Category: Cannabis Info

Federal authorities have confirmed that more than 300 illegal aliens were arrested Thursday during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at a Ventura County, California cannabis farm. 

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed on X that 319 unlawful immigrants were apprehended during the raid at Glass House Farms, and said that “law enforcement rescued 14 children from potential forced labor, exploitation, and trafficking.”

The raid is believed to be the second-largest single-state ICE worksite operation in history, behind the first Trump administration’s 2019 Mississippi chicken plant raids that netted almost 700 illegal alien arrests. 

Federal immigration agents toss tear gas at protesters during a raid in the agriculture area of Camarillo, Calif., Thursday, July 10, 2025. The United Farm Workers on Friday said one farm worker died after being injured during the raid.  (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)

IMMIGRATION OPERATION AT CALIFORNIA CANNABIS FARMS LEADS TO CLASH BETWEEN FEDERAL AGENTS AND PROTESTERS

One man taken into custody has a history of violent crime, including attempted child exploitation. 

CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott posted a photo of the unnamed migrant on X.

“This illegal alien was apprehended at the CA marijuana facility,” he said. 

“Turns out he had been sentenced to 7 yrs for kidnapping & attempted rape, w/ a prior conviction for attempted child molestation.   

And this felon was working at the same farm as 10 kids – one being 14 yrs old.”

Fox News has learned that the children rescued at the farm are from Mexico and Honduras, and that immigration authorities are analyzing the criminal histories of all 319 of the detained illegal aliens. 

Border Patrol released this image of an unnamed illegal alien and convicted violent criminal who was arrested during a raid at Glass House Farms on July 10, 2025. (Customs and Border Protection)

NEWSOM DONOR’S CANNABIS FARM UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION FOR ‘CHILD LABOR VIOLATIONS’

Glass House Farms is under investigation for possible child labor law violations. 

The company’s co-founder, president and board director, Graham Farrar, donated $10,000 to California Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2018, among other Democratic politicians. He has also donated to Republicans, and shown support for Republicans who expressed support for liberalizing cannabis laws. 

A violent clash erupted between ICE agents and protesters during the massive raid. Federal law enforcement agents were assaulted during the operation, and one combatant appeared to fire a handgun towards agents as the crowd was dispersed with tear gas. 

One worker died during the raid after climbing a 30-foot greenhouse and subsequently falling from it.

Protesters are blocked by federal immigration agents during a raid in the agricultural area of Camarillo, Calif., Thursday, July 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)

An irate Trump took to his Truth Social platform to blast the protesters, and authorize ICE to take whatever precautions are necessary to protect themselves during future raids. 

“I am on my way back from Texas, and watched in disbelief as THUGS were violently throwing rocks and bricks at ICE Officers while they were moving down a roadway in their car and/or official vehicle,” he said.

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“Tremendous damage was done to these brand new vehicles. I know for a fact that these Officers are having a hard time with allowing this to happen in that it shows such total disrespect for LAW AND ORDER.

“I am giving Total Authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public,” he wrote. “I never want to see a car carrying a Law Enforcement Officer attacked again! AUTHORIZATION IMMEDIATELY GRANTED FOR ARREST AND INCARCERATION. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

CAMARILLO, Calif. (KABC) — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced that 319 people were arrested during dual immigration raids at cannabis farms near Camarillo in Ventura County and the coastal city of Carpinteria on Thursday.

Noem said 14 children were rescued from potential forced labor, exploitation, and trafficking during the operation.

Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner Rodney Scott previously said Glass House Farms, where the raids took place, is now under investigation for child labor violations.

According to the Department of Labor, the minimum age for agricultural employment is 14 outside of school hours and 12 with written parental consent. In California, you must be at least 12 years old to be hired as a farmworker.

The United Farm Workers Union released a statement saying in part:

“Farm workers are excluded from basic child labor laws, and it is unfortunately not uncommon for teenagers to work in the fields. To be clear: detaining and deporting children is not a solution for child labor.”

Glass House Farms denied those claims on social media, saying it has never knowingly employed minors.

Fear of more immigration operations is mounting up after tensions flared when federal agents raided the cannabis farm in Camarillo.

The Department of Homeland Security said they were serving a warrant at Glass House Farms on Thursday for allegedly hiring and harboring undocumented workers.

