Mississippi Cannabis News
Sharing A Lifetime of Cannabis Wisdom » Emily Kyle, MS, RDN

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1 year agoon

With a degree in agriculture and decades of experience in the industry, our guest, Craig Zaffe, shares his wisdom gained from consuming cannabis since 1966. From the benefits of CBD to debunking common misconceptions, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone curious about the power of this remarkable plant.

Features
- Release Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2023
- Episode Number: Season 1, Episode 35
- Special Guest: Craig Zaffe
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Why You Will Love This Episode
In 1973, our guest Craig Zaffe embarked on his journey by establishing his first organic landscape company.
Over the years, his passion for cultivation grew, and by 1988, he had evolved into a compassionate cannabis grower. Craig decided to delve into CBD oils in 2016 and eventually founded his business, Hemp For Life Wellness, INC.
Craig is driven by a mission to spread awareness and knowledge about the remarkable potential of this incredible plant.
He sheds light on the benefits of CBD and shares insights on how to incorporate CBD into your wellness routine.
Whether you’re new to CBD or a seasoned enthusiast, this conversation is sure to provide valuable insights and empower you to make informed choices.
Full Transcript
Craig: It doesn’t get any sweeter or more beautiful. It happens every single day in the cannabis community. We have more good people with good hearts working with the same cause. There’s always going to be those bad apples, and you’ve just got to dust yourself off, realize that all in for the long term, because we want to leave our planet better for the little ones. So if not now, when?
Announcer: Welcome to the Well With Cannabis Podcast, a show dedicated to telling the life-changing stories of those who live well with cannabis all while teaching you how to do the same. Meet your host, Emily Kyle, a registered dietitian nutritionist turned certified holistic cannabis practitioner. Emily changed her life for the better with the help of the cannabis plant, and now she’s committed to helping others do the same.
Tune in each week to hear heartwarming stories and gain the knowledge you need to feel connected, inspired, and supported on your own cannabis journey. Whether you’re a new cannabis consumer or a lifetime lover, you’ll benefit from these uplifting tales of real-life journeys that will show you how you, too, can live your best life well with cannabis.
Disclaimer: Hi there. Before we jump into today’s episode, I wanted to share a note on potentially sensitive content. The episodes on the Well With Cannabis Podcast are created for adult audiences only. We will, at times, cover sensitive topics, including but not limited to suicide, abuse, mental illness, sex, drugs, alcohol, psychedelics, and the obvious use of plant medicine. Explicit language may be used occasionally. Please refrain from watching or listening to the show if you’re likely to be offended or adversely impacted by any of these topics.
The information on this show is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. If any of the content on this podcast has brought up anything for you, please reach out or speak to a professional or someone you trust.
Emily: Hello, and welcome back to another episode of the Well With Cannabis Podcast. I am so excited to have a very special guest here today, Mr. Craig Zaffe from Hemp For Life Wellness. Welcome, Craig. Thank you so much for joining us.
Craig: Emily, I have to tell you, I can’t thank you enough for being who you are.
Emily: You’re so kind.
Craig: Having the podcast, and I followed your newsletter for a while. Thank you. I appreciate everything you’re doing for the community and educating everybody. A little bit of background on who I am, what I’m about. I’m 72 years old.
Emily: You look fabulous!
Craig: My philosophy is I’ve got to be in better shape next year than this year. So staying healthy is a full-time job.
Emily: Yes.
Craig: So I have a degree in agronomy, which is the science of soils.
Emily: How cool! Oh my gosh, what a benefit!
Craig: I started my, I don’t know, technically it was the very first organic landscaping company in New York State, 1973. I introduced organic landscaping and edible landscaping.
Emily: Cool! Oh, fun!
Craig: I’ve always been an educator. I was trying to educate people that the outdoors is not the living room. You have to realize that there’s progression of nature. You have a lawn and it goes through a natural progression. Nature wants to change. You want to come along, you want to stop that natural progression. The lawn wants to go into the field, wants to go into the pasture, and wants to go into the woods.
Craig: You come along and you monoculture. One type of plant life. And everybody’s obsessed with having one type of plant life. I don’t want any clover, even though they’re the most beneficial plants. God forbid they have crabgrass. And, to use all of these horrific, cancer-causing chemicals. I have met some of the most educated people, but when it came to their lawn, they had no common sense. Even though their wives had breast cancer, their animals have leukemia, they refuse to give up chemicals. So I used to say, “Let’s put on a different pair of sunglasses. Keep your head up; don’t look down. Don’t get so crazy.” I was lawn-cutting for many years. I took a bag with grass clippings, and put everything back in the ground. I used all the mulching machines, shredded all the leaves, nothing left on the property. You always improve what you use. And also, I’ve used cannabis my whole life. I’ve been using cannabis since 1966. Before you were born.
