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	<title>San Diego Archives | Paradise Found</title>
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	<description>Medical Cannabis Dispensary in Portland, Oregon and Milwaukie, Oregon</description>
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		<title>Catalyst Dispensary San Diego is your new source for choice California Cannabis</title>
		<link>https://paradisefoundor.com/catalyst-dispensary-san-diego-is-your-new-source-for-choice-california-cannabis/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Aug 2025 03:00:15 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>Catalyst is excited to announce the grand opening of their brand-new San Diego location. This new dispensary will be located on Convoy [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com/catalyst-dispensary-san-diego-is-your-new-source-for-choice-california-cannabis/">Catalyst Dispensary San Diego is your new source for choice California Cannabis</a> appeared first on <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com">Paradise Found</a>.</p>
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<p>Catalyst is excited to announce the grand opening of their brand-new San Diego location. This new dispensary will be located on Convoy Street, just off the 52 Freeway.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.leafly.com/news/strains-products/catalyst-dispensary-san-diego-is-your-new-source-for-choice-california-cannabis">Catalyst Dispensary San Diego is your new source for choice California Cannabis</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.leafly.com/">Leafly</a>.</p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com/catalyst-dispensary-san-diego-is-your-new-source-for-choice-california-cannabis/">Catalyst Dispensary San Diego is your new source for choice California Cannabis</a> appeared first on <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com">Paradise Found</a>.</p>
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		<title>Study: ‘Little Evidence’ That Cannabis Harmfully Impacts Cognition in People with HIV</title>
		<link>https://paradisefoundor.com/study-little-evidence-that-cannabis-harmfully-impacts-cognition-in-people-with-hiv/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 03:01:18 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>Cannabis is widely used to help mitigate the symptoms of a variety of conditions and diseases. Specifically, a number of state medical [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com/study-little-evidence-that-cannabis-harmfully-impacts-cognition-in-people-with-hiv/">Study: ‘Little Evidence’ That Cannabis Harmfully Impacts Cognition in People with HIV</a> appeared first on <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com">Paradise Found</a>.</p>
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<p>Cannabis is widely used to help mitigate the symptoms of a variety of conditions and diseases. Specifically, a number of state medical cannabis programs list HIV/AIDS as a qualifying condition, as cannabis can help to eliminate a variety of symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS treatment.</p>
<p>Though, some clinicians have expressed concern how regular cannabis treatments in this regard may impact patient cognition. </p>
<p>Researchers affiliated with the University of California at San Diego sought to investigate the cognitive impacts of cannabis use in people with HIV through a newly published <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11904-024-00698-w">meta-analysis</a> in the journal <em>Current HIV/AIDS Reports</em>. </p>
<p>Ultimately, they conclude that neither the use of whole-plant cannabis or cannabis-based medicines are associated with significant cognitive changes in those with HIV.</p>
<h2 id="cannabis-use-among-people-with-hiv" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Cannabis Use Among People with HIV</strong></h2>
<p>In the study abstract, researchers note the potential benefits that cannabis use can offer patients with HIV while recognizing this population’s “high burden of persisting neurocognitive impairment” and physician concerns with adding cannabis into the mix, specifically its potential cognitive effects.</p>
<p>Cannabis use among those with HIV is far from a new trend. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration first approved synthetic oral THC capsules (dronabinol) to treat HIV-induced cachexia, or loss of appetite, in 1985.</p>
<p>Additionally, surveys have consistently affirmed that cannabis use is common among people with HIV, with one <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17453590/">2007 study</a> predating the bulk of medical reform measures in the U.S. still finding that more than 60% of HIV/AIDS patients self-identified as medical cannabis users. </p>
<p>Another more recent <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/9/5649">2022 study</a> noted that 77% and 34% of people with HIV reported lifetime and past-year cannabis use, respectively.</p>
<p>While some of these patients report recreational use as one reason, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3508315/">research</a> over the years has found that cannabis is largely used among people with HIV to stimulate appetite, reduce pain, relax and ease anxiety and help with sleep.</p>
<h2 id="little-evidence-of-harmful-cognitive-cannabis-impacts" class="wp-block-heading"><strong>‘Little Evidence’ of Harmful Cognitive Cannabis Impacts</strong></h2>
<p>With plenty of existing data to pull from, researchers reviewed data from 34 clinical studies to determine the extent that cannabis impacts cognition among patients with HIV. The results, according to the study, revealed that there is “little evidence” to support that cannabis has a harmful impact on cognition among those with HIV.</p>
<p>“Overall, the number of reported adverse effects were largely outnumbered by beneficial or null findings, providing insufficient support for the detrimental impact of CU [cannabis use] on cognition in PWH [people with HIV],” researchers reported, adding that the results suggest both cannabis and cannabis-based medications can be prescribed to people with HIV “while posing little threat to cognitive function.”</p>
<p>The topic of cannabis use and cognition has seen a recent uptick in popularity, especially given recent conversations surrounding cannabis-induced psychosis (which has largely been linked to pre-existing conditions and vulnerabilities and is not a widespread issue among cannabis consumers, with some advocates arguing that the focus on this topic is a repackaged version of “Reefer Madness” propaganda from decades past).</p>
<p>Of course, it’s important to look at the full picture and recognize how cannabis use and abuse may impact a variety of populations, and myriad studies attempt to look a bit more broadly at the topic.</p>