During the raid, federal agents faced off with protesters. Some threw rocks at their vehicles as they left.

On Friday evening, tow trucks were called in to pick up the dozens of personal vehicles left behind after Thursday’s ICE raid.

Loved ones lined up outside of the gate at Glass House Farms, waiting for answers they may never get. Some of them hoped guards would give them access to the personal items left behind by the workers detained.

One woman, who did not want to be on camera, was at the business to pick up her niece’s belongings. She said her niece was able to escape the raid by hiding on the property.

“She has two kids — a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old. So she was scared she wasn’t going to see her kids anymore,” she said.

Families are now trying to find loved ones who were detained.

“This makes no freakin’ sense. I’ve been trying to keep my emotions in check, but being here is just too much,” said Guadalupe Torres, whose husband was taken by immigration agents.

Torres’ husband, George Retes, is an Army veteran and U.S. citizen, and works as a security guard at Glass House Farms in the Camarillo area.

Retes’ vehicle remains outside Glass House Farms, and his wife says she’s called every law enforcement agency in the area, but nobody knows where her husband was taken.

“He really did try to leave, so I don’t know what’s going to happen from here. I really hope I get a phone call or something, because I’m getting torn apart. My kids are asking where their dad is. I keep having to lie, saying he’s at work,” Torres said.

Retes’ daughter turns 3 years old on Saturday.

“He has a bad back, and he’s disabled, and it clearly says it in the back of his car that he’s a disabled veteran. This is how you’re going to treat U.S. citizens?” said Destinee Magana, Retes’ sister.

Glass House Brands issued a statement on the raids at its facilities, saying:

“Yesterday, Glass House Brands received immigration and naturalization warrants. As per the law, we verified that the warrants were valid and we complied. Workers were detained and we are assisting to provide them legal representation. Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors. We do not expect this to affect operations moving forward. We will provide additional details when applicable.”

The raid lasted hours, and agents faced off with protesters. Some people who attended the demonstration were seen throwing rocks at federal vehicles as they left.

After witnessing the clash between federal agents and protesters during the immigration raids, President Donald Trump on Friday directed Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Border Czar Tom Homan to authorize ICE and other law enforcement officers to arrest anyone they believe is assaulting them “using whatever means is necessary.”

“I am giving Total Authorization for ICE to protect itself,” Trump said.

In addition to family members gathering at the Glass House Farms’ gates looking for loved ones, some employees who had been hiding inside since the start of the raid came out.

“There’s still people that are still hiding. They’re afraid. They hide in the trunks of the cars or in the refrigerators,” said immigrant rights advocate Alicia Flores.

Flores went to Glass House Farms trying to help families find their loved ones.

“We are recommending the Mexican consulate if they’re from Mexico. The protection department can locate them. Also, we talked to our congresswoman Julia Brownley, and they said that we can give her number and they can look for these family members,” Flores said.

Silly Nice: A Year of Growth, Fire Drops, and Respectfully Blasted Highs

New York isn’t short on weed brands. But few have sparked a movement quite like Silly Nice. Just one year after its debut in March 2024, this Harlem-born, Black and Veteran-owned weed company has earned a spot among New York’s Top 150 cannabis brands, according to the state’s Office of Cannabis Management. For a small, family-run brand navigating a fiercely competitive market of over 500 licensed competitors, that’s no small feat.

But Silly Nice doesn’t just stand out because of who runs it. It stands out because of what’s inside every jar, vape, and ball. From small-batch concentrates to infused flower and premium carts, Silly Nice delivers products that are lab-tested, full-spectrum, and designed for weed lovers who know the difference.

More than just premium weed, this is New York craft cannabis done right. Each product is packed in sustainable hemp boxes, recycled glass jars, and ocean plastic lids, with hemp-based labels — a rare level of eco-responsibility in this space. And with standout hits like Diamond Powder, Frosted Hash Balls, and Bubble Hash becoming cult favorites in over 90 dispensaries across the state, Silly Nice is on track to change the conversation around craft cannabis in New York.

Let’s break down what makes this brand not just buzzworthy, but worth asking for by name.

