as two Asian American women establishing themselves as professionals and within the SoCal cannabis community.

“Cannabis has this beautiful way of opening yourself up,” Wong said, expressing her gratitude in “having a friend who understands each other’s culture (a bit different, but also same, same) and this magical power of cannabis with it.” 

The Los Angeles cannabis scene is immense, but it often lacked events where Zeng and Wong felt truly comfortable. Many people go to cannabis gatherings with the goal to destigmatize, but Zeng challenged how effective this intention truly is with events that limit the scope to a singular, dominant culture.

“How do we keep progressing these narratives and shining a light on these intersectionalities of all these diverse cultures, backgrounds, and lifestyles?” Zeng posed. 

Thus, they sought a place for more expansive conversations, to explore the unique experience of AAPI cannabis lovers and reclaim the narrative of cannabis as a means of generational healing.

This experience simply didn’t exist, so Zeng and Wong created it themselves with Mogu Magu.

Embodying Magu and Embracing Growth

The name was inspired by Magu, a hemp goddess symbolizing longevity and immortality, represented in art and ancient texts across a variety of Asian countries. Magu represents the collective’s contemporary exploration of cannabis in AAPI communities, a means of opening conversations and spreading awareness of the ever-present cultural stigmas on cannabis. 

While Mogu Magu events typically focus on cannabis, food, and a specific culture, the plant’s ability to heal the body, mind, and spirit is the driving force.

“The first, inaugural events were very much this friends, cookout vibe: friends who just happened to also work in cannabis,” Zeng said. “Mogu Magu at its core started as a model of our friendship, how we were healing ourselves through weed, food, conversations, and connection.” 

After getting it off the ground, they immediately explored how to push Mogu Magu further. Some of the first events celebrated Chinese holidays like the Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, but the AAPI diaspora includes many more. This sparked curiosity and ultimately elevated the collective to new heights.

Wong recalled their line of thinking at the time: “Well, I know a lot about the other A’s and the P’s and the I’s. I would like to learn about these holidays and celebrate them. That led us to inviting our friends to co-host with us, to be able to teach us a little something, bring in cannabis… we got to learn so much.”

The pair began reminiscing over the initial events that reflected Mogu Magu’s expanding scope: They named Diwali and Dabs, a 2023 event celebrating the Hindu festival of lights and hash culture in Southeast Asia featuring henna, foods like naan and panipuri, and even bhang, an edible preparation made with cannabis leaves with a medicinal history in ancient India.

The 2024 Pinay Par-TAY maintained a focus on Filipino culture, with a scratch-made halo-halo bar, a garden concert, desserts from local cannabis-infused Filipino baker Babinka Treats, adobo bowls whipped up by Zeng, Wesley Chiang’s pabitin (or Filipino piñata) building expertise, and more. 

Just after Halloween, Mogu Magu embraced Día de los Muertos as a pivotal moment for the collective’s evolution. It opened a new intersectional path, highlighting the common struggles, solidarity, and shared advocacy of Asian and Latina allyship throughout U.S. history. 

“It went from our friendship and our culture into leaning into intersectionality, because it wasn’t just the Asian culture: it was about the immigrant diaspora,” Wong said. “We all move; we’re all here in America; we have access to cannabis and the emotions, the feelings. There are a lot of similarities. A lot of people, we exist in the in-between.”

An Intersectional Evolution

Allowing the collective to transcend their own personal experiences echoes the ethos that birthed Mogu Magu in the first place. It creates space for those in the cannabis community who otherwise may not have one. In many ways, they see this new direction as more timely and important than ever.

Americans across the country are feeling the weight of Trump’s policies this year. Our conversation took place in August 2025, toward the end of a brutal Los Angeles summer that started with a sudden, heavy ICE presence throughout the city. Immigrant communities were relentlessly targeted, creating a palpable and ever-present tension among Angelenos forced to accept it as a new reality of their everyday lives.

The escalation of COVID-19 and the quarantine that followed also marked a recent turning point for our nation, with the AAPI community grappling with an influx of hate crimes. Zeng referenced a phrase that gained traction back in 2020: “Stop Asian Hate” first gained traction to counteract pandemic racism and violence. She argued it’s ultimately “unhelpful” and creates a separation to promote Asian exceptionalism.

While these topics from the past and present are distinct, they’re part of the same conversation.

The collective strife modern Americans experience is often met with our leaders shifting the focus toward our neighbors and community members. All the while, we’re divided and distracted without further insight on affordable healthcare and housing, the progressing climate crisis, income inequality, and a slew of other issues keeping us from the “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness” we were promised.

“All of the issues are related, and the more we can spot a light on the connection, then we can be more organized in how we change the world we live in and make it better,” Zeng said.

The pandemic showed Zeng, Wong, and so many people just how important community and chosen family can be. Especially in places like Los Angeles, where the diversity and rich collection of identities feel intrinsically linked to the magic of this city, current events act as another solemn reminder of why we need each other today.

Wong recalled a Mogu Magu event from earlier this summer, held on June 8. The first immigration raids in Los Angeles took place just two days before, quickly sparking protests and prompting Trump to deploy thousands of National Guard members to the city within the coming days.

“We had so many people who said, ‘Thank you. I just needed somewhere to get my mind off this, make art, and do something.’ The years before, it was always these kinds of big cultural celebrations,” Wong said. “This year, it shifted to fit what we felt our community really needed. We started doing more workshops, hands-on things. How do you forage for food? How do you make things, grow things? That’s been really rewarding.”

The Future of Mogu Magu: A “Canvas” for the Community

Today, the collective expands far beyond the mythical figure it was named for, but the inspiration is stronger than ever. The Magu community is immense, made up of activists, organizers, and creatives offering their own unique approaches to the overall mission.