<p>Recent <a href="https://hightimes.com/study/study-finds-cannabis-users-have-lower-chance-of-cognitive-decline/">research</a> shows that cannabis users may actually have a lower chance of cognitive decline overall.  Previous studies have also noted links between heavy cannabis use and cognitive performance, though researchers noted that particular products used, methods of consumption and the reasons for use can also impact cognitive effects associated with cannabis use.</p>
<p>Another recent <a href="https://hightimes.com/news/cognitive-decline-not-associated-with-occasional-adolescent-cannabis-use/">study</a> similarly found that adolescents who occasionally use cannabis do not see cognitive differences compared to those who abstain, once again highlighting a distinction surrounding frequency of use among other variables.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://hightimes.com/study/study-little-evidence-that-cannabis-harmfully-impacts-cognition-in-people-with-hiv/">Study: ‘Little Evidence’ That Cannabis Harmfully Impacts Cognition in People with HIV</a> first appeared on <a href="https://hightimes.com/">High Times</a>.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com/study-little-evidence-that-cannabis-harmfully-impacts-cognition-in-people-with-hiv/">Study: ‘Little Evidence’ That Cannabis Harmfully Impacts Cognition in People with HIV</a> appeared first on <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com">Paradise Found</a>.</p>
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		<title>MedMen Reportedly Closes All But Two California Locations</title>
		<link>https://paradisefoundor.com/medmen-reportedly-closes-all-but-two-california-locations/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2024 03:06:26 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>According to multiple reports late last week, MedMen has shuttered all but two of its stores in California. “Only MedMen stores in [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com/medmen-reportedly-closes-all-but-two-california-locations/">MedMen Reportedly Closes All But Two California Locations</a> appeared first on <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com">Paradise Found</a>.</p>
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<p>According to multiple reports late last week, MedMen has shuttered all but two of its stores in California.</p>
<p>“Only MedMen stores in San Diego and near Los Angeles International Airport remain open,” <a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/medmen-shutters-all-but-2-marijuana-stores-in-california/">MJBizDaily reported on Friday</a>. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.greenmarketreport.com/medmen-shutters-all-but-2-dispensaries-in-california/">Green Market Report,</a> citing a former staffer at the company, reported that “[although] no one connected with MedMen’s corporate headquarters could be reached for comment, the chain had a small fire sale to unload product this past week prior to closing down.”</p>
<p>The outlet <a href="https://www.greenmarketreport.com/medmen-shutters-all-but-2-dispensaries-in-california/">has more</a> on MedMen’s precipitous decline:</p>
<p>“The report of more closures follows a series of troubling developments for the company, including a string of earlier dispensaries closing down – including MedMen’s flagship store in West Hollywood in February, then its shops in San Jose and Emeryville the same month, and just this week, the company closed its San Francisco location. The news also follows a string of C-suite departures, with ex-CEO Ellen Deutsch Harrison resigning in January after less than seven months on the job.”</p>
<p><a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/medmen-shutters-all-but-2-marijuana-stores-in-california/">MJBizDaily,</a> meanwhile, has specific figures on the number of jobs lost:</p>
<p>“The cash-strapped company operated more than a dozen stores in the state before the latest round of closures. The Los Angeles-based MSO on Thursday closed its San Francisco store in the Cow Hollow neighborhood, Medmen’s last remaining outlet in the Bay Area, according to SFist. The store opened only two years ago, the news outlet reported. MedMen, which has closed several other stores and laid off dozens of workers in California, Illinois and Nevada in the past month, shuttered its Long Beach location last week, MJBizDaily confirmed Friday. The Long Beach location had about 10 employees, according to a former staffer. The company has laid off more than 100 employees since Jan. 26, according to MJBizDaily reporting, including a round of corporate layoffs in MedMen’s accounting and marketing departments.”</p>
<p>Both outlets noted that MedMen’s official website has been down since last week. On Monday morning, visitors to the <a href="https://medmen.com/">site</a> were met with an image of a man lounging on his back poolside, with the message: “We’ll Be Back Soon Sorry, we’re down for scheduled maintenence. In the meantime, connect with us on social.”</p>
<p>The company has not posted on its Instagram account since January. Its last post on Facebook was in 2022.</p>
<p>In 2019, <a href="https://hightimes.com/news/medmen-backs-out-of-huge-deal-to-buy-pharmacann/">MedMen scrapped plans</a> for a major acquisition. Alarmed by plunging cannabis stocks, the company “backed out of a blockbuster deal to buy PharmaCann, a Chicago-based marijuana company with operations in eight states,” the Associated Press reported at the time.</p>
<p>A year earlier, MedMen announced its plans to acquire PharmaCann for $682 million in an all-stock transaction. In a press release at the time, MedMen said that the resulting “pro-forma company (including pending acquisitions by MedMen) will have a portfolio of cannabis licenses in 12 states that will permit the combined company to operate 79 cannabis facilities.” </p>
<p>“The combined company will operate in 12 states, which comprise a total estimated addressable market, as of 2030, of approximately $40 billion according to Cowen Group. Through the transaction, MedMen will add licenses in Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Virginia and Michigan,” the press release said.</p>
<p>The deal was supposed to be a watershed moment for the cannabis industry, with the AP noting that it “was seen as a forerunner of a wave of marijuana industry mergers and acquisitions promising big returns for investors.”</p>
<p>Adam Bierman, MedMen’s CEO at the time, called it “a transformative acquisition that will create the largest U.S. cannabis company in the world’s largest cannabis market.” </p>