Diamond Powder: Ultra-Pure THC for Maximum Potency

Cannabinoid Profile & Effects: With a jaw-dropping 87.53% THC and a 99.82% total cannabinoid profile, Silly Nice Diamond Powder is a heavy hitter. This isn’t for casual users — it’s for those who want to customize their high, control their dosage, and dial in a powerful, clean cerebral lift. Additional minor cannabinoids like CBGa, CBDa, d9-THC, and d8-THC round out a dynamic effect that kicks in fast and lasts.

Terpene Composition & Functional Aromas: This crystalline THC isolate is virtually odorless, making it ideal for users who prefer potency over fragrance. No terpene interference, no added flavors — just raw power.

Flavor Experience: As a pure THC isolate, flavor is intentionally neutral. This allows it to blend seamlessly with flower, topicals, or infusions without disrupting taste.

User Experience & Consumption Versatility: The format is versatile: dab it, sprinkle it into a joint, mix it with flower, or use it for DIY edibles or topicals. For users who like to build their own experience, Diamond Powder is a flexible base. Each half-gram jar is lab-tested and precision-crafted in small batches. It’s no wonder it’s a Top 5 best-selling concentrate in New York, according to HeadSet.

Frosted Hash Ball: Classic Craft, Modern Potency

Cannabinoid Profile & Effects: The Silly Nice Frosted Hash Ball delivers 67.34% THC with 78.34% total cannabinoids, including THCv, CBN, CBDa, CBGa, and CBC. These full-spectrum compounds create a mellow, long-lasting body high paired with functional, floaty mental effects.

Terpene Composition & Functional Aromas: At 5.7% terpene content, you get a rich aroma of Limonene, Myrcene, Beta-Caryophyllene, Terpinolene, and more. The scent is earthy-sweet with a gassy punch and floral backnotes.

Flavor Experience: Smoked alone or combined with flower, it delivers a robust, terpene-rich flavor that satisfies even the most seasoned hash-heads. Expect smooth, aromatic smoke that lingers in all the right ways.

User Experience & Consumption Versatility: Roll it, pipe it, or crumble it in a blunt — this 1g ball of hash is made for slow-burning sessions and old-school hash rituals. Its pliability and smokeability make it easy to use, and it’s packaged in sustainable jars with full lab results available online.

2G Vape (Pink Starburst): Sweet, Strong, and Ready to Go

Cannabinoid Profile & Effects: Packing 82.46% THC and 88.90% total cannabinoids, the Pink Starburst 2G AIO vape delivers a strong, euphoric high. Infused with supporting cannabinoids like CBG, CBN, CBD, THCv, and CBC, this pen delivers a wide-ranging entourage effect.

Terpene Composition & Functional Aromas: Featuring only cannabis-derived terpenes, the flavor comes from Beta-Caryophyllene, Limonene, Myrcene, and Farnesene. Together, they create a mouthwatering inhale and a chill, social buzz.

Flavor Experience: Sweet, candy-like, and instantly recognizable. If Pink Starburst were a terpene profile, this would be it.

User Experience & Consumption Versatility: With a rechargeable 2G tank, this vape is ideal for day trips, long nights, or anytime you want flavor without fuss. It’s sleek, discreet, and long-lasting. Just hit it and go.

1G Bubble Hash: Solventless Craft at Its Finest

Cannabinoid Profile & Effects: Coming in at 52.10% THC and 61.93% total cannabinoids, the Silly Nice Bubble Hash is a full-spectrum, solventless dream. Minor cannabinoids like CBG, CBC, THCv, and CBGa add depth to the effect, enhancing both clarity and calm.

Terpene Composition & Functional Aromas: This hash boasts a 5.2% terpene content, including Limonene, Beta-Caryophyllene, Myrcene, and Farnesene. The result is a fragrant, gassy smoke with citrus and spice notes that deepen on exhale.

Flavor Experience: Expect rich, complex flavor with every puff. No harshness, just a smooth, flavorful high that honors traditional hash with a modern twist.

User Experience & Consumption Versatility: Whether you dab it, mix it with flower, or top off a bowl, this 1g bubble hash is a go-to for fans of clean, flavorful, potent weed.

Diamond-Frosted & Live Resin Infused Flower: Flavor + Fire

Cannabinoid Profile & Effects: This 3.5g jar of Papaya Wine flower is infused with both live resin and THCa crystals, resulting in a potent 47.75% THC and 55.47% total cannabinoid experience. It hits fast, hits hard, and delivers a complex body-mind buzz that lingers.