“There are so many people helping their community in their own way, with their creative expression of it, and that’s so beautiful for us to be a part of, witness, and help facilitate,” Zeng said.

Zeng and Wong recently ventured beyond the City of Angels, approaching the same conversations in new settings to unleash a new collection of narratives and experiences. Last summer, they set off on a 10-day road trip to a number of sungrown cannabis farms in Northern California. 

Of course, these two didn’t stop there, as their journey eventually morphed into a four-part travel docuseries titled In Search of Magu.

As you’d rightfully assume, this love letter to California weed country comes with plenty of food and cannabis. What really drives the docuseries are the stories, intimately examining various craft farmers and their distinct creative expression, shaped by the unique regions surrounding them.

“It’s just so cool to see the diversity across sun-grown cannabis in Northern California like that,” Zeng said. “So many people don’t know that. The average consumer walking into a dispensary is not thinking about that, this vibey fantasy land of weed country, and that actually hurts the sustainability of that scene.”

Zeng and Wong are currently in the editing process and aim for a screening in the coming year, but they aren’t putting themselves on a strict timeline to share it. 

When it comes to the road ahead, they reference Mogu Magu as a universe, a canvas for their entire collective to use and create with. As Wong said, “So many people ask us, ‘Oh, when are you coming to this city?’ and I’m like, ‘You could do it,’ you know? ‘How do we help you?’”

While Mogu Magu eats up plenty of their time, Zeng and Wong don’t depend on it to make money. Like so much of the Mogu Magu journey so far, the flexibility and fluidity of their approach is what allows it to continue flourishing.

“We talk about this being altruistic and stuff, but honestly, selfishly, we follow our creative drive and interests in doing these things,” Zeng said. “That’s why we haven’t burned out, and we are even more excited to see where this takes us and how we can grow, because it always comes down to what we want to do. What is the thing that’s creatively tugging at our hearts? Keeping that intention is so important.”

Photos courtesy of Mogu Magu.

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Thanks to the rise in gluten-free and plant-based food products popularity, as well as hemp-based protein powders, hemp as a food source is growing rapidly and is projected to continue its path. The hemp-based food market size is expected to reach nearly $8.09 billion USD by 2029 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9% during the forecast period.

According to a May 9 press release, Maximize Market Research forecast significant growth in the hemp-based food sector.

“The study methodology used a mix of primary and secondary research techniques to compile market data,” the report reads. “The primary research techniques, such as questionnaires, interviews, and market observations, would have given the researchers access to first-hand market data, which is usually beneficial. The researchers might have gathered background knowledge and market data by using secondary research techniques including industry studies, business websites, and news articles.”

Hemp-based food market was segmented  by product type: hemp seed oil, hemp protein powder, whole hemp seed, hulled hemp seed (hemp hearts), or others. While the seeds are the main driver of the hemp-based food industry, people have also fried fan leaves and made other snacks out of hemp. 

“The study examines the hemp-based food market through a market-focused and commercial analysis that takes into account the market’s revenue, financial situation, portfolio, technical advancements, and mergers and acquisitions. This strategy aids in giving a complete picture of the market, which stakeholders, investors, and market participants may use to create investment strategies and marketing strategies.

Hemp-based foods are celebrated for their nutritional “completeness.” Hemp’s nutritional profile shows that it’s rich in omega fatty acids and gamma-linolenic acid. Even without THC, hemp is believed to have therapeutic properties, such as its antioxidant properties, making hemp-based foods an attractive option for health-conscious consumers. Hemp is a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids that people need from food.

The report lists hemp-based food market key players:

• Manitoba Harvest
• Hemp Oil Canada
• Braham Murray
• Jinzhou Qiaopai Biotech
• Canah International
• GIGO Food
• Just Hemp Foods
• North American Hemp Grain Co.
• Yunnan Industrial Hemp
• Nutiva
• Hempco
• Agropro

Aligning With Similar Projections

Researchers reported last February that the global hemp-based foods market is soaring, fueled by the rising vegan population, advancements in processing technology, and the increasing number of health-conscious consumers seeking plant-based and gluten-free alternatives. The hemp-based foods market is set to reach $8.36 billion by 2028 according to The Business Research Company’s (TBRC) latest report, “Hemp Based Foods Global Market Report 2024”.

The report unveils a comprehensive overview of the hemp-based foods sector. Projected to achieve a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9%, the market is anticipated to burgeon from its current standing to an impressive $8.36 billion by 2028.

TBRC’s forecast also segmented the hemp-based food industry into similar categories such as whole and hulled hemp seed. TBRC attributes the huge rise in hemp-based foods mostly due to the “explosion” of veganism. As some people switch to a plant-based diet, hemp is a good source of high-quality protein.

Hemp food standards have been enacted in many jurisdictions due to this rise in popularity. In 2022, the European Commission, the regional body tasked with establishing cannabis regulations across the vertical for all EU members, created guidelines for the acceptable amount of THC that can be found in commercially available food products containing CBD—essentially hemp-derived food products.

There are two of them. The first, approved by the EC’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, says that THC levels for hempseed derived oil should be no greater than 7.5mg/kg. The second is that THC levels for dry foods containing hemp, such as hemp seeds themselves as well as flour and protein powder that contain them, can be no greater than 3mg/kg. 

Meanwhile, Canada has established a 10mg/kg limit for both oils and dry foods. Switzerland has a limit that is double this at 20mg/kg for oils and 10mg/kg for dry products.

France is also, by far, the largest producer of hemp in the EU (70%), followed by the Netherlands (10%) and Austria (4%). This is also the country where the most effective legal actions at the EU level have so far taken place, and where the most heated battles about regulation of the industry have occurred. This includes the recent court battle to allow the sale of hemp flowers in the country, not just extracts.