<p>“The transaction adds tremendous scale to our vertically integrated business model by expanding our U.S. retail footprint across important growth markets while strengthening our cultivation and production capabilities. With the revenue synergies that the deal is expected to produce, MedMen is well positioned to continue executing on our growth strategy,” said Bierman, who stepped down in his role as chief executive in early 2020.</p>
<p>“This would not have been possible even two years ago and is a testament to how far both the industry and these two companies have evolved. PharmaCann’s leadership has built a world-class organization, and we are excited about the value this transaction is creating for shareholders.”</p>
<p>But by the fall of 2019, MedMen was singing a very different tune. According to the Associated Press, the company “cited the steep pullback in U.S. and Canadian cannabis stocks this year,” and “noted the Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences Index, a Canadian exchange-traded fund that tracks cannabis stocks, is down 47% since March.”</p>
<p>“The underperformance has made it increasingly more critical to allocate capital efficiently, given the current industry headwinds,” MedMen said in a news release, as quoted by the Associated Press.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://hightimes.com/dispensaries/medmen-reportedly-closes-all-but-two-california-locations/">MedMen Reportedly Closes All But Two California Locations</a> appeared first on <a href="https://hightimes.com/">High Times</a>.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com/medmen-reportedly-closes-all-but-two-california-locations/">MedMen Reportedly Closes All But Two California Locations</a> appeared first on <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com">Paradise Found</a>.</p>
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		<title>Border Patrol Seizes $10 Million Worth of Narcotics Hidden in Jalapeño Paste</title>
		<link>https://paradisefoundor.com/border-patrol-seizes-10-million-worth-of-narcotics-hidden-in-jalapeno-paste/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Dec 2023 03:05:48 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>Things got a bit spicy for border patrol officers in San Diego last week. It was there, near the United States-Mexico border, [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com/border-patrol-seizes-10-million-worth-of-narcotics-hidden-in-jalapeno-paste/">Border Patrol Seizes $10 Million Worth of Narcotics Hidden in Jalapeño Paste</a> appeared first on <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com">Paradise Found</a>.</p>
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<p>Things got a bit spicy for border patrol officers in San Diego last week.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>The bust went down on December 13.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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. </p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>As Customs and Border Protection spokesperson Michael Scappechio <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-12-18/jalapeno-paste-search-leads-to-narcotics-bust">told the <em>Los Angeles Times</em>:</a> “It was an extremely spicy situation.” </p>
<p>“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 <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-12-18/jalapeno-paste-search-leads-to-narcotics-bust">said</a>.</p>
<p>“We won’t expose the reasons that led to the further examination,” Scappechio <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-12-18/jalapeno-paste-search-leads-to-narcotics-bust">added</a>, “but agent suspicion is often used.”</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" width="1200" height="675" src="https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-cce3e5ede2.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-301457" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-cce3e5ede2.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-cce3e5ede2.jpg?resize=400%2C225&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-cce3e5ede2.jpg?resize=100%2C56&amp;ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-cce3e5ede2.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-cce3e5ede2.jpg?resize=380%2C214&amp;ssl=1 380w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-cce3e5ede2.jpg?resize=800%2C450&amp;ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-cce3e5ede2.jpg?resize=1160%2C653&amp;ssl=1 1160w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-cce3e5ede2.jpg?resize=80%2C46&amp;ssl=1 80w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-cce3e5ede2.jpg?resize=760%2C428&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-cce3e5ede2.jpg?resize=200%2C113&amp;ssl=1 200w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" data-recalc-dims="1"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection</figcaption></figure>
<p>Rosa Hernandez, the director at the Otay Mesa Port, <a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/cbp-officers-discover-more-10-million-worth-narcotics-jalapeno-paste">credited</a> the unit’s K-9 teams for the bust.</p>
<p>“Our K-9 teams are an invaluable component of our counter-narcotics operations, providing a reliable and unequaled mobile detection capability,” <a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/cbp-officers-discover-more-10-million-worth-narcotics-jalapeno-paste">said</a> 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.”</p>
<p><a href="https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/10m-worth-of-cocaine-meth-hidden-vats-of-jalapeno-paste-seized-in-san-diego/3383356/#:~:text=Hundreds%20of%20packages%20of%20narcotics,Customs%20and%20Border%20Protection%20officers.">According to local news station NBC San Diego,</a> the “narcotics-in-jalapeño-paste seizure was just one of many successful drug busts in the border town recently.”</p>
<p>The United States Coast Guard <a href="https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3609652/multimedia-release-coast-guard-crew-offloads-more-than-239-million-worth-of-coc/">said</a> 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.</p>
<p>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.”</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“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.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-301458" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?resize=320%2C240&amp;ssl=1 320w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?resize=100%2C75&amp;ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?resize=260%2C195&amp;ssl=1 260w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?resize=380%2C285&amp;ssl=1 380w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?resize=80%2C60&amp;ssl=1 80w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?resize=64%2C48&amp;ssl=1 64w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?resize=520%2C390&amp;ssl=1 520w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?resize=760%2C570&amp;ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/hightimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ezgif-2-eeebdc5961.jpg?resize=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1 640w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" data-recalc-dims="1"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection</figcaption></figure>