Terpene Composition & Functional Aromas: The 1.8% terpene content includes Beta-Caryophyllene, Farnesene, Limonene, Humulene, and Bisabolol. It’s a fragrant medley of tropical fruit, earthy spice, and floral funk.

Flavor Experience: The Papaya Wine strain lives up to its name: juicy, tropical, with just a hint of floral funk. Add the infusion and it becomes mouthwatering and extra loud.

User Experience & Consumption Versatility: It rolls beautifully, burns slow, and leaves a thick white ash. Whether you roll it solo or use it to top your bowl, it’s flower for people who expect more from weed.

2G Vape (Tangerine Cookies): Bright, Citrus-Heavy Bliss

Cannabinoid Profile & Effects: With 81.24% THC and 87.62% total cannabinoids, the Tangerine Cookies 2G vapeis a daytime delight. With backup from cannabinoids like CBN, CBC, CBD, THCv, and CBGa, it balances mental energy with body ease.

Terpene Composition & Functional Aromas: Cannabis-derived terpenes like Beta-Caryophyllene, Limonene, and Myrcene offer a citrus-heavy profile that boosts focus and mood.

Flavor Experience: Citrusy, tangy, and sweet with every inhale. Like a fresh tangerine dipped in sugar.

User Experience & Consumption Versatility: This pen is all about flavor, function, and ease. Lightweight, discreet, and rechargeable, it’s a top-tier travel companion that doesn’t sacrifice strength for portability.

1G 510 Vape Cartridge (Runtz): Flavor You Can Trust

Cannabinoid Profile & Effects: With 81.96% THC and 88.36% total cannabinoids, this cart hits with force and finesse. The hybrid profile makes it great for socializing, creativity, or chill.

Terpene Composition & Functional Aromas: Beta-Caryophyllene and Limonene give it a sweet, fruity profile with euphoric lift.

Flavor Experience: Pure Runtz: sweet, candy-like, smooth. No artificial aftertaste. No added nonsense.

User Experience & Consumption Versatility: 510-thread compatible and built with 100% cannabis terpenes, it’s a clean, convenient way to experience real Runtz flavor wherever you go.

1G 510 Vape Cartridge (Northern Lights): Nighttime Nirvana

Cannabinoid Profile & Effects: This indica-heavy cart brings 84.66% THC and 91.21% total cannabinoids, built for evening calm, rest, and reset.

Terpene Composition & Functional Aromas: With a natural blend of Limonene, Beta-Caryophyllene, and Myrcene, expect a gentle flavor and a relaxing body high.

Flavor Experience: Earthy, piney, and slightly sweet, this vape tastes like the classic Northern Lights strain — smooth and soothing.

User Experience & Consumption Versatility: Standard 510 cart design, compatible with most devices. For wind-down sessions and full-body relaxation.

Closing Thoughts: Why Silly Nice is Built to Last

New York is growing fast in the legal weed game, but Silly Nice has managed to not just survive but thrive through quality, transparency, and culture. With eco-friendly packaging, lab-tested products, and unmatched flavor and potency, this is a brand that’s playing the long game.

Whether it’s the power of Diamond Powder, the richness of Bubble Hash, the flavor-first vapes, or the high-end infused flower, every product is carefully crafted to elevate your experience and leave you Respectfully Blasted.

To find Silly Nice products, visit sillynice.com/locations and call ahead to your dispensary. These drops move fast.

If you have a great visit at a dispensary, ALWAYS TIP YOUR BUDTENDER.

A farm worker died on Friday, his family said, after being injured during a raid by US immigration agents on a legal cannabis farm in California that resulted in the arrests of 200 undocumented migrants and clashes with protesters.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, called demonstrators involved in attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents “slimeballs” and said they should be arrested.

In another development, a district judge ordered a halt to “roving patrols” in Los Angeles by federal agents who were detaining suspected undocumented migrants without probable cause and denying them due process.

District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong ordered an end to the arrests, which she said were being made “based upon race alone,” on whether a person was speaking Spanish or English with an accent or because of their place of work.Trump’s remarks and the court order come a day after a chaotic raid on a cannabis plantation in Ventura County some 56 miles (90 kilometers) from Los Angeles left one farm worker critically injured.