Nearly all projects estimate that the hemp-based food industry will soar into the billions by the end of the decade, and the rise will continue as long as people take interest in vegan diets and gluten-free options.

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Things got a bit spicy for border patrol officers in San Diego last week.

It was there, near the United States-Mexico border, that officers discovered more than $10 million worth of hard narcotics that had been hidden in a shipment of jalapeño paste.

The bust went down on December 13.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers said that they encountered a 28-year-old male driving a commercial tractor-trailer with a shipment manifested as jalapeño paste” at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility.

“The driver, a valid border crossing card holder, was referred for further examination by CBP officers along with the tractor-trailer and shipment,” the agency said in a press release issued this week. 

“In the secondary inspection area, a CBP K-9 unit screened the shipment and alerted officers to examine the trailer more closely. Upon further examination, CBP officers discovered and extracted a total of 349 suspicious packages from vats of jalapeño paste. The contents of the packages were tested and identified as methamphetamine with a weight of 3,161.43 pounds and cocaine with a weight of 522.50 pounds,” the press releases continued.

As Customs and Border Protection spokesperson Michael Scappechio told the Los Angeles Times: “It was an extremely spicy situation.” 

“You never really know what you’re dealing with just in terms of dangerous narcotics and then you throw in there all that organic material; we had to break out the full [personal protective equipment],” Scappechio said.

“We won’t expose the reasons that led to the further examination,” Scappechio added, “but agent suspicion is often used.”

Rosa Hernandez, the director at the Otay Mesa Port, credited the unit’s K-9 teams for the bust.

“Our K-9 teams are an invaluable component of our counter-narcotics operations, providing a reliable and unequaled mobile detection capability,” said Hernandez “By implementing local operations under Operation Apollo and CBP’s Strategy to Combat Fentanyl and other Synthetic Drugs, we will continue to secure communities and stifle the growth of transnational criminal organizations, one seizure after another.”

According to local news station NBC San Diego, the “narcotics-in-jalapeño-paste seizure was just one of many successful drug busts in the border town recently.”

The United States Coast Guard said that it seized 18,219 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated street value of more than $239 million in the Pacific Ocean that was offloaded in San Diego earlier this month.

According to the Coast Guard, the offload was the “result of six separate suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions or events off the coasts of Mexico and Central and South America by the Coast Guard Cutters Waesche and Active in November.”

According to the Coast Guard, the Waesche “is one of four Legend-class national security cutters homeported in Alameda, California.” National security cutters “can operate in the most demanding open ocean environments, including the hazardous fisheries of the North Pacific and the vast approaches of the Southern Pacific, where a large amount of narcotics traffic occurs,” the Coast Guard said.

“The biggest of the six interdictions was the most recent interdiction, occurring Nov. 20, which was an interdiction of a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) carrying more than 5,500 pounds of cocaine. The interdiction of the SPSS was the first in the Eastern Pacific since 2020,” the Coast Guard said in a press release.

Capt. Robert Mohr, commanding officer of the Waesche, said that all “four of our interdictions on this patrol are crucial to the Coast Guard’s efforts to keep illicit drugs off the streets, but our last interdiction of a semi-submersible vessel was noteworthy since it was the first semi-submersible interdicted in the Eastern Pacific in over three years.” 

“I am extremely impressed with the crew’s dedication throughout this dynamic patrol. They overcame multiple challenges with collective hard work, ingenuity, and positive attitudes to keep us in pursuit of these cartels and their dangerous drugs. A successful patrol like this one is rewarding and leads to better retention and recruiting efforts because everybody feels a sense of accomplishment,” Mohr said.

Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, commander, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area, said he was “proud of the unity of effort displayed by U.S. Coast Guard members aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche and our partners who stopped these narcotics from entering our Nation through the maritime domain.”

The Coast Guard said that multiple agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security, “collaborate in the effort to combat transnational organized crime. The Coast Guard, Navy, Customs and Border Protection, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with allied and international partner agencies, all play a role in counternarcotic operations.” 

“The fight against drug cartels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean requires unity of effort in all phases, from detection and monitoring to interdictions and criminal prosecutions,” the press release said.

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Dispensaries are doing their part to help others to feel the true spirit of thankfulness this Thanksgiving with a round of free turkeys. In recent years, Green Wednesday, which falls on the day before Thanksgiving, has become the cannabis industry’s second-highest grossing day of sales, and a big day for promotional giveaways. Like last year, many cannabis companies are joining the holiday spirit and running their own turkey drives with free turkeys for people in need.

Thanksgiving is a holiday people in the New World have celebrated since 1621, with a feast, and dispensaries can help if you can’t afford it this year. High Times found a handful of dispensaries that are participating in turkey drives this year.

Puff Cannabis Company plans to give away hundreds of free turkeys this week. The Madison Heights, Michigan-based dispensary chain’s second annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway starts today and runs through Friday at Puff stores throughout the tri-county area.

Puff Cannabis founder Justin Elias said they plan to hand out over 2,500 turkeys to people in need—twice the amount of free turkeys distributed last year. “The goal of Puff Cannabis Company from the beginning has been to offer top- notch cannabis products while building a knowledgeable and customer- focused team,” Elias said in a statement. “We are honored to have grown to 12 dispensary locations throughout Michigan in only four years, with many locations on tap to open in 2024.”

There are Puff locations across Michigan including in Bay City, Traverse City, Oscoda, Sturgis, River Rouge, Kalamazoo, and Monroe.

