SAN FRANCISCO – Prosecutors have charged a 34-year-old California woman with two felonies for allegedly trying to smuggle more than 150 pounds of cannabis onto an international flight.
The San Mateo Business Journal first reported that Diana Bahlawan was arrested on May 6 as she was trying to board a United Airlines flight from San Francisco International Airport to Frankfurt, Germany.
Airport security flagged her roller bags for looking unusually heavy, and found more than 130 vacuum-sealed bags of cannabis inside.
Bahlawan was charged with unlawful transport of marijuana and burglary.
She has posted bail, the San Francisco Chronicle reported, and is scheduled to appear in court for her initial arraignment on June 2.
A professional footballer has admitted his involvement in a plot to smuggle £600,000 worth of drugs from Thailand into the UK.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 34, was arrested after 60kg (9.44st) of cannabis was found in suitcases arriving at London Stansted Airport, Essex, on 2 September.
He was sacked by Scottish club Greenock Morton after being charged, having previously played for Aberdeen, Ipswich Town, Bristol City and England at youth level.
The father-of-two will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court at a later date.
In an era when most brands sidestep controversy, Ben & Jerry’s is doubling down on a decades-long bet: that standing up for what’s right isn’t just good ethics. It’s good business.
And now it has data to support that belief.
According to U.S. activism manager Palika Makam, consumer research conducted by the brand shows that people familiar with Ben & Jerry’s social mission are 30% more likely to call it their favorite ice cream. And more than half of those people say the brand’s advocacy led them to take real-world action, whether that’s talking to friends about justice issues, signing a petition or registering to vote. These results come from the company’s annual social mission tracker, a national study run by a third-party research agency.
This year, Ben & Jerry’s launched a national clemency campaign with theLast Prisoner Project, urging governors across the country to release individuals still incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis offenses. In the U.S.,Black people are nearly four times more likely than white people to be arrested for cannabis possession, despite comparable usage rates.
As of 2025,24 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. have legalized adult-use cannabis, and 39 states permit medical use. Yet tens of thousands of people remain behind bars for actions that are no longer crimes in many jurisdictions.
This push wasn’t a one-off 4/20 stunt. It’s part of a broader, multi-year effort to fuse cannabis reform with racial justice—and a case study in how values-based activism can deepen brand loyalty while supporting real policy efforts.
So, is cannabis justice good business? Ben & Jerry’s thinks so.
The Campaign
Ben & Jerry’s 2025 push, dubbed #420ForFreedom, wasn’t built around products or weed-themed flavors. Instead, it focused on a national call for gubernatorial clemency, asking state leaders to release people still imprisoned for nonviolent cannabis offenses.
The campaign, developed with theLast Prisoner Project, emphasized that legalization alone isn’t justice, a message Ben & Jerry’s has voiced for years. As Makam put it, “Legalization without justice is half-baked.”
“Fully baked legalization means cannabis is legal, people who are incarcerated for cannabis are released, their records are expunged, and Black and Brown communities are able to actually reap the benefits of this multi-billion dollar industry,” she said.
Digital assets blended the brand’s iconic whimsy—bright visuals, wordplay—with hard policy facts about incarceration, racial disparities and the need for retroactive relief. But the aim was clear: use Ben & Jerry’s platform to shift public pressure toward clemency boards and governors.
That effort produced real numbers. According to both the brand and the Last Prisoner Project, this year’s campaign drove over 30,000 letters to governors across all 50 states. Their content generated more than 19 million impressions organically across digital platforms.
Stephen Post, strategic communication manager at the Last Prisoner Project, called the partnership “a tremendous asset.” He explained: “Ben & Jerry’s doesn’t just post something and call it a day… They’ve shown up consistently, helping lift up the stories of people still incarcerated for cannabis, like Antonio Wyatt and Robert Deals.”
Post also pointed to past impact, noting that “prior to this year’s campaign, Ben & Jerry’s had already worked to highlight LPP constituent Michael Thompson, who received clemency from Michigan Governor Whitmer.” That history, he said, shows the brand’s activism is not just performative; it’s sustained.