Also Read: Federal judge blocks Trump’s order to limit birthright citizenship

The United Farm Workers labor union had said in an X post on Friday that the worker had “died of injuries they sustained as a result of yesterday’s immigration enforcement action.” But the family on a GoFundMe page said he was in critical condition and unlikely to survive.

“He was chased by ICE agents, and we were told he fell 30ft (9 meters). My uncle’s life is in critical condition; doctors have told us he won’t make it. His injuries are catastrophic. His heart is still beating.”

The Ventura County Medical Center, which told ABC News that he was in critical condition, did not respond to AFP calls for more details.

Tricia McLaughlin, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokeswoman, said he was never in custody.

“Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a green house and fell 30 feet,” McLaughlin said. “(Customs and Border Patrol) immediately called a medivac to the scene to get him care as quickly as possible.”

Also Read: White House meme of Trump as Superman fuels political tensions

The DHS said 200 undocumented migrants were arrested during raids on marijuana growing sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo on Thursday and 10 children were rescued “from potential exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking.”

Read More: Former Superman Dean Cain slams Hollywood for making character too pro-immigration under James Gunn

Glass House Brands, which owns the farms, said in a statement that it has “never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors.”

DHS said more than 500 “rioters” had attempted to disrupt the operation and four US citizens are facing charges for assaulting or resisting officers.

Tear gas was used against the protesters, some of whom were seen in television footage throwing projectiles at law enforcement vehicles.

The department said immigration agency vehicles were damaged and a $50,000 reward was being offered for the arrest of an individual who allegedly fired a gun at law enforcement officers.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had watched footage of “thugs” throwing rocks and bricks at ICE vehicles, causing “tremendous damage.”

Trump said he was authorizing law enforcement officers who are “on the receiving end of thrown rocks, bricks, or any other form of assault, to stop their car, and arrest these SLIMEBALLS, using whatever means is necessary to do so.”

“I am giving Total Authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public,” he said.

Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to deport millions of migrants, has been involved in a showdown over immigration enforcement with Democratic-ruled California for weeks.

The Republican president sent thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles last month to quell protests against roundups of undocumented migrants by federal agents.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has said the troops were not necessary to address the mostly peaceful protests, but his legal efforts to have them removed have failed so far.

The cannabis farm in Camarillo was calm during a visit by an AFP reporter on Friday as workers waited in line to collect their belongings and paychecks.

“We’ve been here since six this morning asking questions but they’re not giving us any information,” said Saul Munoz, a 43-year-old Colombian whose son was detained on Thursday.

“I just want to know how he’s doing,” Munoz said. “Bring him back to me and if it’s time for us to leave, we’ll leave.

“The truth is the American dream is no longer really the American dream.”

The work presented here captures natural variation of Total THC (potency) in dried cannabis. The analysis was three-fold: (1) single strata sampling using samples from the top of the plant to investigate how representative single value potency percentage reporting is of an entire cultivar batch, (2) top, middle, and bottom bud sampling to investigate the extent of potency variation across a single dried cannabis plant (and how representative a stratum was of the other strata), and (3) plant versus plant sampling from the same batch to investigate the extent of the potency variation across plants (and how representative a plant was of other plants in the same cultivar batch). At all levels of analysis, the variation in potency ranged from a minimum of 2.4% to a maximum of 6.7% of THC.

For the single stratum analysis, 30–41% of individual replicates were within the 99% CI diamonds. As the sampling performed was random and sample sizes were ≥ 30, these 99% CI ranges can be considered good estimations of the population mean due to the central limit theorem. If 30–41% of Total THC values are within this limit, the rest cannot be considered a good representation of the mean as stand-alone values. This could be seen as problematic, as even though these are observed potency values and are representative of what is possible from a cultivar batch, depending upon sampling and the extent of variation within an individual cultivar batch, repeated testing of different samples using different methods could be expected to yield different results.