Also in Michigan, former Detroit Red Wings Darren McCarthy’s Light’N Up Cannabis Company gave away the turkeys last weekend. Of the turkeys, 100 were planned to be given to Vet Life, a local nonprofit organization that serves veterans, and 20 turkeys went to the North End Soup Kitchen and several other Flint area churches and organizations.

“Once you get something like this started, it takes on a life of its own and is more fun and more rewarding each year. The gratitude people express is heartwarming,” said Kyle Cohee, store owner. “We’ve been through some tough times here in Flint, and people deserve every single break we can provide. Giving them the central part of a Thanksgiving meal is our honor and our way of thanking the people of Flint for supporting our store.”

MariMed is donating over 800 turkeys in the states where it currently operates, including Massachusetts, Maryland, Illinois, Ohio, and Delaware. “Doing our part to support the communities we serve is an important part of MariMed’s mission to improve people’s lives every day,” said CEO Jon Levine. “This is the third consecutive year of our Thanksgiving turkey giveaway, which has become a wonderful tradition that our entire MariMed family rallies behind. We’re proud that we can help ease the financial burden for so many people at this time of year.”

Bulldog Cannabis in Thousand Palms, California is donating 100 turkeys for families in Thousand Palms to have for the Thanksgiving holiday, the dispensary’s annual holiday drive.

The turkeys will be given out from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22 to the first 100 families from Thousand Palms.

Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, from the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, spoke on the support by the local business.

“We appreciate Bulldog Cannabis for supporting the community and local families and once again giving back in this way to our unincorporated community of Thousand Palms,” Perez said. “It is a wonderful donation and people are welcome to come by on Wednesday, November 22 and pick up a turkey for the holiday.”

Bulldog Cannabis is the first cannabis business within the unincorporated communities of the Fourth District, and is located in Thousand Palms, the heart of the valley.

Bulldog Cannabis Owner Sam Kapukchyan states, “Bulldog Cannabis is proud to continue the tradition of our turkey giveaway to local Thousand Palms residents. Here at Bulldog, we are all about family caring for others and giving back. Our local Thousand Palms customers have been very loving and supportive of our shop so, on November 22nd, we will be passing out 100 turkeys, one per household to our local Thousand Palms residents, no purchase necessary.”

The turkey giveaway will be a walk-up distribution outside Bulldog Cannabis in Thousand Palms, 72-242 Watt Court.

People who get a turkey should remember to never put a frozen turkey in the deep fryer. That’s why some of the turkey drives are requiring recipients to sign a waiver. They should also make sure that the turkey is completely thawed because oil and water do not mix, and the turkey should thaw in the refrigerator.

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The original recipe for bright pink Peeps is at the center of a controversy involving potentially problematic chemicals found in many foods. While it’s generally understood that junk food contains poor ingredients, now we know more about which ones are particularly problematic, more specifically, potentially carcinogenic.

A bill to ban four food-related chemicals including red dyes advanced in California’s state Senate, after dropping a fifth chemical as the legislation was amended. 

While many candies across the board need to change their recipes to something healthier—pink-colored Peeps are among the ones that need it most. The bright pink color of Peeps is achieved through the dyes including erythrosine, a chemical that shows up on ingredient labels as “Red No. 3.” Other chemical dyes like titanium dioxide for white—also found in Peeps—have been linked to cancer. (To be fair, Skittles, Starburst, Ring Pops, Hot Tamales, and Trolli also use titanium dioxide to achieve bright colors in candy.) Peeps were introduced in 1953 as yellow marshmallow chicks designed for children, and the other bright colors with those ingredients followed decades later.

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, (D) representing California’s 46th State Assembly district in San Fernando Valley authored Assembly Bill 418, saying he wants to ban the chemicals—not necessarily the candy. According to Gabriel, the aforementioned chemicals have already been banned by the European Union (EU) and other countries. 

“It is unacceptable that the U.S. is so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to food safety,” Gabriel said. “This bill will not ban any foods or products—it simply will require food companies to make minor modifications to their recipes.”

Gabriel listed potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, and propyl paraben, which also have been banned in the EU, also as ingredients that need to go. An earlier draft of the bill would also have banned titanium dioxide, but amendments in the state Senate removed that chemical from the ban. Some of these ingredients can be found in practically any processed food including bread, Jell-O, and so on.

One case study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2003 involves a man who had growths on his fingers, pictured here, after consuming brominated vegetable oil in Ruby Red Squirt. (However, he drank eight liters per day.) 

Gabriel said last summer that alternative ingredients are readily available. Through expensive, albeit minor modifications to their recipes, the candy makers can do what’s already been done in the EU.

Gabriel quoted Mercury News, posting on X, “If candy makers won’t do the right thing, lawmakers must. The scientific studies provide sufficient concerns that California should not keep putting its children at risk.” 

The Food Industry’s 30-Year-Old Dirty Secret

Researchers have known the pigments to be carcinogenic for at least 30 years: In 1990, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of Red Dye No. 3 in cosmetic products like lipsticks, powders, blushes and skin care lotions, based on research suggesting that it can lead to cancer. If something isn’t safe for your skin, it might not be good to eat either.

If that makes you unsettled—considering how widespread the use of erythrosine and titanium dioxide is—you’re not alone: Last year, a consumer filed a lawsuit against Mars for knowingly allowing a “known toxin” to be used in candy products. The class-action lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, and attorneys for San Leandro resident Jenile Thames said Skittles are unsafe for consumption, having what they say are heightened levels of titanium dioxide.

In 2016, Mars said it would be phasing out titanium dioxide, aka E171, however that plan doesn’t appear to have materialized in full. Jaydee Hanson, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Food Safety said at the time, “We are pleased to see that MARS has taken a positive step toward eliminating toxic, unnecessary nanomaterials from its line of food products. We urge the company to speed up the removal of these additives, especially given the grave health concerns associated with titanium dioxide and other nanoparticles.” 