The ROI
Ben & Jerry’s doesn’t run activism campaigns to increase profits, and says it doesn’t even calculate specific ROI metrics for this work. But that doesn’t mean the business case is invisible.
“We take a stance on issues because our founders established the belief that ‘business has a responsibility to give back to the community’ in 1979,” said Makam.
Campaigns tied to the brand’s Social Mission consistently outperform other messaging across paid and organic channels, especially when focused on cannabis or racial justice. And while Ben & Jerry’s doesn’t break out financial returns tied to advocacy, it does track engagement broadly; according to its data, these campaigns are among the brand’s most effective for building meaningful consumer connections.
The deeper impact? People don’t just notice; they act. Ben & Jerry’s says the most common follow-ups from advocacy-aware audiences include talking about the issue, seeking more information, voting and petition-signing.
That kind of movement from awareness to action may be rare in corporate marketing, but for Ben & Jerry’s, it’s become a cornerstone of the brand.
Risk vs. Silence
Corporate activism always carries risk, especially on issues like cannabis, where legality and political will vary dramatically. But for Ben & Jerry’s, staying silent is the bigger gamble.
“It’s not our job to say what is popular. It’s our job to make popular what is right,” said Makam.
The company has taken public stances on trans rights, abortion access and mass incarceration. In that context, cannabis justice is almost mainstream, especially when88% of Americans support legalization in some form, according to Pew Research.
Still, others say the work can’t stop at clemency.
“Freedom from incarceration is crucial, but without economic empowerment, justice remains incomplete,” said Kika Keith, founder of Gorilla Rx Wellness and co-chair of the Black Los Angeles Cannabis Council. “Right now, Black and Brown entrepreneurs who should be leading this industry are being shut out.”
“Black people make up only about 4% of dispensary owners in California, despite being disproportionately impacted by criminalization,” Keith added. “If corporate allies like Ben & Jerry’s truly support justice, they must also advocate for economic pathways—like establishing dedicated funds—to ensure those most harmed by prohibition have the capital to succeed.”
Most Brands Stay Quiet On Cannabis—Here’s Who Doesn’t
While Ben & Jerry’s pushes for clemency and expungement, most major companies are taking a more cautious or commercial-first approach. But a few are edging into the space.
Amazon stopped testing many job applicants for cannabis and publicly supported the MORE Act.DoorDash has entered the hemp THC delivery space in select cities, following the lead of Uber Eats in embracing cannabis logistics.Edible Brands, the parent of Edible Arrangements, recently launched Edibles.com, a national platform for hemp-derived THC products.
EvenX, formerly Twitter, has embraced cannabis more openly than most platforms, allowing advertising in regulated markets, while Meta and TikTok still enforce stricter restrictions.
In contrast, Ben & Jerry’s isn’t selling cannabis or related services. It’s using its voice to advocate for freedom, equity and long-term systems change.
The Bottom Line
Ben & Jerry’s doesn’t just talk about cannabis. It talks about the people left behind by prohibition.
With campaigns centered on clemency, expungement and mass incarceration, the brand has forged a rare bridge between corporate marketing and grassroots justice.
“We can’t take on every issue,” said Makam. “But if we can chip away at racialized mass incarceration—if we can get people out of prison and help dismantle those parts of the criminal legal system—then we’re doing something that matters.”
The question is no longer whether cannabis justice is a safe bet. It’s whether more brands will recognize that now is the time to act—because there’s still a lot of work to be done.
HOUSTON, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — TWS, a leader in the compliant cannabis and smoke shop market, proudly announces the launch of its innovative AI Bud Tender, now live on its online platform. This cutting-edge virtual assistant is designed to help visitors effortlessly discover the right products, answer cannabis-related questions, and enhance the overall shopping journey.