<p>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.” </p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>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.”</p>
<p>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.” </p>
<p>“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.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://hightimes.com/news/border-patrol-seizes-10-million-worth-of-narcotics-hidden-in-jalapeno-paste/">Border Patrol Seizes $10 Million Worth of Narcotics Hidden in Jalapeño Paste</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://hightimes.com/">High Times</a>.</p>
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		<title>The best-rated weed dispensaries in San Diego for 2022</title>
		<link>https://paradisefoundor.com/the-best-rated-weed-dispensaries-in-san-diego-for-2022/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Sep 2023 03:04:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[aggregated]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dispensaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leafly List]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[San Diego]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://paradisefoundor.com/the-best-rated-weed-dispensaries-in-san-diego-for-2022/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Looking for the best dispensaries in San Diego, California? Leafly List shows you our highest-rated pot shops in San Diego according to [&#8230;]</p>
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<p>Looking for the best dispensaries in San Diego, California? Leafly List shows you our highest-rated pot shops in San Diego according to reviews by real people on Leafly.com.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.leafly.com/news/leafly-list/best-dispensaries-in-san-diego-2022">The best-rated weed dispensaries in San Diego for 2022</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.leafly.com/">Leafly</a>.</p>
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		<title>San Diego Officials Brace for Plunging Cannabis Revenue</title>
		<link>https://paradisefoundor.com/san-diego-officials-brace-for-plunging-cannabis-revenue/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2023 03:01:34 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[aggregated]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cannabis sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marijuana market]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[revenue]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[San Diego]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tax]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://paradisefoundor.com/san-diego-officials-brace-for-plunging-cannabis-revenue/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>City officials in San Diego are anticipating a steep drop in tax revenue from cannabis sales this year, as California’s regulated marijuana [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com/san-diego-officials-brace-for-plunging-cannabis-revenue/">San Diego Officials Brace for Plunging Cannabis Revenue</a> appeared first on <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com">Paradise Found</a>.</p>
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<p>City officials in San Diego are anticipating a steep drop in tax revenue from cannabis sales this year, as California’s regulated marijuana market continues to face difficult headwinds. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2023-02-14/cannabis-tax-revenue-plummets">The <em>San Diego Union-Tribune</em> reported on Tuesday</a> that “San Diego officials say they now expect cannabis tax revenue to be 23 percent lower than they had previously expected during the ongoing fiscal year that ends June 30 — $19.8 million versus $25.7 million,” citing industry leaders who say that “the primary cause of their ‘double-digit’ drops in sales is illegal delivery services, which they estimate make up about half of the region’s cannabis market.”</p>
<p>“The legal industry is facing huge competition from the non-legal industry,” said Phil Rath, executive director of United Medical Marijuana Coalition, a trade group representing a number of marijuana dispensaries, as quoted by the <em>San Diego Union-Tribune</em>. “Delivery services are an ongoing enforcement challenge for the city.”</p>
<p>The plunging revenues in San Diego are symptomatic of a statewide problem in California, where the nearly seven-year-old legal cannabis market has gone bust.</p>
<p>In November, <a href="https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2022/11/california-cannabis-taxes-continue-to-plummet-as-legal-market-struggles-00071040">Politico reported</a> that tax revenue from the state’s licensed and regulated marijuana market “plummeted to below $130 million during the third quarter, a nearly $100 million drop from the same period last year.” </p>
<p>“Legal recreational and medical pot sales in California have consistently shrunk since peaking at over $1.5 billion in the second quarter of 2021, as licensed retailers continue to lag behind an expansive underground market that’s estimated to be worth up to $8 billion,” <a href="https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2022/11/california-cannabis-taxes-continue-to-plummet-as-legal-market-struggles-00071040">Politico reported at the time</a>. “California residents purchased $1.27 billion worth of licensed cannabis products in July, August and September, creating $128 million in excise taxes, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. That represents an $18 million drop from the previous quarter, and a $52 million decline from all-time highs.”</p>
<p><a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/13/california-black-market-weed-new-york-00066470">In a separate story that month</a>, Politico reported that “California’s black market undermined its own legal industry,” noting that six years after the vote to legalize recreational pot in the state, “illegal sales have far outpaced the regulated market, and many operators have closed up shop.”</p>
<p>“High taxes, local government opposition and competition from the underground market have stifled the success of the legal cannabis industry in the nation’s most populous state,” <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/13/california-black-market-weed-new-york-00066470">Politico</a> added.</p>