Don’t Forget Aspartame

In other recent news, other ingredients have been flagged as carcinogenic. Aspartame is used in Coca-Cola’s Diet Coke and it’s also used to sweeten Mars’s Extra chewing gum.

Last summer, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) cancer research agency said aspartame is a possible carcinogen. WHO representatives contradictorily said aspartame may possibly cause cancer but also said it is safe to consume. IARC, WHO’s research arm, classifies aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” after it was found to lead to blood cancers in rats by Italian researchers. You be the judge.

The FDA also appeared to quell consumer alarm: “Aspartame is one of the most studied food additives in the human food supply. FDA scientists do not have safety concerns when aspartame is used under the approved conditions,” the FDA said in a statement.

Many people in the U.S. say they actually prefer candy with slightly less sugar and sweeteners. If candy in Europe feels safer than candy in the U.S., it is, and it’s not just the excessively high sugar content you have to worry about.

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Officials working on the United States-Canada border late last month seized a massive shipment of marijuana that, at first blush, looked like an 8-year-old’s favorite breakfast.

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced on Friday that “Ajaypal Dhillon, 22, of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and importing marijuana into the United States,” and that the charges “carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.”

According to Friday’s announcement, the arrest and bust occurred on July 27 when Customs and Border Protection officers “encountered a semi-trailer operated by Dhillon at the primary inspection point” of the Peace Bridge Port of Entry, a bridge connecting Canada and the U.S. near Buffalo, New York.

Dhillon allegedly claimed that he was simply transporting some frozen foodstuffs.

“Dhillon presented customs documentation indicating a shipment of frozen waffles destined for a grocery store warehouse in Georgia. The shipper of the alleged waffles confirmed that the shipment was fraudulent, and the shipment was put on hold, while Dhillon was referred for a secondary inspection,” the announcement said. “During a physical exam of the cargo, boxes containing approximately 948 kilograms of a green leafy substance [or 2,089 pounds], consistent with that of marijuana, were located. In addition, 50 kilograms of ketamine were also discovered. Investigators identified Dhillon after CBP learned of five prior fraudulent shipments driven by Dhillon into the United States.”

The announcement said that “Dhillon appeared at a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained.”

Recreational cannabis is legal in Canada and in an increasing number of states in the U.S., including New York. 

But that doesn’t mean you should cross the border with weed –– even if it was legally obtained.

The Canada Border Services Agency issued a reminder of that in late June, just ahead of Canada Day and America’s Independence Day.

“Bringing cannabis across the border in any form, including oils containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), without a permit or exemption authorized by Health Canada is a serious criminal offence subject to arrest and prosecution, despite the legalization of cannabis in Canada. A medical prescription from a doctor does not count as Health Canada authorization,” the agency said in a press release.

But despite those warnings, there are plenty who still try to smuggle.

That was the case of a 60-year-old American man, who was driving with around 400 pounds of cannabis in June when he was unwittingly led to a U.S.-Canada point of entry by his GPS.

“On May 2, 2023, an American driver was following GPS coordinates that were entered improperly. He took a wrong turn and ended up in the border line up at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Rainbow Bridge port of entry in Niagara Falls, Ontario. As the driver had no passport, he was referred for a secondary examination. During the inspection, the CBSA officers discovered 181 kg of cannabis (valued at between $362,000 CAD and $724,000 CAD) and over $600,000 US dollars (worth $816,167 CAD). The CBSA officers arrested the driver and seized the cash and cannabis. The case was then turned over to the RCMP Niagara on the Lake Federal Policing Border Integrity Team (RCMP BI),” the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a press release.

“The RCMP BI Team examined the cash and cannabis. The items were located in various places in the car. The cannabis was vacuum packed and separated into numerous boxes. The cash was also found separated into bundles, and concealed in a safe, a suitcase, and a pelican case (hard-shelled lockable case).”

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Hemp advocates and industry leaders last week called on the federal government to ease access to cannabidiol as a House of Representatives subcommittee held a hearing to investigate the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s refusal to regulate CBD as an ingredient in foods, beverages and dietary supplements.

At Thursday’s hearing of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee’s Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services, lawmakers and witnesses criticized the FDA’s refusal to regulate CBD and noted how the agency’s inaction on the subject has impacted individuals and families eager to take advantage of the cannabinoid’s health and wellness benefits. 

“Lack of a federal framework has led to the proliferation of unregulated products, some of which raise significant quality, safety, and other consumer protection concerns,” Jonathan Miller, general counsel for the industry group the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, told the members of the subcommittee.

In opening remarks prepared for the hearing, Republican Representative Lisa McClain, the chair of the subcommittee, noted that “if you buy a CBD consumer product off the shelf today, in many cases there’s no way for the average consumer to verify its purity or even the amount of CBD in it, or rely on FDA’s enforcement of regulations. 

“In fact, one study that tested almost 3,000 CBD products showed that only one-quarter of brands test their CBD products for purity and only sixteen percent of products tested contained exclusively what was stated on their labels,” McClain continued. “That’s because FDA hasn’t regulated CBD as a dietary supplement or food additive in the five years since hemp was legalized.”

Hemp Legalized In 2018

Congress legalized hemp agriculture and commerce five years ago with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. But since then, the FDA has refused to regulate hemp-derived CBD for use in foods, beverages and dietary supplements, and in January announced it would not do so without further legislation from Congress.