AI Bud Tender
Ivy The AI Bud Tender at TWS
The AI Bud Tender offers personalized guidance by understanding user preferences and needs, making it easier than ever for customers to navigate TWS’s extensive selection of premium exotic THCA flower, Delta 8, Delta 9, CBD, and Delta 10 products. Whether users are new to cannabis or seasoned enthusiasts, the AI Bud Tender provides tailored recommendations and instant answers, ensuring a seamless and confident shopping experience.
“Our mission at TWS has always been to be the one-stop shop for all things cannabis,” said Dominik Hussl, Marketing Director at TWS. “By integrating the AI Bud Tender, we’re empowering our customers to make informed decisions and find exactly what they’re looking for, all from the comfort of their home.” Our AI Bud Tender was built by GreenerSEO in Houston.
In addition to this technological advancement, TWS is excited to announce its expansion into wholesale. As a wholesaler, TWS now supplies high-quality cannabis and smoke shop products to retailers and other businesses, further cementing its position as a comprehensive resource in the industry.
TWS continues to offer a robust dispensary finder, helping users locate over 3,600 dispensaries nationwide, as well as a diverse online shop.
With the addition of the AI Bud Tender and wholesale services, TWS remains committed to meeting the evolving needs of cannabis consumers and businesses alike.
[PRESS RELEASE] – CHICAGO, May 21, 2025 – Verano Holdings Corp., a leading multistate cannabis company, announced the opening of Zen Leaf Enfield on May 23, elevating the company’s Connecticut retail footprint to seven locations and 157 dispensaries nationwide. Zen Leaf Enfield, located at 98 Elm St., will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The dispensary will also feature a drive-thru for additional customer and patient convenience.
Zen Leaf joins the Enfield business community adjacent to the Enfield Square Mall as the township prepares for the transformative $250 million Enfield Marketplace project that aims to deliver economic and job growth with new onsite retail, hotel and residential development. With the opening of Zen Leaf Enfield, Verano is firmly planting roots in the community and will remain actively engaged as a supporter and stakeholder in the Enfield Marketplace project, and looks forward to contributing to Enfield’s long-term success by investing and providing exciting career opportunities in the community.
As part of the company’s legacy supporting a variety of charitable and community causes, in opening Zen Leaf Enfield, Verano provided critical funds for the Thompsonville Fire Department to purchase a year’s supply of Narcan, enabling firefighters to continue offering lifesaving care for victims of the opioid crisis. The company also continues to provide support for local charitable organizations, including Enfield Loaves and Fishes and Enfield Food Shelf, and is hosting a food donation drive benefiting both organizations at the dispensary throughout opening weekend.
Opening Weekend Celebration Activities, Deals and Details
Zen Leaf Enfield will host a grand opening celebration Memorial Day weekend, beginning on May 23, featuring the following:
A ceremonial ribbon cutting with community leaders and partners, including Mayor Ken Nelson, Jr., Thompsonville Fire Chief Dave Deskis, the North Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, Loaves and Fishes, Enfield Food Shelf and more.
DJ Big IC spinning tunes for guests throughout the weekend.
Zen Leaf marketplace convening other local businesses, including an onsite glassblower and various vendor pop-ups.
Complimentary food from Pangea’s Tacos, Burgers and Wraps on May 23, and coffee from Travelin’ Toms Coffee Truck on May 24.
A suite of exciting promotions and special grand opening deals will be available for guests to purchase their favorite cannabis products, including 30% off CTPharma and Savvy products and buy two, get one free on Encore Edibles and On the Rocks gummies. Zen Leaf offers daily specials, including the state’s leading 22% off discount for veterans, 20% off “Medical Monday” deals for medical patients, and up to 20% off the first three orders. Senior citizens and college students are eligible for a 10% discount.
Several open positions remain available on careers.verano.com for those interested in applying.
“We’re thrilled to welcome guests at Zen Leaf Enfield and share in the local community’s enthusiasm as Enfield prepares to turn the page on an exciting new chapter with the transformational $250 million redevelopment of Enfield Square Mall into Enfield Marketplace,” Verano founder and CEO George Archos said. “We are grateful to the entire community, including the village leadership and many organizations we have had the pleasure partnering with as we plant roots for a bright future together in Enfield for years to come.”