For the multiple strata analysis, plants were stratified into top, middle, and bottom. The top and middle strata were consistently higher in potency than the bottom stratum. Total THC for cultivars ‘K4, ‘F2’, and ‘D15’ ranged by 4.7%, 5.9%, and 6.1%, respectively. Top, middle, and bottom Total THC data demonstrated that the Total THC amongst some strata were statistically different while others were comparable. The statistically different strata in the same plant could be considered different potency populations. This could be due to cannabis buds lower down the plant receiving less light due to heavy shielding from dense foliage, while the top and middle cannabis buds have better exposure to UV irradiation¹⁹. Further, it has been observed that different pruning techniques affect the chemical uniformity of the plant^20,21. Between 17.8 and 55.6% of replicates throughout all strata measured fell within one of the stratum’s 99% CI. Between 26.7 and 42.2% of replicates across all plants of a cultivar batch fell within the plant’s average 99% CI. This raises a similar issue as discussed above; if 50% or less of the replicates cannot be accounted for by the 99% CI, then these are not representative of the mean. Interestingly, across the three cultivars, different strata were more representative of all measured potencies: Cultivar ‘K4’ top and bottom (both 28.9%), cultivar ‘F2’ middle (55.6%), and cultivar ‘D15’ bottom (57.8%). To determine if this analysis was adequate at detecting a difference between groups, adjusted retrospective power was calculated for cultivars ‘K4’, ‘F2’, and ‘D15’ yielding 0.99, 0.99, and 0.71, respectively. (see Supplementary Data for raw data). It is important to note that typically samples from top, middle and bottom would be mixed without consideration of this variation.

For the final analysis, different plants (n = 5) from cultivar ‘D15’ were compared against each other using pooled data from the top, middle, and bottom. A one-way ANOVA test demonstrated that the plants were statistically different, with Tukey-Kramer HSD post-hoc test suggesting plants D and E were different from plants B and C. The average potency ± 1 SD of these plants was 23.2 ± 1.3% and 23.1 ± 1.1%, and 20.4 ± 1.0% and 21.0 ± 0.7%, respectively, with a difference of 2.8% between the potency averages of the highest and lowest plants. Adjusted retrospective power was also calculated for this analysis, yielding 0.99 (see Supplementary Data for raw data). 33–66% of Total THC replicates across four plants could be accounted for by a single plant 99% CI in this dataset.

For both the top, middle, and bottom strata and plant against plant analysis, the effect sizes for the statistically significant observations were very large, however there was discordance between some statistically insignificant results and effect sizes. This demonstrates the importance of not solely relying on statistical significance as a measure of difference; effect sizes are more robust at demonstrating where there is an actual meaningful difference.

The Total THC variation is present across plants, within plants, and within a single stratum of plants. For example, the pooled mean difference between the top and bottom of cultivar ‘K4’ plants was 2.1% Total THC, and the mean difference across the plants was 1.4%.

Adjusted retrospective power analysis was used for the top, middle, and bottom and plant versus plant analysis, as no prospective sample size calculations were performed. Determining statistical power bolsters the reliability of a dataset. The authors exercise caution when interpreting retrospective power analysis and are aware of its limitations, hence adjusted retrospective power analysis was used. Adjusted retrospective power analysis makes partial corrections for the positive bias introduced into retrospective power analysis due to the use of sample estimates²². This is achieved using a probability-weighted estimate that accounts for effect size uncertainty by considering the confidence interval range and averages the power over the range of uncertainty. It considers that the difference between samples can be within the whole CI range. Such an adjustment is appropriate for small samples sizes and offers a more conservative estimate of true effect size and thus study power.

Considering the random sample sized approach (analysis 1), retrospective power analysis of 0.71–0.99 (analysis 2 & 3), and the propagation of uncertainty for Total THC measurement being ± 0.2% (see Materials & Methods for calculation), confidence can be placed in the results presented as true natural variation. Furthermore, least significant number analysis demonstrates that between 17 and 30 replicates are required to observe a significant difference between groups and therefore the extent of variation in a particular cultivar batch (see Supplementary Data for raw data). To the best of our knowledge this paper represents the first comprehensive analysis into (a) the representativeness of single value Total THC reporting as compared to larger sample sizes, (b) the extent of Total THC variation throughout and across cannabis plants in multiple commercially-relevant THC dominant cultivars, and (c) the representativeness of one plant stratum versus other plant strata and one plant versus other plants.