Emily: Awesome, yeah.
Craig: I started growing full time in 1987-88.
Emily: Wow, you have a lot of wisdom.
Craig: And I’ve spent… I spent a lot of years just educating myself. As we know, cannabis has been the most persecuted plant on the planet. More people have been sent away to jail, more Blacks, Latinos, and minorities. More lives have been ruined because of racism, and capitalism.
Craig: I’ve always wanted to get involved with medicinal marijuana, but it was so restricted. You’re from New York also.
Emily: Yes.
Craig: It was just so difficult. OIJ, which is one of the largest hospitals, tried to get a license, but they were rejected. So I had an opportunity to get involved with CBDs. So I figured I’d get my education.
Craig: We all read the book, The Emperor Wears No Clothes by Jack Herer. So many uses. Cannabis and hemp. As we know, it’s the first domesticated crop. It’s been used for the history of mankind. It’s part of our own DNA. We all have an endocannabinoid system. Who knew?
Emily: I feel like every time someone finds out, they’re like, “What? I didn’t know. You didn’t tell me.”
Craig: And again, since there’s never any funding because there’s been a war on drugs and cannabis, especially. If you want funding to prove it was a gateway drug, they give you hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you want to prove the benefits of using cannabis, you get no funding.
Craig: As we know, a lot of changes happened in the 1980s and 1990s with the research for the endocannabinoid system. We realize all life forms, all animals, and all people have this incredible system in their bodies. I say it’s the commander in chief of all the regulations in our body. We have 12 body systems, including the endocannabinoid system.
Craig: The whole purpose of the endocannabinoid system is balance and internal health. By incorporating cannabis into your life, not only do you heal yourself, you heal the planet. So it’s a win-win situation. My goal has always been to educate people. I’ve been smoking cannabis since 1966. I smoke it all day. I grow, but marijuana is not for everybody.
Craig: CBDs are. I’ve educated people about the use of CBD-rich flowers and the differences between different types of cannabis. You have the high-resin cannabis, people who want to get stoned. To me, cannabis is more about getting high. We all like to get high. We all like to feel good, but there’s so much more to that plant.
Craig: People have to realize that with 25,000 uses, everybody can be involved in one part of that plant. And everybody wants to grow it. I believe your husband grows it.
Emily: We were awarded a cannabis cultivator’s license last year, and we only grew 10 plants, but we’ve grown it. It’s amazing.
Craig: Having the license to grow, you’re so regulated. Every seedling has a barcode.
Emily: Yes.
Craig: By the time that seed germinates, which is still such a beautiful thing to watch.
Emily: Ah, it’s my favorite.
Craig: It just unfolds. You have to track that plant to the shelf.
Emily: In full transparency, I’m not sure that I’m going to actually grow this year because the regulations are so insane, and it’s just not really in line with what I’m doing at this time.
Craig: But you do make edibles, right? You do sell cannabutter and everything else. So you have a source to make your products.
Emily: Yes, that’s the cat and the mouse game, and you know how it goes. It’s just the regulations are crazy.
Craig: Listen, I want to grow; I want to educate people, domains, and grow your own homegrown cannabis. I do set people up with cannabis gardens to help out friends who have cancer, families, and everything else. It’s all about education because once you’re educated, you make educated choices without all the side effects. I don’t have to tell you that we’re in a health crisis. Everybody’s obese.
Craig: They don’t know genetically; we’re still tied to the hunter-gatherer genetics. Now, no one gets off the couch. When they went to school for the medical degree, they went to school before 1994. They didn’t learn about the endocannabinoid system. So as soon as you mention the word “cannabis” in healthcare… You know.
Craig: Education is the key. So my whole thing is to take the time, educate people till they make the right decisions, get proactive with their health, and get off the couch; you are what you eat. There’s a relationship between your gut and your brain. People don’t realize that you eat all this sugary processed food, the overtax is your CB1 receptor, which is the reward receptor.
Craig: That’s why you always feel good. You have something sugary, something processed food and you want more. They’re overtaxing the CB1 receptor. Incorporate CBD in your life, which is rich in omega 3, quiet down the CB1 receptor. Turn on more of the CBD receptors in your gut. You always go to CBD, ProjectCBD.org. It’s all about educating yourself.
Craig: Every day there’s an ad, there’s something else. Again, you’re still young. I’m 72. It takes a little bit longer to absorb something. What medical conditions do you have? Where do you use it? I’ve been waiting my lifetime to get to this point with cannabis. Do you know about Honeysuckle Magazine?