<p>Lawmakers and other officials throughout the state have pursued solutions to bolster the legal weed market.</p>
<p>Earlier this month, a Democratic assemblyman in California <a href="https://hightimes.com/news/california-lawmaker-introduces-cannabis-cafe-bill/">introduced a bill </a>that would enable the state’s licensed cannabis consumption lounges to serve food and drink, which he says could be a boon for the embattled industry.</p>
<p>“California’s small cannabis businesses are struggling,” <a href="https://hightimes.com/news/california-lawmaker-introduces-cannabis-cafe-bill/">said</a> Matt Haney, the lawmaker sponsoring the bill. “Issues like over-saturation, high taxes, and the thriving black market are hurting cannabis businesses who follow the rules and pay taxes.”</p>
<p>In San Diego, city officials “have also lowered their long-term projections for cannabis tax revenue, which has been expected to pay for enforcement of dispensaries and a new cannabis equity program that aims to give a leg up in the industry to people of color adversely affected by the war on drugs,” <a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2023-02-14/cannabis-tax-revenue-plummets">according to the <em>Union-Tribune</em></a>.</p>
<p>“Just over a year ago, long-term estimates for cannabis tax revenue were projected at $31.5 million in fiscal year 2025, $33.3 million in fiscal 2026 and $33.8 million in fiscal 2027,” the newspaper reported. “In November, those were revised down to $26 million in fiscal 2025, $28.4 million in fiscal 2026 and $28.9 million in fiscal 2027. But city finance officials say they aren’t confident even in those revised estimates.”</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://hightimes.com/news/san-diego-officials-brace-for-plunging-cannabis-revenue/">San Diego Officials Brace for Plunging Cannabis Revenue</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://hightimes.com/">High Times</a>.</p>
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		<title>Study Shows Rise in Weed-Related Emergency Room Visits Among Older Adults</title>
		<link>https://paradisefoundor.com/study-shows-rise-in-weed-related-emergency-room-visits-among-older-adults/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2023 03:07:14 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[aggregated]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Benjamin Han]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cannabis consumption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[emergency room]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[San Diego]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[senior citizens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Study]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[University of California]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>A new study by researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine has revealed a dramatic spike in emergency [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com/study-shows-rise-in-weed-related-emergency-room-visits-among-older-adults/">Study Shows Rise in Weed-Related Emergency Room Visits Among Older Adults</a> appeared first on <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com">Paradise Found</a>.</p>
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<p>A new study by researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine has revealed a dramatic spike in emergency room visits related to cannabis consumption among older adults. The study, which was published on Monday by the peer-reviewed <em>Journal of the American Geriatrics Society</em>, revealed a 1,808% increase in marijuana-related trips to the emergency department among California adults aged 65 and older between 2005 and 2019.</p>
<p>Benjamin Han, M.D., the lead author of the study and a geriatrician in the Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Care in the Department of Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine, said that the dramatic increase in emergency room visits related to cannabis consumption among older adults is a concern for many physicians in his field. In an interview with UC San Diego Today, he noted that the increase is significant because older adults are at a higher risk of adverse effects associated with cannabis and other psychoactive substances.</p>
<p>“Many patients assume they aren’t going to have adverse side effects from cannabis because they often don’t view it as seriously as they would a prescription drug,” <a href="https://today.ucsd.edu/story/cannabis-related-emergency-department-visits-among-older-adults-on-the-rise-study">said Han</a>. “I do see a lot of older adults who are overly confident, saying they know how to handle it — yet as they have gotten older, their bodies are more sensitive, and the concentrations are very different from what they may have tried when they were younger.” </p>
<p><a href="https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jgs.18180">The study</a>, which was funded in part by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, was conducted using a trend analysis of data obtained from the California Department of Healthcare Access and Information. The researchers determined that the number of cannabis-related emergency department visits among adults in California aged 65 and up jumped from 366 in 2005 to 12,167 in 2019. Medical marijuana was legalized in California in 1996, and regulated sales of adult-use cannabis began in the state on January 1, 2018, following the legalization of recreational marijuana by the state’s voters in 2016. The study found that while emergency room visits jumped sharply between 2013 and 2017, they then leveled off, suggesting that the availability of recreational marijuana did not increase the risk of a visit to the emergency department.</p>
<h2 id="cannabis-use-increasing-among-older-americans-with-legalization"><strong>Cannabis Use Increasing Among Older Americans With Legalization</strong></h2>
<p>Over the past two decades, the consumption of cannabis by older adults has increased sharply as marijuana legalization efforts gained ground across the United States. Older Americans are increasingly using cannabis socially and for a variety of health conditions, leading to a drop in the perceived risk of regular marijuana use.</p>
<p>The researchers say that the new study illustrates that cannabis use among older adults can lead to unintended consequences that require emergency health care for a variety of reasons. The use of cannabis can slow reaction time or impair attention, which may increase the risk of injury or falls. There is also evidence that cannabis can increase the risk of delirium, paranoia, or psychosis and that using marijuana can interact with prescription medications or exacerbate pulmonary or cardiovascular problems.</p>