The data presented provides valuable insight into the nature of Total THC variation within and across cannabis plants of the same cultivar batch. It is important to be aware of this natural variance when classifying and labelling dried cannabis for both recreational and medical use. A better understanding of potency variability in the plant presents an important opportunity to better inform cannabis patients, consumers, medical professionals, and regulatory bodies. The cannabinoid and terpene synthesis pathways²³, secondary metabolite storage²⁴, and the mechanism of action by which cannabinoids act at their receptor have been well documented in the literature²⁵. However, the cannabis consumption experience is very subjective and complex, often being attributed to the ‘entourage effect’ first described in 1998 by Ben-Shabat and colleagues²⁶. It contemplates major cannabinoids (i.e., THC, CBD), terpenes and minor and rare cannabinoids, as well as other compounds in the cannabis plant such as flavonoids, acting synergistically to produce the intoxicating and euphoric effects reported by consumers²⁷. These effects exist on a continuum and can vary drastically between people, much like how the capsaicin content of chilli peppers and the reported Scoville heat rating intensity and experience post-consumption can vary²⁸. The subjective experience of dried cannabis consumption is well known and reported^29,30,31, however objective cannabinoid testing outcomes (Total THC reporting) using large sample sizes and multiple cultivars has not been documented in the scientific literature. A single value reported on the label is only one of many possible values and is only representative of the mean occasionally. Although statistical analysis and effect size measures can quantify differences between groups, they do not give insight into what is deemed a meaningful difference in Total THC for consumers or regulatory bodies. However, from this dataset it can be concluded that there is no absolute value for Total THC that represents a batch and that reported Total THC can vary substantially within and across plants.

A former San Francisco Bay Area police officer was found guilty in federal court Friday for posing as a federal agent, extortion and other charges in connection with a scheme to steal cannabis and money from drivers during traffic stops.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California announced that a jury convicted 40-year-old Joseph Huffaker, a former officer of the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety, following a one-week trial.

Huffaker was found guilty of six counts to commit extortion, extortion, conspiracy to falsify records in a federal investigation and falsifying records in a federal investigation, along with conspiracy to impersonate a federal officer and impersonating a federal officer.

Court documents said Huffaker and another former police officer, Brendan Jacy Tatum, were involved in a scheme where they pulled over drivers suspected of possessing “significant amounts” of cannabis. The officers would falsely claim to be agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to extort the cannabis and threaten to arrest the drivers if they objected.

“No traffic stop should turn into a shakedown,” Northern California U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian said in a statement. “Huffaker’s actions threw a shadow of suspicion over multiple law enforcement agencies which, thankfully, were quick to investigate and discover his scheme.”

Prosecutors said the department previously ran an interdiction team between 2014 and 2017 that pulled over drivers on Highway 101 between Cloverdale and Rohnert Park in Sonoma County in an effort to seize illegal drugs.

In Dec. 2017, nearly a year after the team was disbanded, Huffaker and Tatum conducted stops and extorted cannabis from those they pulled over, saying they would seize property and at times threatening arrest, according to prosecutors. The seizures would take place while the officers were off-duty and not wearing uniforms or body-worn cameras.

Prosecutors said the jury found the scheme included a traffic stop on Dec. 18, 2017 when Huffaker and Tatum falsely claimed to be ATF agents, seizing 23 pounds of cannabis.

About two months later, the FBI received a complaint from a citizen claiming to have been “shaken down” by officers on the highway, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

After an FBI agent asked Tatum for the police report, prosecutors said Tatum and Huffaker falsified a report about the Dec. 18 traffic stop.

“Joseph Huffaker betrayed the sworn oath he took as a police officer and used his position to extort money and marijuana from drivers under the guise of legitimate law enforcement,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani said. “Crimes like these damage the public’s confidence in law enforcement.  Huffaker dishonored the oath every officer takes when he committed these crimes.”

Tatum pled guilty in Dec. 2021 to conspiracy, falsifying records and tax evasion in connection with the scheme. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sep 3.

Huffaker is currently released on bond ahead of a sentencing hearing on Oct. 15.

Prosecutors said he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 on each count of conspiracy to commit extortion, extortion and falsifying records. He also faces up to five years in prison, supervised release and fines on the conspiracy to falsify records and conspiracy to impersonate a federal officer counts, along with up to three years in prison on the impersonating a federal officer count.

One of the founders of BrewDog is targeting domestic dominance with a new business, planning to invest £20m into his new medical cannabis company.

Martin Dickie, who founded the alcohol and bars firm with James Watt nearly 20 years ago, now runs Waterside Pharmaceuticals.