Craig: They have their CBD and merchandising, but that’s something I also recommend everybody just to check out Honeysuckle Magazine. They’ll get a pulse on what’s going on. People bring in the connections, every seed grower around the world, credentials. He had his own cannabis network radio. I came in. Turns out he was a fraud. Unfortunately he stole $100,000. My other partner died.
Emily: Oh, so sorry.
Craig: I lost everything at age 70. But, thank God I can still do hard labor. I picked myself up. I believe in the plant. I dusted myself off, rebuilt the business. I started Hemp for Life Wellness.
Craig: I’ve been involved with a lot of former athletes. I met, years ago, Marvin Washington, who was a former Super Bowl player. And I don’t know anybody in football other than Joe Namath growing up as a kid. But through Marvin Washington, I met a lot of Jets. So I did the sack exchange one summer camp at the Jets.
Craig: Gave them education on CBDs. I met this year, Reggie Grant, who’s a former football player. He reached out to me a couple years ago. He wanted to start a CBD line. We kept good connections and just this past year, decided to jump in and join forces with me. So I’m very blessed to have Richard Grant, who’s just an incredible human being, joining forces. So I think 2023 is going to be a very good year for Hemp For Life Wellness.
Emily: That’s so exciting. Now, for our listeners, please explain a little bit more about Hemp for Life Wellness, what you’re doing and who you’re serving.
Craig: Basically, at Hemp For Life Wellness, we have incredible products. Our products are made in an FDA regulated facility with good manufacturing practices. We have tinctures. We have an AM and PM tincture, each with two different terpene profiles. The tincture for daytime is more energizing, based on the blue dream terpene profile. We have a PM for sleep, which is a granddaddy purple terpene profile. We have our famous sports cream. We have two formulas, warm and cold.
Craig: Since we have FDA-regulated ingredients, we are registered with the FDA and we pay a registration fee every year to the FDA since we use their products. We’re coming out with a sports cream that has 1200 milligrams of CBD in it and all the athletes love it.
Craig: Now, I’m fortunate to have Reggie, who’s well connected in the professional athletes world. We’ve brought on various brand ambassadors, former athletes to represent the company. We’ve set up distributors across the country. We’re in the process of raising funds from family and friends to get new inventory and do more marketing. I think it’s going to be great and we have the right people on board, like Reggie, who’s just an exceptional gentleman and gives so much back to the community. He’s doing a charity with golf in L.A. as we speak to raise money for various charities. Again, I’m just very blessed to have someone of his caliber join forces with Hemp For Life Wellness and to be able to teach more people how to grow cannabis.
Emily: Hey, how are you going to do that?
Craig: I’m working with a couple of different clients, and I also want to start a school. I’m still waiting to hear from the cannabis board on how to do that and be compliant. Where do we get our seeds and our clones from, technically? Fortunately, you can now buy seeds in the United States. Years ago, I got seeds from Spain. I got them from Amsterdam. I sent the money for my first set of seeds back in 1987, and they came from Iowa.
Emily: Really? That’s funny.
Craig: The money went to Amsterdam, and the seeds came from Iowa.
Emily: Gosh, that’s crazy.
Craig: There’s a little legality against it.
Emily: Wasn’t that a new ruling, a new court ruling recently that finally came down?
Craig: I would say the last 90 days.
Emily: Yeah. Yeah. So if for anyone who’s listening, there was a, I don’t know if it was a gray area or if they straight up banned the sale of cannabis seeds. But the argument is that the seeds don’t contain THC, so therefore there should be no reason that they should be illegal. And there was just a ruling that I didn’t follow very closely, that did come out. It said that since there’s no THC in the seeds, people should be able to freely have them without any legal consequence, which is super exciting.
Craig: I used to have them sent to my mother’s house. My mom was worried she’d go to jail. I said, “Mom, I don’t want you to go to jail for me.” But again, my goal is just to give people the power to take charge of their health. You have to get proactive. You’re nutritious. You’re walking the walk. You’re gorgeous.
Emily: Thank you. Thank you. You’re right. It starts with education. Without that, there’s nothing.
Craig: Because we’ve been fed a pack of lies for so many years. So many different levels. Even today. Still. Some of my own family members still refuse to use cannabis. Now, on a personal note, my wife had a very rare form of breast cancer years ago. I make my cancer cannabis tinctures, CBDs; we juice every day, supplements, she’s okay. Last year we found out she had chronic leukemia. She’s a head gardener and has been exposed to many chemicals. She never used chemicals, but she’s been exposed to it. Again, cannabis tinctures, CBD, mushroom extracts, juicing hot peppers, and when we went back to the doctor, her white blood cell count had come down. So people realized that cannabis and mushrooms are some of the different things you can use to heal.
Emily: Man, I haven’t even explored the world of mushrooms yet, but I know it’s just a whole other door.