“This announcement has led to confusion and uncertainty in the market, which has suppressed the ability for good faith manufacturers to sell CBD products,” she said. “It only benefits bad actors who capitalize on the confusion and the flood of the market with potentially unsafe products. The FDA must do better and use their already existing authority to regulate how derived products you know actually do the job they were signed up to do.”

Witnesses also emphasized how the lack of a regulatory framework for hemp-derived CBD from the FDA has also contributed to the proliferation of products containing intoxicating cannabinoids, most prominently delta-8 THC, which are being sold in unregulated products, sometimes to minors. While none of the witnesses called for the criminalization of these products, they called for strict safety regulations to keep them out of the hands of children.

“In many states, including Kentucky, most delta-8 THC products are sold through unregulated market sources like convenience stores, smoke shops, gas stations, and even can be ordered online. These products are not reliably tested and have been found to contain many impurities,” said Richard A. Badaracco, president-elect of the Kentucky Narcotic Officers Association and a retired Drug Enforcement Administration agent. “Assuming these products remain legal, the optimal approach is following the lead of Kentucky, whose General Assembly this year passed legislation unanimously to strictly regulate these products and keep them out of the hands of minors.”

Paige Figi, founder of the Coalition for Access Now, has been an outspoken advocate of CBD for more than a decade after discovering it significantly reduced the seizures suffered by her daughter Charlotte, who died in 2020 at the age of 13 following a nearly lifelong battle with intractable epilepsy. After watching last week’s hearing from her home in Colorado Springs, Figi called on the FDA to ease access to CBD for families across the country.

“We have been united with families, athletes, seniors, veterans, and others who rely on the benefits of CBD for almost a decade. Today’s hearing shows that common sense, bipartisan reform to push the FDA to do its job and regulate hemp-derived CBD as a dietary supplement is close,” Figi wrote in an email to High Times. “The 45 million Americans who rely on the benefits CBD for their chronic conditions are encouraged that members of Congress will stand up for their constituents to pass legislation that will support access for patients now.”

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A woman who attended a Florida wedding earlier this year has filed a lawsuit against the caterer for the event, alleging that the business served food infused with cannabis at the reception. Virginia Ann Taylor-Svoboda, the plaintiff in the legal action, says that she “became immediately ill” after unknowingly eating food that was laced with “poisonous” amounts of marijuana, according to a report from the Miami Herald.

The wedding was held on February 19 in the city of Longwood, Florida, about 15 miles north of Orlando. After several guests reported that they felt high or stoned at the reception following the ceremony, emergency medical personnel and sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene to render aid, eventually taking several guests to a local hospital for treatment. 

A police report filed after the wedding reception revealed that food served at the event was sent to a lab for testing. The reports of the lab analyses showed that lasagna and bread served at the celebration tested positive for THC, the cannabinoid largely responsible for the high commonly associated with consuming marijuana.

Taylor-Svoboda filed suit in Seminole County against Joycelyn Bryant and her company, Joycelyn’s Southern Kitchen, asserting that she had no idea that the food served at the wedding reception contained cannabis. A complaint filed in the suit alleges that Taylor-Svoboda suffered from “marijuana poisoning” after consuming food served by Bryant’s company. The lawsuit, which requests a jury trial for the case, accuses Bryant of negligence and seeks more than $30,000 in damages from the defendant and her business.

“(Bryant) knew, or should have known, that allowing the food served by (Joycelyn’s Southern Kitchen) to be laced with marijuana was reasonably likely to cause injuries and damages to wedding guests,” the lawsuit maintains.

Bride And Caterer Arrested In February

In April, Bryant and the bride, Danya Shea Svoboda, were arrested and charged with violating the Florida Anti-Tampering Act, delivery of marijuana and culpable negligence, according to the report from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. Affidavits filed in the case allege that Svoboda “agreed to and allowed Joycelyn Montrinice Bryant to lace the food she served … with cannabis unbeknownst to the attendees, many of whom became very ill and required medical attention,” according to a report from CNN.

When deputies from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the reception, several wedding guests were being treated by county fire rescue personnel for “symptoms consistent with that of someone who has used illegal drugs,” according to police records.

When a deputy asked the bride and her new husband, Andrew Svoboda, whether they had requested or consented to the food being infused with cannabis, Andrew “stared at (the deputy) with a blank expression for a few moments before stuttering through a ‘no,’” the affidavits state.

Lab tests showed three wedding guests had urine tests that were positive for cannabis, according to court records filed in the criminal case. Some wedding guests reported that they felt “stoned” and “ill and high,” the affidavits report, while another guest said that he felt “weird, tingly, fidgety, and had an extremely dry mouth” after eating food served at the wedding reception. When a woman asked the caterer if the food contained marijuana, Bryant “giggled and shook her head yes,” the report states.

According to the affidavits, one woman told an investigator that while she was at the hospital, she felt paranoid and “believed her husband … wasn’t telling her the truth about other family members,” adding that she had thought her son-in-law had died and no one was telling her. She said she became loud and unruly in the hospital emergency room and had to be sedated to calm her down.

Defendants Face Food-Tampering Charges

The Tampa-based Sammis Law Firm reported that Florida’s Anti-Tampering Act “covers tampering with food as well as tampering with certain types of drugs, devices, or cosmetics.” Attorneys noted that the statute is not often used, in part because “the statutory language is poorly written and fails to track the federal food anti-tampering law.” The firm also notes that the “terms used in Florida’s Anti-Tampering Statute are extremely vague, leading to constitutional challenges by criminal defense attorneys.”

“Local law enforcement officers will investigate any such allegation and take swift action. These crimes can be charged as a third-degree, second-degree, or first-degree felony depending on how the tampering occurred and the harm caused,” the firm explains. “Many of these crimes are committed by juveniles because of the often impulsive nature of the offense.”