<p>“We know from work in alcohol that older adults are more likely to make a change in substance use if they see that it is linked to an undesirable medical symptom or outcome — so linking cannabis use similarly could help with behavioral change,” said Alison Moore, M.D., co-author of the study and chief of the Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Care in the Department of Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine. “We truly have much to learn about cannabis, given all the new forms of it and combinations of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), and this will inform our understanding of risks and possible benefits, too.”</p>
<p>The study reveals the need for older Americans to have honest discussions about their use of cannabis with their healthcare provider. Moore says that such conversations should be an element of routine medical care, but screening protocols often include the use of cannabis with the use of illicit drugs.</p>
<p>“Instead, asking a question like, ‘Have you used cannabis — also known as marijuana — for any reason in the last 12 months?’ would encourage older adults to answer more frankly,” Moore said. “Providers can then ask how frequently cannabis is used, for what purpose — such as medically for pain, sleep, or anxiety or recreationally to relax — in what form (smoked, eaten, applied topically) and if they know how much THC and CBD it contains. Once the provider has this type of information, they can then educate the patient about potential risks of use.”</p>
<p>Han agreed that patients should discuss their cannabis with their doctors before deciding to use it for medical purposes.</p>
<p>“Although cannabis may be helpful for some chronic symptoms, it is important to weigh that potential benefit with the risk, including ending up in an emergency department,” he said.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://hightimes.com/study/study-shows-rise-in-weed-related-emergency-room-visits-among-older-adults/">Study Shows Rise in Weed-Related Emergency Room Visits Among Older Adults</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://hightimes.com/">High Times</a>.</p>
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		<title>Numerous California Cities Approve Cannabis Retail Measures</title>
		<link>https://paradisefoundor.com/numerous-california-cities-approve-cannabis-retail-measures/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2022 03:05:17 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[adult-use cannabis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[aggregated]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[claremont]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cudahy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gov. Gavin Newsom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Huntington Beach]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Laguna Woods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Laws]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[legalization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Los Angeles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lynwood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[San Diego]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Santa Monica]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South El Monte]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://paradisefoundor.com/numerous-california-cities-approve-cannabis-retail-measures/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>A majority of the cannabis-related initiatives that were approved were located in Los Angeles and San Diego counties, green lighting the possibility [&#8230;]</p>
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<p>A majority of the cannabis-related initiatives that were approved were located in Los Angeles and San Diego counties, green lighting the possibility of 70 additional <a href="https://www.canorml.org/election-guide-to-cannabis-candidates-november-2022-2/">cannabis retail licenses</a>. In California, Los Angeles leads as the most populated county, followed by San Diego County, Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County.</p>
<p><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Los_Angeles_County,_California,_Measure_C,_Marijuana_Tax_for_Unincorporated_Areas_Measure_(November_2022)">Los Angeles County</a> voters approved 25 retail licenses with Measure C by 59.88%, which enacts taxes in unincorporated areas of the county. This includes $10 per square foot for cultivators, 6% tax on gross retail receipts (as well as a gross receipts tax, including 2% tax for testing facilities, 3% tax on distribution, and 4% for “manufacturing and other marijuana business facilities.”) Additionally, <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Santa_Monica,_California,_Measure_HMP,_Cannabis_Business_Tax_Measure_(November_2022)">Santa Monica</a> voters approved Measure HMP with a 66.79% “yes” vote to implement taxes for non-medical cannabis retailers, medical retailers, and all other licensed cannabis businesses (the city currently only has two licensed retailers). Cannabis-related measures in <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Claremont,_California,_Measure_CT,_Cannabis_Tax_Measure_(November_2022)">Claremont</a>, <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Cudahy,_California,_Measure_BA,_Commercial_Marijuana_Regulation_and_Tax_Measure_(November_2022)">Cudahy</a>, <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Lynwood,_California,_Proposition_TR,_Marijuana_Sales_Tax_Measure_(November_2022)">Lynwood</a>, and <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/South_El_Monte,_California,_Measure_CM,_Marijuana_Regulation_and_Tax_Measure_(November_2022)">South El Monte</a> also passed. However, there were numerous cities that chose not to embrace cannabis such as <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Hermosa_Beach,_California,_Measure_M,_Repeal_Commercial_Marijuana_Ban_Initiative_(November_2022)">Hermosa Beach</a>, <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Manhattan_Beach,_California,_Measure_MB,_Repeal_Commercial_Marijuana_Ban_Initiative">Manhattan Beach</a>, and <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/El_Segundo,_California,_Measure_W,_Commercial_Cannabis_Regulation_Measure_(November_2022)">El Segundo</a> all chose to maintain bans on commercial cannabis businesses.</p>