Craig: A lot of people are using psilocybin for cancer.
Emily: It’s amazing.
Craig: Microdosing mycelium is just incredible. Years ago I grew psilocybin mushrooms, which was an incredible experience. A whole different life form, but we realize that mycelium and fungus are so important for the well being of the planet and ourselves.
Craig: So again, education is the key and also, we have to elevate the plant. We can’t do a disservice to the plant. We can’t be stupid. We waited so long for this moment where we could have an educated conversation without being arrested. Even though they closed you down on Instagram, which is ridiculous. If you hadn’t been closed down, we wouldn’t have the pleasure of having a conversation, of many conversations to come. But, again, educating people to take charge of their own health. Because, you can’t rely upon pharmaceuticals. You may still have to rely upon Western medicine.
Emily: Absolutely, and that’s okay. I always want people to know if you are using Western medicine and pharmaceuticals, if it’s working for you, no shame.
Craig: Yeah, not a question of shame, but you can use both and you have to also, people don’t realize that. CBD interacts with the cytochrome P450 liver enzyme. So that’s where the education comes in.
Craig: You have to educate people. You have to tell your doctor that you’re incorporating CBD and cannabis into your life. So they may have to do a simple test. They may have to tweak your medication.
Emily: Honesty really is the best policy. I know many people struggle with being honest with their healthcare providers, but it should be a safe space, it’s not like you can go to jail or be arrested, and ultimately it gets you better medical care at the end of the day.
Craig: And also, let’s talk about CBD in pets.
Emily: Yeah, so many people are turning to that as an alternative for their animals.
Craig: Yeah. Animals don’t do well with THC.
Emily: I’m glad you said that because a lot of people don’t know that.
Craig: They respond to CBD. I had two little minpins. My little spunky girl had a heart condition and they put her on opiates. She’d been on opiates for two months and the cost was a couple hundred dollars a month. Yeah. She got dementia. She went blind in one eye. She was a hurting puppy. Within two weeks of getting her on CBD, I got her over the opiates. She was running around. She still got stuck in corners like Mr. Magoo. And when she had seizures, it neutralized the seizures. So when she crossed over, she had a happy crossing.
Emily: Oh, that’s beautiful. I’m sorry for your loss; I’m so glad that it was a good experience, at least in that way.
Craig: It’s just so important; people should realize how they’re animals. Because we’ll spend more money on our animals than we do ourselves, CBD is great and beneficial to health because, listen, most animals are fed crap. We are what we eat. Now, CBD will help cure the inflammation in the joints. And anxiety, especially around the Fourth of July or thunderstorms.
Craig: It works that way with people, too. I tell people that if they are caregivers, they should be using CBD because they have tremendous stress. If you go down for the count, it’s going to pick you up. Again, it’s an incredible plant. It’s just a wonderful thing that so many more people are getting involved. Cannabis communities are getting stronger worldwide, and that’s the beautiful part about cannabis, it’s meant to be shared.
Emily: Yes, it’s very social, yes.
Craig: You find that this experience is much more enjoyable when you share it. It’s a safe spot. If you’re going to do edibles – and I know you have incredible recipes – people have to be very cautious when they do edibles. You need to have patience. You can get in trouble if you don’t get your dosing right, especially if they’re not home if they’re out on the street.
Emily: We always tell people, “Do it from the comfort of your own home, are you crazy?”
Craig: People have to realize that CBD should be right there with you.
Emily: Yeah, CBD has helped me many times when I have taken too much.
Craig: If there’s a phone call and I have to get in the car and drive, (which I don’t recommend, but I’ve been guilty of doing) you just flush the THC with the CBD. You never know. There’s always that knock on the door. There’s always that time when you need to be in control.
Emily: It’s amazing that you can have that control. And for anybody who’s listening, if you’ve never heard this before, if you have consumed too much THC to the point where you feel unwell or uncomfortable, you can consume CBD on top of that and it will help take that edge off and help you feel better and will undo a little bit of that high. So that’s a great tip for people, especially if it’s your first time taking edibles, always keep some CBD on hand because it can absolutely make the biggest difference in your experience.
Craig: Lemonade.
Emily: Yeah.
Craig: And black pepper.
Emily: Yes.
Craig: Fresh air, quiet spot.
Emily: Yes.
Craig: It will pass. You’re not going to die.
Emily: Even if it feels like it.
Craig: So, people, again, use your head. Be smart about it. Don’t give it a bad name and enjoy it.
Emily: That’s beautiful and perfect. The perfect way to transition.
Emily: I want to be respectful of your time, but I want to ask you the same four questions I ask all of my guests. Are you ready? All right, first question. What are you most proud of in your life to date?