“As Connecticut’s legal marijuana industry continues to grow, Zen Leaf has positioned itself as a leader, and I believe they will be a great community partner that will operate their business ethically and responsibly within the parameters of state law,” Enfield Mayor Ken Nelson Jr. said. “Zen Leaf brought a high caliber of professionalism throughout the planning process, and the team has been very open and transparent with the Enfield community. I would like to thank Zen Leaf for investing in our community and wish them all the best in opening their Enfield location.”
Zen Leaf Enfield adds another convenient outlet for Connecticut cannabis consumers that complements existing Zen Leaf locations in Ashford, Meriden, Naugatuck, Newington, Norwich and Waterbury. Verano’s operations in Connecticut also include the 217,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art CTPharma cultivation and processing facility in Rocky Hill, where the company produces a variety of CTPharma-branded products, including flower, vapes, concentrates and topicals; Savvy flower and vapes; On the Rocks Live Rosin edibles; and Encore Edibles gummies and chocolates.
For additional convenience and accessibility, patients can choose to order ahead at ZenLeafDispensaries.com for express in-store pickup.
Newswise — (Philadelphia, PA)–The results of a new study suggest patients with chronic pain are turning to medical cannabis to find relief and are also breaking free from traditional painkillers without sacrificing mental sharpness.
Published this week in Cureus, the research reveals how patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain are using medical cannabis, the benefits they report, and the potential cognitive effects of long-term use.
“Over 80 percent of patients who turned to medical cannabis found it effective for managing their pain. Many participants also noted improvements in associated symptoms such as sleep disturbances and anxiety, suggesting that cannabis may offer a broader range of relief than conventional pain medications alone,” says Dr. Mohammad Khak, co-author of the study and researcher at the Rothman Institute Foundation for Opioid Research & Education in Philadelphia, PA.
The study found that 40 percent of patients reduced their use of traditional analgesics after starting medical cannabis, with some even reporting a decreased reliance on opioid medications.
“This points to the possibility that cannabis could serve as a safer alternative or complement to standard pain management approaches, potentially helping to address the ongoing opioid crisis,” Dr. Ari Greis, senior author of the study and Board Member of the Rothman Institute Foundation for Opioid Research & Education as well as Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Drexel University College of Medicine.
Patients in the study used cannabis in a variety of forms, including oils, smoking, and vaporizing. Most sought out cannabis after conventional treatments failed to provide adequate relief, often in cases where their pain was particularly severe or persistent. Despite the positive outcomes reported by patients, only about one in four received a physician’s recommendation for cannabis use.
“This study highlights ongoing barriers such as limited physician knowledge, regulatory challenges, and lingering stigma around medical cannabis,” says Khak.The study also addressed concerns about the cognitive effects of long-term cannabis use. While some participants reported mild side effects like dry mouth and fatigue, most did not experience significant cognitive impairment. This finding suggests that, for many patients, medical cannabis can be integrated into chronic pain management without substantial risk to cognitive health.
The researchers note that while these patient-reported outcomes are encouraging, larger and more rigorous clinical trials are needed to fully establish the efficacy and safety of medical cannabis for chronic musculoskeletal pain. They also call for improved physician education and more straightforward regulatory guidelines to support the safe and effective use of cannabis in pain management.
A copy of the study, Patterns, Efficacy, and Cognitive Effects of Medical Cannabis Use in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Patients, is found online at https://www.cureus.com/articles/365077-patterns-efficacy-and-cognitive-effects-of-medical-cannabis-use-in-chronic-musculoskeletal-pain-patients#!/About the Rothman Institute Foundation for Opioid Research and Education.