<p><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/San_Diego_County,_California,_Measure_A,_Cannabis_Business_Tax_Measure_(November_2022)">San Diego County</a>, which has only approved five cannabis businesses so far, saw the approval of a cannabis tax through Measure A with 57.28%. This implements a 6% tax on retail businesses, 2% on testing, 3% on cultivation (or $10 per canopy square foot, which is an adjustment for inflation) and 4% for all other businesses. County officials estimate that these taxes could generate up to <a href="https://www.kusi.com/measure-a-cannabis-business-tax-in-unincorporated-san-diego-county/">$5.5 million annually in the general fund</a>, and could lead to 20 new cannabis business licenses. According to George Sadler, CEO of the San Diego-based cannabis brand Gelato, any news is good news. “Access has always been an issue,” said Sadler. “Any progress is a big plus.”</p>
<p>Currently, most of Orange County doesn’t allow for cannabis businesses with the exclusion of the city of Santa Ana. However, last week <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Huntington_Beach,_California,_Measure_O,_Commercial_Cannabis_Businesses_Tax_Measure_(November_2022)">Huntington Beach</a> voters approved Measure O with a yes vote of 54.69%, to approve an ordinance that will implement a 6% tax on gross receipts for retailers, and 1% of gross receipts for other cannabis businesses (estimated to generate $300,000-$600,000 annually). This could lead to up to 10 retail cannabis licenses. In <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Laguna_Woods,_California,_Measure_T,_Cannabis_Business_Tax_Measure_(November_2022)">Laguna Woods</a>, voters also approved a cannabis tax that would go toward general city services with Measure T with 62% of the vote.</p>
<p>In Northern California, <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Sacramento_County,_California,_Measure_B,_Marijuana_Tax_for_Homeless_Services_Measure_(November_2022)">Sacramento County</a> voters were presented with a cannabis tax measure called Measure B but it failed. Although 53.49% of voters approved of this initiative, it required a 2/3 vote (or 66%+) to pass. Neighboring cities such as <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Monterey,_California,_Measure_J,_Marijuana_Tax_Measure_(November_2022)">Monterey</a> and <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Pacific_Grove,_California,_Measure_N,_Marijuana_Tax_Measure_(November_2022)">Pacific Grove</a> approved tax measures. In Sonoma County, <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Healdsburg,_California,_Measure_M,_Cannabis_Business_Tax_(November_2022)">Healdsburg</a> voters approved Measure M.</p>
<p>In San Bernardino County, voters approved a tax initiative in Montclair with <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Montclair,_California,_Measure_R,_Marijuana_Gross_Receipts_Tax_Measure_(November_2022)">Measure R</a>. Central Californians in <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Avenal,_California,_Measure_C,_Marijuana_Business_Tax_(November_2022)">Kings County, Avenal</a> approved a tax initiative as well with Measure C, as well as voters in <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/McFarland,_California,_Measure_O,_Cannabis_Business_Tax_Measure_(November_2022)">McFarland</a>, which is located in Kern County.</p>
<p>While local cities and counties in California delivered on cannabis initiatives, the state has also been implementing other changes recently. </p>
<p>California state voters also chose to keep Gavin Newsom as governor for another term. Earlier in October, Newsom signed a bill called the “Alternate Plea Act” that will help defendants who have been charged with drug-related offenses. According to the <a href="https://hightimes.com/news/californias-newsom-signs-bill-to-offer-alternative-plea-for-those-facing-drug-charges/">Drug Policy Alliance</a>, the “public nuisance plea will carry the same criminal penalty as the drug offense charged but without triggering the collateral consequences.”</p>
<p>“With this plea option, individuals will be able to resume their life after incarceration and not be blocked from securing housing and employment,” <a href="https://hightimes.com/news/californias-newsom-signs-bill-to-offer-alternative-plea-for-those-facing-drug-charges/">the organization explained</a>.</p>
<p>In September, Newsom also signed a bill to <a href="https://hightimes.com/news/newsom-signs-bill-protecting-california-workers-who-smoke-off-the-clock/">protect employees</a> who choose to consume cannabis off-the-clock. “For too many Californians, the promise of cannabis legalization remains out of reach,” Newsom said in a press release. “These measures build on the important strides our state has made toward this goal, but much work remains to build an equitable, safe and sustainable legal cannabis industry. I look forward to partnering with the Legislature and policymakers to fully realize cannabis legalization in communities across California.”</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://hightimes.com/news/numerous-california-cities-approve-cannabis-retail-measures/">Numerous California Cities Approve Cannabis Retail Measures</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://hightimes.com/">High Times</a>.</p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com/numerous-california-cities-approve-cannabis-retail-measures/">Numerous California Cities Approve Cannabis Retail Measures</a> appeared first on <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com">Paradise Found</a>.</p>
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		<title>San Diego’s Social Equity Proposal Could Provide Needed Fixes</title>
		<link>https://paradisefoundor.com/san-diegos-social-equity-proposal-could-provide-needed-fixes/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 27 Aug 2022 03:01:49 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[aggregated]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bruce Mayberry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Draft Cannabis Equity Report]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kim Desmond]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[San Diego]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social equity]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://paradisefoundor.com/san-diegos-social-equity-proposal-could-provide-needed-fixes/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>San Diego’s proposal to establish a social equity program would present eligibility criteria that would help participants find locations, get financing, and [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com/san-diegos-social-equity-proposal-could-provide-needed-fixes/">San Diego’s Social Equity Proposal Could Provide Needed Fixes</a> appeared first on <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com">Paradise Found</a>.</p>
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<p>San Diego’s proposal to establish a social equity program would present eligibility criteria that would help participants find locations, get financing, and get critical mentorship from existing members of the cannabis industry.</p>