Craig: I guess it would be starting the CBD business. I don’t think you can put a price on the value of being part of the cannabis community and family. And you hear a mother tell you after you made a tincture for them, that’s the first time their sick child spoke. Or you have a friend who’s dying of cancer, and you make their transition so much easier. My wife used to have a trigger finger, and before we even kissed good morning, we would have to pop it open. After she took CBD for two weeks, there was no more trigger finger.
Craig: I’ve also had numerous injuries throughout my life. I fractured my spine, trees have been dropped on me. I use cannabis every day of my whole life. The one time doctors gave me oxycodone, I got dementia after just three days, I was constipated. I didn’t want to be on that. I took copious amounts of cannabis because we didn’t have CBDs at the time.
Craig: But again, I think just being in the cannabis space, just meeting so many incredible people from around the world, all working for the same cause, just realizing it’s part of our DNA. Not to get so deep and esoteric, but, how did they do that? How did they do that? How did they plan, plant the cannabis plant to be part of our DNA, all life?
Emily: Meant to be. That’s what I think is the beautiful part about it. It feels meant to be.
Craig: Yeah. And that’s always how wonderful to be at this point in time. And we can share that knowledge. Everybody can enjoy the benefits of it.
Emily: Absolutely.
Craig: The repercussions are a sense of wellness and well-being. And that’s a hell of a way to enjoy your life. Let’s face it, we have more stress than ever before on our planet, and that’s why cannabis is so important. Planting hemp will restore this planet. It should be mandatory. Everybody has a little crop of hemp. Get rid of that lawn. Get rid of those ornamental shrubs. Get a crop of hemp.
Emily: Imagine how beautiful that would be, too. Oh, everyone’s gardens would smell so good!
Craig: And the birds would be singing. In 1937, everybody had a phytocannabinoid rich diet. They fed all the animals. Even now, the farms that are going back to incorporating hemp notice that the cows are happier. It’s a beautiful thing.
Emily: It is a beautiful thing. To flip on the other side, this question comes up next. What do you think your life would look like without cannabis?
Craig: Oh God, please.
Emily: It’s everyone’s least favorite question.
Craig: I could not imagine, honestly and truly. I don’t think I’d be who I am. I grew up in the 60s so I’m the age for hippies and psychedelics. That whole era was just so magical and most of us are happy we made it through. I’m sure my essence would be the same because I have my grandmother’s essence in me and I’m just sweet. But my whole lifestyle revolves around cannabis and it would all be different. My hands wouldn’t be in the earth anymore. I’m happiest when I’m cooking so I would probably be in the restaurant business, but my life wouldn’t have the richness that it does now. I certainly wouldn’t know all of these beautiful people that I’ve met who have become part of my family. What better price could you give the gift of healing?
Emily: Priceless. It’s absolutely priceless.
Craig: All right, that’s the second question.
Emily: All right, number three, and I don’t know how applicable this will be to you because you’ve had cannabis in your life for so long, but the question for most people is if you could go back 10, 20, 30 years ago and give yourself a piece of cannabis-related advice, what would it be?
Craig: Don’t be a stoner because you’ll make stupid decisions. Many times when I was, way more than one toke over the line and got behind the wheel. I had no fear of doing psychedelic drugs and getting in a car and driving. Looking back at those things, I must have had divine angels behind me. Again, that’s why trying to educate the younger generation is so important.
Craig: We need to educate them so that they don’t make the mistakes that so many of us have made. We started off just getting stoned, not really knowing how wonderful and beneficial this plant-based medicine is. I grew up in an all black neighborhood and started everything very early. I started drinking at 13, working at 13, I took Driver’s Ed drunk, and then I discovered marijuana.
Craig: I stopped drinking. My advice would be to keep smoking and don’t drink. That way, it’s very beneficial for your first introduction. But again, we all made our mistakes and I’m hoping that we can have other people not make those same mistakes. Do it wisely, do it at home in a safe environment.
Craig: Also, again, the edibles. We have a problem with people leaving their edibles out. I’m not talking about homemade, I’m talking about people who go to stores. Now we know it’s rampant out there. You go to the bodegas, smoke shops, and get edibles. The packaging is so child-friendly looking. People, the parents are making a mistake of leaving it out, their little toddlers are eating it, and ending up in the hospital. So I did a podcast two weeks ago on that. I said, “Please, you have to treat it like you have a gun in your house. You can’t leave it out.” I hold manufacturers responsible because they’re all about making the money and they don’t realize the damage they’re doing to the entire industry with their packaging. So again, education, education, education.
Emily: Oh, that’s perfect. And it leads us right up to our very last question. If you could be remembered for just one thing in the cannabis space, what would it be?