The criminal case against Bryant is ongoing. She is due for her next appearance in court on January 11.

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Cannabis has always paired well with Thanksgiving, both as a way to enjoy the holidays with the people we love, or a way to help increase our tolerance for certain skeptical, judgmental, or opinionated family members. In recent years Green Wednesday (the day before Thanksgiving), has become the cannabis industry’s second-highest grossing day of sales.

While the holidays are a great time to reflect on everything we have, it’s also an opportunity to look outside ourselves to help others. Some cannabis businesses have no shortage of altruism as they have created initiatives to aid those in need. Many businesses have made arrangements to give out free turkeys this year or reward customers who donate canned food for a good cause. This list is just a glimpse at the contributions that the cannabis industry brings year after year, but be sure to check out dispensaries near you to see what kind of efforts are underway.

In Michigan, there are a few cannabis businesses pulling out all the stops this year. Puff Cannabis will be giving out 1,700 birds on Nov. 18, and Nov. 21-22 at specific locations. Owner Nick Hannawa told CBS News how important it is to give back. “These things are tough, you know, with prices and inflation and all the things that are going on. Maybe people, you know, are lacking on jobs and different things, you know, might not do this,” Hannawa said. “It’s that feeling that you get, knowing that you did a good deed, that you put a smile on somebody’s face.”

Light’N Up Cannabis Company invited former Detroit Red Wings athlete Darren McCarty to help hand out 1,000 turkeys on Nov. 19. According to owner Kyle Cohee, who is also a veteran, he began this initiative in 2021 when he found out that he served 100 patients who were in need. “We’re just doing the right thing and taking care of people,” Cohee said. “Alpine Market in Linden said they will hook us up and got us the turkeys from Spartan Brand for cost.” Eighty of the turkeys will specifically be reserved for veteran patients, through a partnership with Genesee County Veterans Services.

Multiple Michigan dispensaries are working with Common Citizen and High Life Farms for the “Bring a Can, Get a Gram” campaign. The initiative is striving to collect 2,000 cans to donate to local food pantries, and any customer that brings in at least one can of food will receive one pre-roll. “We want to show people that cannabis isn’t just about consuming. It’s far more than just being a big name company that wants to make money or kind of things like that. We want to show people that as much as we love growing and producing and sharing our love for the product with other people, we want to show other people we care more about helping the community and helping others in need especially around the holidays,” said High Life Farms’s Marketing Manager Laura Bywalec.

MariMed (who you might remember as the company who made the world’s largest infused brownie in December 2021) is offering hundreds of turkeys in a giveaway at its locations in Massachusetts, Maryland, Illinois, and Delaware. “MariMed is proud to do our part and help others in the communities where we operate. Helping to ease a bit of the financial burden on Thanksgiving and doing what we can to improve people’s lives through our actions, products, and values is core to our mission as a leading cannabis company,” said MariMed CEO Bob Fireman.

In Massachusetts, Terps Cannabis is working with Chip-in-Food-Pantry, asking customers to donate canned food. It’s also celebrating the opening of its third location in Charlton with an event Nov. 18-20, featuring free food from local food trucks.

In Thousand Palms, California, local dispensary Bulldog Cannabis is partnering with Riverside County to provide 100 turkeys to residents (1 per household). “We really appreciate Bulldog Cannabis for providing this generous donation to the community of Thousand Palms,” said Riverside County Supervisor Manuel Perez. “I look forward to helping in this distribution and thanking this local business for assisting the community with food for the Thanksgiving holiday.”

Oakland, California-based savory edibles company TSUMo is not only offering two new flavors of its savory chips (Turkey Dinner and Churro) but it’s partnering with Wunder (a local cannabis beverage company) and Nugg Club (a cannabis subscription service) to donate $2 for every bundle purchased, which will be given to the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.

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For years fast food chains more or less catered to late-night cannabis consumers, without ever making it official—that is up until recently. This year, the High Times’ running list of fast food joints offering deals this April 20 includes, but is not limited to: Wingstop, Cheba Hut, Del Taco, Jimmy John’s, Chronic Tacos, Jack in the Box, and Fatburger.

The munchies are very commonly reported. Via baby steps, mainstream food chains that can satisfy the munchies are starting to warm up to cannabis, as evident in a slew of cannabis-inspired 420 deals. 

The game of 420 fast food deals is hit-or-miss. In 2019, Carl’s Jr. launched the infamous CBD burger, the CBD-infused “Rocky Mountain High: CheeseBurger Delight,” but only the limited edition Santa Fe Sauce contained 5mg of CBD. Others have pushed the boundaries of what can be done in terms of marketing.

Let’s take a look at what chains are openly marketing to cannabis consumers. This year, fast food chains are staying creative with added terpenes, rolling papers, free delivery to avoid stoned driving, and more.

Wingstop

Wingstop is honoring their cannabis-loving patrons with a limited-edition, terpene-infused flavor, Blazed & Glazed, which is only available from April 18 through 22, while supplies last. Anyone nationwide can order at Wingstop.com or through the Wingstop app.

The new flavor balances ingredients such as a terpenes, hemp seeds, strawberry, and cayenne pepper to give fans “the second-best herbal experience they could have on 4/20.” Wink-wink. 

“Flavor is what puts Wingstop in a category of one, and we recognize that many fans turn to our brand to satisfy their munchies craving, Wingstop Chief Growth Officer Marisa Carona told High Times. “In typical Wingstop fashion, we wanted to go one step further and create a limited-time flavor for 420 that has a unique flavor profile, and may even produce a mouth-tingling sensation.” 

“So, we bring you Blazed & Glazed,” she said.