The Rothman Opioid Foundation, for short, is a non-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to raising awareness of the ongoing opioid crisis, educating physicians and patients on safe opioid prescribing and use, respectively, and advising policymakers on sound opioid and pain management policy. Most importantly, the Rothman Opioid Foundation performs and supports the highest quality research on opioids and alternative pain modalities to yield findings that can better inform patients, physicians, and the greater healthcare community in the most evidence-based pain management strategies while working to mitigate opioid abuse and addiction. https://www.rothmanopioid.org/
BANGKOK (AP) — Thai officials on Wednesday said they planned to tighten regulations on cannabis sales after cases of tourists attempting to smuggle the drug out of the country soared in recent months.
Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis in 2022, which has boosted Thailand’s tourism and farming and spawned thousands of shops. But it’s facing public backlash over allegations that under-regulation has made the drug available to children and caused addiction.
The ruling Pheu Thai Party has promised to criminalize the drugs again, but faced strong resistance from its partner in the coalition government which supported the decriminalization.
Thailand’s Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said at a press conference that officials are aiming to roll out new regulations in coming weeks that will tighten control on the sale of cannabis, including requiring shops to sell cannabis only to customers who have a prescription.
He emphasized that it is against Thai law to bring cannabis out of the country without permission from the authorities.
Airport officials said they have tightened inspections to detect smuggling attempts, adding that most people found with cannabis in their luggage are foreigners, especially Indian and British nationals.
Last week two young British women were arrested in Georgia and Sri Lanka for alleged attempts to smuggle cannabis after they flew there from Thailand, according to the British media.
Britain’s government said a joint operation with Thailand in February resulted in over 2 tons of cannabis seized from air passengers. It said that since July last year, over 50 British nationals had been arrested in Thailand for attempting to smuggle cannabis.
It also said there was a dramatic increase in the amount of cannabis sent to the U.K. from Thailand by post since the decriminalization in 2022.
In March immigration authorities and police said 22 suitcases filled with a total of 375 kilograms of cannabis were seized, and 13 foreigners, most of them British, were arrested at the international airport on the Samui Island.
Thai officials said the suspects were hired to travel to Thailand as tourists then traveled to Samui, a popular tourist destination, where they would wait at the arranged accommodation to receive the suitcases with cannabis. They would then be instructed to travel from Samui to Singapore, and then from Singapore back to the U.K., where they would be paid 2,000 pounds ($2,682) upon completing the job.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
BANGKOK (AP) — Thai officials on Wednesday said they planned to tighten regulations on cannabis sales after cases of tourists attempting to smuggle the drug out of the country soared in recent months.
Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis in 2022, which has boosted Thailand’s tourism and farming and spawned thousands of shops. But it’s facing public backlash over allegations that under-regulation has made the drug available to children and caused addiction.
Thailand’s Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said at a press conference that officials are aiming to roll out new regulations in coming weeks that will tighten control on the sale of cannabis, including requiring shops to sell cannabis only to customers who have a prescription.
He emphasized that it is against Thai law to bring cannabis out of the country without permission from the authorities.
Airport officials said they have tightened inspections to detect smuggling attempts, adding that most people found with cannabis in their luggage are foreigners, especially Indian and British nationals.
Last week two young British women were arrested in Georgia and Sri Lanka for alleged attempts to smuggle cannabis after they flew there from Thailand, according to the British media.
Britain’s government said a joint operation with Thailand in February resulted in over 2 tons of cannabis seized from air passengers. It said that since July last year, over 50 British nationals had been arrested in Thailand for attempting to smuggle cannabis.
It also said there was a dramatic increase in the amount of cannabis sent to the U.K. from Thailand by post since the decriminalization in 2022.
In March immigration authorities and police said 22 suitcases filled with a total of 375 kilograms of cannabis were seized, and 13 foreigners, most of them British, were arrested at the international airport on the Samui Island.
Thai officials said the suspects were hired to travel to Thailand as tourists then traveled to Samui, a popular tourist destination, where they would wait at the arranged accommodation to receive the suitcases with cannabis. They would then be instructed to travel from Samui to Singapore, and then from Singapore back to the U.K., where they would be paid 2,000 pounds ($2,682) upon completing the job.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