Craig: Education. Taking the time to educate everybody about the most beneficial plant on the planet. End of story. It all begins with the plant and ends with the plant. This is part of us. The more people realize how beneficial this plant is, incorporate in their lives, their families, their parents, and their grandparents, make sure that their children wait before they start to partake unless they have medical conditions.
Craig: Everybody thinks it’s groovy to sit and pass around a couple of joints with their teenagers. I think they should wait because the endocannabinoid system is still developing. There’ll be plenty of time to partake. And if your kids are in sports, any type of contact sports, they should be on CBD.
Emily: Now, if people want to connect with you, where can they go? I know they can go to hempforlifewellness.com and you also host a podcast show. Where can they learn more about all that you’re doing right now?
Craig: I’m on YouTube. I’m Craig Zaffe, The CBD Guy and my podcast is Everything CBD and More Podcast and I used to do it with my good friend, Reggie Grant, but he’s in LA. So I finally learned how to navigate doing a podcast. I’ve come a long way. When I first started the business in 2016, I didn’t know which way to point the mouse.
Emily: Hosting a podcast on your own? That’s awesome.
Craig: Yeah. So again, it’s just, I love just talking about the plant, and just taking the time. When I have customers call, I spend an awfully long time educating them. It’s amazing. I tell them that they don’t have to buy it right now. They can go to Project CBD, get educated, come back, and if they have another question, I’ll spend the time. I’ll have you for a lifelong customer. It’s not about the money, I just want to heal and help people. That’s it.
Emily: That’s it. I find most people just want everyone to feel as good as we do with cannabis.
Craig: Yeah, and again, if you want to grow it, it’s a wonderful plant to grow.
Emily: Yes, it’s so beautiful and it’s fun too.
Craig: It, it’s so exciting, you plant that seed, all of a sudden, depending upon variety, the conditions, it’ll come up in three days sometimes, but sometimes you’ll get one that will take 12, 14 days to come up. Then the various stages it’s going through. That first female flower shows up; oh my god. Then later, actual buds, and then you start to get the aroma of the terpenes, And then you look through that old eyepiece, you look at it, and it’s good. You harvest it. Three, four weeks later, you get to enjoy it. You get to share it. What better gift than giving a friend, even a stranger, a bag of 100% organic flower?
Emily: Yes. It’s beautiful. It’s full circle, for sure.
Craig: And no charge.
Emily: Absolutely. Just to give it, just a gift from the heart, really.
Craig: Yeah, and listen, again, It doesn’t get any sweeter or more beautiful. It happens every single day in the cannabis community. We have more good people with good hearts, working with the same cause. There’s always going to be those bad apples, and you’ve just got to dust yourself off, realize that we’re all in it for the long term, because we want to leave our planet better for the little ones. If not now, when?
Emily: Absolutely. That’s perfect. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom. I’m going to leave links so everyone can find your website, your YouTube channel, and your podcast. Thank you so much for joining us. This was a fabulous conversation, and I can’t wait for everybody to listen.
Craig: I hope we can do it again.
Emily: I do too. Thank you so much.
Craig: Thank you for being you. I appreciate the fact you let me talk. I enjoyed it. Thank you. Again, we’re all working with the same course. Absolutely. What’s a better, righteous way to go through than that?
Emily: And to share it with others. Again, thank you so much for having this conversation and sharing your experience. I can’t wait for everybody to listen.
Craig: I’m going to listen too.
Emily: Awesome.
Craig: Thank you so much.
Emily: Thank you, Craig.
Craig: Thank your other half for having such a lovely bride.
Emily: I will. Thank you.
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Author: mscannabiz.com
MScannaBIZ for all you Mississippi Cannabis News and Information.
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Mississippi Cannabis News
Dozen arrested after south Mississippi bust for illegal sales to underage customers

Published
7 hours agoon
September 14, 2025
An investigation into south Mississippi businesses selling “alcohol, dangerous illegal vapes, THC edibles,” and other age-restricted or illegal items to underage customers has resulted in at least a dozen arrests with more possible, according to law enforcement.
An announcement by the Perry County Sheriff’s Office said deputies began an investigation in early 2024 after fielding complaints that some businesses in the county were purposely allowing individuals under the age of 21 to purchase age-restricted products.
Sheriff Jacob Garner said as the investigation unfolded, it quickly became clear that the issue was not restricted to Perry County. Law enforcement in nearby Forrest, Lamar, Marion, Greene, Jefferson Davis, and Jones counties had received similar complaints about businesses in their jurisdictions.
Local agencies teamed up with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency for over a year’s worth of identifying subjects, initiating traffic stops, and fielding more calls for service. It culminated on Sept. 11 after 20 search warrants were carried out, with 12 individuals being arrested for their involvement in the businesses selling alcohol, tobacco, and THC to minors.