<p>It would create a revolving loan fund that would begin with $5 million in city cannabis tax revenue. That probably won’t be an issue, as San Diego recorded over $24 million in cannabis tax revenue that was collected during the fiscal year that ended June 30.</p>
<p>Only those who meet these two criteria will be eligible:</p>
<ul>
<li>Applicants must have been convicted of a cannabis crime, or have had a family member convicted of a cannabis crime, after Jan. 1, 1994, within the San Diego city limits.</li>
<li>Applicants must be a current or former resident, for at least five cumulative years between 1980 and 2016, of Barrio Logan, Linda Vista, southeastern San Diego, Encanto, Golden Hill, North Park, City Heights, the College Area or San Ysidro.</li>
</ul>
<p>Applicants must also meet two of these four criteria:</p>
<ul>
<li>Have a household income under 80% of the area median income.</li>
<li>Lost housing in San Diego through eviction, foreclosure or subsidy cancellation after 1994.</li>
<li>Attended school in the San Diego Unified School District for at least five years between 1971 and 2016.</li>
<li>Placed in the foster care system at any time between 1971 and 2016.</li>
</ul>
<p>“We’re no longer talking in abstractions,” Kim Desmond, Chief of Race and Equity for the City of San Diego, <a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2022-08-26/san-diegos-long-awaited-cannabis-equity-program">told</a> <em>The San Diego</em> <em>Union-Tribune</em>. “It’s an industry that is riddled with racial disparities.”</p>
<p>Bruce Mayberry, chief executive of the San Diego Central Black Chamber of Commerce, echoed those statements, adding that the city must take action.</p>
<p>“If you look at the number of African-Americans that were incarcerated and had their lives turned upside down when cannabis was illegal, and now you look at the number of African-Americans that are benefitting from cannabis now that it’s legal, you can make an argument that another crime is being committed,” Mayberry <a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2022-08-26/san-diegos-long-awaited-cannabis-equity-program">said</a>.</p>
<h3 id="san-diegos-equity-problems"><strong>San Diego’s Equity Problems</strong></h3>
<p>The problems of the city and county of <a href="https://hightimes.com/dispensaries/best-marijuana-dispensaries-san-diego/">San Diego</a> have already been laid out.</p>
<p>On July 7, the City of San Diego released the <a href="https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/final_draft_equity_assessment_full_report_7.7.2022.pdf">Draft Cannabis Equity Report</a>, detailing how Black and Latino people make up about 50% of total cannabis arrests since 2015, despite representing only 29% of San Diego’s population.</p>
<p>Ownership misrepresentation problems represent another facet of the problem: The study found that in San Diego County, 68% of cannabis business license holders are white, while white people make up 44% of the county’s overall population.</p>
<p>Latinos make up 34% of the overall population—yet hold only 14% of cannabis business licenses. Black people make up 5.6% of the county population and hold about 7% of cannabis licenses, perhaps due to recent efforts.</p>
<p>The study also found a huge disparity between men and women business owners.</p>
<p>San Diego’s proposal for a cannabis equity program will receive its next hearing in City Council on Sept. 20. It must be approved by late October in order to meet a state-imposed deadline for the next round of cannabis equity funding, which is expected to be close to $2 million, according to <em>The San Diego Union-Tribune</em>.</p>
<p><em>Voice of San Diego</em> <a href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2021/09/23/san-diego-wants-to-infuse-social-equity-in-the-cannabis-industry/">reports</a> that cannabis sales, distribution, manufacturing, and cultivation continue to be banned in the unincorporated areas, but a countywide ordinance is <a href="https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/pds/Cannabis.html">expected to include a social equity provision</a>. That ordinance could roll out next year with a vote from the county’s Board of Supervisors.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://hightimes.com/news/san-diegos-social-equity-proposal-could-provide-needed-fixes/">San Diego’s Social Equity Proposal Could Provide Needed Fixes</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://hightimes.com/">High Times</a>.</p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com/san-diegos-social-equity-proposal-could-provide-needed-fixes/">San Diego’s Social Equity Proposal Could Provide Needed Fixes</a> appeared first on <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com">Paradise Found</a>.</p>
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		<title>The best-rated cannabis dispensaries in San Diego</title>
		<link>https://paradisefoundor.com/the-best-rated-cannabis-dispensaries-in-san-diego/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jason]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 May 2022 03:05:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[aggregated]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dispensaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leafly List]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[San Diego]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://paradisefoundor.com/the-best-rated-cannabis-dispensaries-in-san-diego/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Looking for the best dispensaries in San Diego, California? Leafly List shows you our highest-rated pot shops in San Diego according to [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com/the-best-rated-cannabis-dispensaries-in-san-diego/">The best-rated cannabis dispensaries in San Diego</a> appeared first on <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com">Paradise Found</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>
<p>Looking for the best dispensaries in San Diego, California? Leafly List shows you our highest-rated pot shops in San Diego according to reviews by real people on Leafly.com.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.leafly.com/news/leafly-list/best-dispensaries-in-san-diego">The best-rated cannabis dispensaries in San Diego</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.leafly.com/">Leafly</a>.</p>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com/the-best-rated-cannabis-dispensaries-in-san-diego/">The best-rated cannabis dispensaries in San Diego</a> appeared first on <a href="https://paradisefoundor.com">Paradise Found</a>.</p>
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