Blazed & Glazed wings don’t contain any THC, but any experienced cannabis consumer knows that terpenes are part of the magic when it comes to flavor. 

Wingstop is even taking part in one of San Francisco’s biggest holiday get-togethers where smokers converge on a massive scale. The Wingstop food truck will be bringing free Blazed & Glazed wings directly to Hippie Hill in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park on April 20. One can only imagine the impact of satisfying the munchies of festival-goers.

Cheba Hut

As you might guess, Cheba Hut is getting in on the action as well. This April 20, Cheba Hut, a cannabis-inspired restaurant, is partnering with Long Play, a national cannabis portfolio company that prioritizes sustainable cultivation practices, to offer “nug-sized sandwiches” that are served on a frisbee with a side of Willie’s Reserve rolling papers for, you guessed it, $4.20.

But Cheba Hut’s approach to its deal sets it apart from the rest. Each rolling paper comes with a QR code that customers can scan to enter for a chance to win a trip to the The Emerald Cup in Hollywood, along with two Willies Reserve gift packs. The QR code offer will run from April 20 until April 30, with the winner being announced on May 2, and entrants must be 21-plus years old to enter.

The deal is available at Cheba Hut locations in 15 states, including: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Wisconsin.

“Cheba Hut is a Colorado-based company, and Willie’s Reserve is also based in Colorado,” Nicole Kennebeck, marketing director at Willie’s Reserve told High Times. “That’s where Long Play is also based. We saw an opportunity to really elevate both of our voices in a fun way. It wasn’t just focused on cannabis sales, but as the cannabis community as a whole. 

“Cheba Hut makes cannabis strain-named sandwiches so it’s a fun space for us to be in,” Kennebeck added. Cheba Hut Toasted Subs was founded in 1998 by Scott Jennings, before other subs were toasted, with cannabis-inspired names, and offers 420 deals every year.

Del Taco

This year, Del Taco isn’t missing out either. At Del Taco this April 20, for one day only, you can get Five New Chicken Cheddar Rollers for $4.20 in what Del Taco is calling Rollerdaze. 

“Del Taco’s 4/20 Rollerdaze deal is timed to coincide with the unofficial national cannabis holiday to fulfill those mass munchie needs, but whether you wake and bake or don’t partake everyone can enjoy a smokin’ deal in the Del Yeah! Rewards app to try the new Chicken Cheddar Rollers,” the company stated in a news release. 

For this particular 420 deal, you must register with the Del Yeah! Rewards program in order to access the deal. This promotion is available only on orders placed through the Del Yeah! Rewards app, according to the website. 

People who add the $4.20 Chicken Cheddar Rollers bundle to their cart will receive a discounted price. No offer required. Valid Wednesday, 4/20/2022 only. Limit 1 discounted bundle per purchase. Not valid with any other offer, discount, or coupon. No cash value. Price and participation may vary. Not valid with 3rd Party delivery providers.

Del Taco is also taking the responsible route by providing a free delivery option on April 20 only.

The app is also required to access the Free Delivery promotion and available only on delivery orders placed though the Del Yeah! Rewards app. 

Jimmy John’s

Jimmy John’s, purveyors of mouth-watering sandwiches, is providing a 420 with a unique twist: a sliding scale discount based on how high you are. Yes, you read that correctly.

The Thrillist reports that on April 20, Jimmy John’s will have an “elevation checker” site where you can enter your location to get a discount of up to 20% off a sub based on if you are “not so high,” “kinda high,” or “highest.” This is by far one of the most innovative 420 deals High Times has encountered.

The company will be hosting a party for the occasion in Leadville, Colorado, which happens to be home to some great cannabis companies. Visit GetHighWithJimmyJohns.com to learn more about the deal and access discount codes.

Chronic Tacos

Chronic Tacos offers mouth-watering, third-generation recipes. Chronic Tacos will be offering a buy one burrito or a “bowl-rito” at regular price, get the second for $4.20, however the offer excludes Fish, Shrimp, Steak, Surf & Turf burritos, Beyond Beef, and Cali Burritos. The deal is available in all Chronic Tacos locations.

Southern California-based Chronic Tacos now has over 60 locations operating across the United States, Canada, and Japan.

On the menu, you’ll find a wide variety of traditional Mexican items including tacos, burritos, and bowl-ritos, along with some non-traditional items such as California burrito and Chronic Fries. 

Patrons can get this offer in store, on the Chronic Tacos app, and through online ordering on the Chronic Tacos website.

Jack in the Box

Everyone on the West Coast and Texas lives near a Jack in the Box, and the chain is growing in other states. Jack in the Box is joining the mix this year with the Pineapple Express Shake. The Pineapple Express Shake is actually available the whole month of April, but it’s only $4.20 on April 20, as well as every flavor of shake on the menu. 

For every Pineapple Express Shake purchased through third-party delivery apps on April 20, Jack in the Box will plant a tree, with certain restrictions. The shake sizes also have been shifted from the classics to applicable ounces on third-party apps, and the deal is for a limited time.

Don’t forget to check out “Jack Loves Trees,” created in partnership with Ryan Reynolds’ creative agency Maximum Effort.

Fatburger

Fatburger provided a 420 deal last year, and according to Food Beast, the OG Fatburger is available this year for just $4.20 with free delivery for the month of April on all orders that are $20 and up. Some restrictions may apply, according to Fatburger, and the deal is not valid on orders placed via third-party delivery apps.

This year, the chain is reportedly taking it a step further.

Food Beast reports that a strain of weed will be named after Fatburger’s hand-scooped Strawberry Milkshake. It will be available for that day only, and will be offered at Wonderbrett dispensaries as Fatburger Strawberry Milkshake Live Resin Cartridges, Flower, or Fruit Chews.

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