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“Anyone who chooses to open a business in Perry County for the purpose of selling illegal narcotics, vapes, or THC products to children or adults will be arrested and prosecuted,” Garner said. “These items – disguised as safe or legal – are destroying lives and endangering the health and safety of our citizens. Business owners profiting off the harm of our children and adults in our county will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Garner added that many of the defendants, while operating in different counties, were working in tandem. The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, and the Mississippi Highway Patrol aided in the investigation that remains active.
The following list of arrests and charges has been announced by the involved law enforcement agencies:
- Khaled Alhamidi, 55, of Petal: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance, trafficking while in possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to sell a controlled substance.
- Akram Alhamidi, 25, of Petal: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance, trafficking while in possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to sell a controlled substance.
- Omar Obaid, 40, of Hattiesburg: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance.
- Gaizan Abubaker, 37, of Houma, La.: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance.
- Rami Selah, 32, of Petal: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance, trafficking of a controlled substance while in possession of an enhanced firearm.
- Bassel Saleh, 53, of Petal: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance.
- Mark Shaibi, 24, of Petal: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance, trafficking of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm.
- Gabr Al-Gabri, 36, of Petal: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance, trafficking of a controlled substance while in possession of an enhanced firearm.
- Basel Rashad, 30, of Petal: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance, trafficking while in possession of a firearm.
- Anmed Elgabry, 30, of Petal: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance, trafficking of a controlled substance while in possession of an enhanced firearm.
- Mohammed Riyadh, 31, of Hattiesburg: Two counts of aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance.
- Ahmedou Mohamedlaamar, 22, of Perry County: Aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance.

Author: mscannabiz.com
MScannaBIZ for all you Mississippi Cannabis News and Information.
Mississippi Cannabis News
US marijuana laws explained as Donald Trump reveals plans for change

Published
3 days agoon
September 12, 2025
Donald Trump is reportedly looking at reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug in the US.
According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, the 79-year-old president is ‘looking at’ making a huge change, which would make it easier to buy and sell weed, making the multibillion-dollar industry more profitable.
The publication’s sources claimed that during a recent fundraiser held at his New Jersey golf club, where tickets for the event went for a whopping $1 million each, the Republican leader first spoke of the potential plans.
He allegedly said he was ‘looking at’ possibly changing the classification of marijuana from a Schedule I controlled substance to a Schedule III substance.
In simple terms, this doesn’t mean it would make the drug completely legal across the US, but it would help ease restrictions on it.

Donald Trump is reportedly considering whether to reclassify marijuana in the US (Bloomberg/Getty Images)
At the event, speaking of tweaking the federal restrictions for the drug, Trump allegedly said: “We need to look at that. That’s something we’re going to look at.”
Then, according to The Telegraph, speaking at a press conference on Monday, the US president affirmed: “We’re looking at reclassification, and we’ll make a determination over, I’d say, the next few weeks.”
He reportedly added that the decision is ‘very complicated’ – so, let’s break it down.
How do US marijuana laws work?
At a federal level, marijuana remains illegal in the US as per the 1970 Controlled Substances Act, however, many states have made their own rules for cannabis use.
As we mentioned earlier, it’s federally classified as a Schedule I drug – this means that federal law considers it to have a ‘high potential for abuse’ and ‘no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States’.
But, despite its federal classification, 24 states plus the District of Columbia have fully legalised weed, meanwhile others have opted to only allow it for medicinal purposes.
Cannabis legalisation in individual states can be done in a number of ways, ranging from fully illegal to legal for both medicinal and recreational use.
If you’re in a state that has completely legalised recreational marijuana and you’re 21 or older, you have the right to use cannabis products for your own personal enjoyment.
However, this doesn’t always mean it’s legal to purchase – confusing, I know.
For example, while it’s illegal to buy marijuana in Washington, DC, it’s legal for anyone 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of it and grow up to six marijuana plants in the district.
So essentially, it’s all down to the state you’re in and their specific regulations.

America’s cannabis laws can be a tricky subject to wrap your head around (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
What would happen if marijuana became a Schedule III drug?
If Trump were to go ahead and reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug, this would be a pretty big change up and down America.
According to the US government’s website, Schedule III drugs are defined as drugs ‘with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence’ and their ‘abuse potential is less than Schedule I and Schedule II drugs’.
Some examples of Schedule III drugs are products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit, such as Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.
Meanwhile, Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
Some examples include heroin, LSD, ecstasy, and as of right now, marijuana.
It’s important to note that the switch up would not make marijuana completely legal – it would just help ease restrictions and create more opportunities for medical uses and possible tax breaks for marijuana companies.

The Republican leader is said to be ‘looking at’ possibly switching marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug (Emilija Manevska/Getty Images)
Which US states is marijuana currently legal in?
States where marijuana is fully legal:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Illinois
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
States where marijuana is legal for medical purposes only:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia (CBD oil only)
- Hawaii
- Indiana (CBD oil only)
- Iowa (CBD oil only)
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (CBD oil only)
- Texas
- Utah
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (CBD oil only)
- Wyoming (CBD oil only)

Author: mscannabiz.com
MScannaBIZ for all you Mississippi Cannabis News and Information.
Mississippi Cannabis News
D.C. board rejects ANC 5A challenge to new medical cannabis retailer

Published
3 days agoon
September 12, 2025
D.C. board rejects ANC 5A challenge to new medical cannabis retailer in Ward 5
The D.C. Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board has rejected ANC 5A’s bid to reinstate its protest against a new Clinical Solutions medical cannabis dispensary in Ward 5, ruling that the ANC’s objections about daycare proximity and safety lacked the specific statutory grounds required to proceed; the license application remains on track, though the decision can still be appealed.
- Alt Sol was featured by wtop News.
- Catch up on today’s ABC Board meeting: watch, agenda.
- Sept. 24, Black Cannabis Week’s D.C. event, “From Prohibition to Policy.”
- A GOP-led House committee is advancing a bill to repeal Washington, D.C.’s Second Chance Amendment Act—which automatically expunges past cannabis possession records—framing the move as part of a broader “restoring law and order” initiative.
Workers protest at Maryland dispensary grand reopening over labor disputes
Cannabis workers and community members protested outside The Apothecarium’s grand reopening in Cumberland, Md., on Sept. 5, alleging the company engaged in union-busting and stalled contract negotiations since employees voted to unionize last year. UFCW Local 27 says workers are demanding fair pay and just cause protections, while the company has not yet issued a response.
Virginia’s 2025 gubernatorial race may decide future of legal cannabis market
Over half of Virginians have used cannabis, but the state currently lacks a legal retail market, though a bipartisan commission is studying its potential and the issue is expected to hinge on the 2025 gubernatorial election. Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger supports establishing a regulated retail market to boost revenue and public safety, while Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears opposes legalization, citing cannabis as a gateway drug.
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East Coast Roundup
Once a dominant force in Massachusetts‘ cannabis industry, Fitchburg-based Rev Clinics supplied products to approximately 75% of the state’s dispensaries. However, the company has faced significant challenges leading to its collapse.
A CBD shop in Connecticut shut down following allegations of illegal cannabis sales. The owner has agreed to a settlement.
New York’s licensed cannabis sales surpassed $2.09 billion, with over $1 billion generated in 2025 alone, indicating a robust and expanding market despite market turmoil.
The New York State Office of Cannabis Management announced the transition to the Metrc system for tracking cannabis from seed to sale will start in 2026.
Delaware’s recreational cannabis market achieved $7.3 million in sales during its inaugural month, signaling a strong consumer demand.
The Massachusetts Attorney General certified 44 ballot proposals for the 2026 election, including one aiming to repeal the state’s 2016 law legalizing recreational marijuana sales. This proposal, led by Sudbury resident Caroline Alcock Cunningham, seeks to shut down recreational dispensaries and impose civil penalties for public possession exceeding one ounce.
Culture & More
A new report highlights a significant rise in cannabis use among Americans aged 65 and older, with a 46% increase between 2021 and 2023.
USF Credit Union has introduced ‘Verde,’ a cannabis banking program aimed at providing financial services to the legal cannabis industry in Florida.
A new study found that THC can reach the human egg and may affect female fertility. Women who had THC in their follicular fluid showed a small increase in egg maturity but a lower rate of healthy embryos.
Around the Country
Mississippi’s medical cannabis program is expanding rapidly, with an average of 50 new patient cards issued daily. As of August 2025, the state has approximately 50,000 active cards, up from 40,000 in June 2024.
Texas retailers are relieved after the state legislature failed to pass a ban on THC products during the second special session. Despite this, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick remains committed to a total ban, citing concerns over youth access.
California’s use of drones to monitor illegal cannabis cultivation led to unintended consequences, including the targeting of residents without cannabis operations. In Sonoma County, drone surveillance resulted in fines, evictions and legal battles for individuals who had no cannabis involvement.
From the swamp
Former Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway is reportedly a strong proponent of rescheduling cannabis, according to a GOP congressman. Her support adds a notable voice to the ongoing debate over federal cannabis policy reform.
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Author: mscannabiz.com
MScannaBIZ for all you Mississippi Cannabis News and Information.

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