A licence was granted by the Home Office last year to cultivate medical cannabis, with the firm describing their set-up as a tech-led vertical farm, with controlled environments and sustainable operations.

The first harvest, from a farm near Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, is expected to yield up to 9kg of medical cannabis. However, plans are to expand that to 200kg this year, with ambitions to continually scale up and grow the business over the coming years.

“Our aim is to become the UK market leader in medical cannabis,” Mr Dickie said. “We have ambitious plans to expand the business, creating up to 100 new jobs in the local economy and investing around £20m over the next five years.

“Our longer-term ambitions involve building a second facility co-located with a renewable energy source, minimising our environmental impact, creating jobs and diversifying the rural economy.”

Doctors in the UK have been allowed to prescribe cannabis-based medicines since 2018, for some conditions. The company estimates 50,000 to 60,000 patients benefit from them, with the number growing yearly.

Plants in the controlled environment are subject to 12 hours of artificial light and 12 hours of darkness for optimal growth. Waterside plans to open a second facility over the longer term.

Chief operating officer Morag Thomas, who also previously worked at BrewDog, claimed Waterside had a “premium product” in part through no use of pesticides and fungicides, the Times reported.

Mr Dickie reportedly retains ownership of around 20 per cent of BrewDog. Waterside did not respond to a request for comment over expansion plans and industry challenges.

“I do not see a prevailing view for legalization of recreational marijuana within our caucus as part of the current budget.”

By Ian Karbal, Penn Capital-Star

Another proposal that would legalize recreational cannabis in Pennsylvania was introduced at the state Capitol Thursday, this time by a bipartisan pair of senators.

But the measure from Senator Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) and Democrat Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) seems unlikely to pass any time soon.

The bill comes as state budget negotiations push nearly two weeks past the June 30 deadline. Republican and Democratic negotiators have struggled to agree on how to curb the state’s budget deficit while funding their parties’ priorities.

Posting on Facebook after the new bill was introduced, Laughlin warned, “We’re at the point where tax increases are being discussed in Harrisburg to balance the budget.” Revenue from a tax on legal cannabis, he said, could provide an alternative solution.

But the leader of his own party in the Senate, Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana), has already thrown cold water on the proposal.

“Discussions surrounding the state budget continue to progress, and we remain committed to a final agreement, which will help to address the structural deficit facing our commonwealth,” Pittman said in a statement provided to the Capital-Star. “However, I do not see a prevailing view for legalization of recreational marijuana within our caucus as part of the current budget.”

The latest bill would legalize cannabis use for Pennsylvanians age 21 and over, and allow possession of up to 30 grams of flower, five grams of concentrate and 1,000 milligrams of THC contained in marijuana-infused products like edibles. It would also impose a 6 percent sales tax and an 8 percent excise tax on all cannabis products.

Non-violent cannabis convictions would be automatically expunged. Eligible inmates would be released from incarceration.

Recreational cannabis is already legal in 24 states, including five of the six that border Pennsylvania—West Virginia being the exception.

Democrats in Harrisburg have broadly supported recreational marijuana legalization for some time, and Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) has repeatedly called on lawmakers to act. But the idea has struggled to gain traction in the GOP-controlled Senate.

Earlier this year, senators shot down another cannabis bill backed by Democrats that passed the House on partisan lines.

Unlike Laughlin and Street’s measure, it would have seen cannabis sold in state stores, like liquor, which was a nonstarter for Republicans and some Democrats.

Following the bill’s rejection, Pittman called the House’s approach “unserious” and said it “took that issue five steps back.”

The state store model was staunchly opposed by the cannabis lobby, which represents many of Pennsylvania’s medical dispensaries, as well as some of the largest players in the industry nationally.

This story was first published by Penn Capital-Star.

Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

A California farm worker has died from injuries sustained a day earlier when US immigration agents raided a cannabis operation, according to a farm worker advocacy group.

The raid took place on Thursday, local time, and resulted in the arrest of hundreds of workers, the group said.

Separately, a federal judge in California has ordered the Trump administration to temporarily halt some of its most aggressive tactics in rounding up undocumented immigrants.

Dozens of migrant-rights activists faced off with federal agents in rural southern California on Thursday.

It was the latest escalation of President Donald Trump’s campaign for mass deportations of immigrants in the US illegally.

His administration has made conflicting statements about whether immigration agents will target the farm labour workforce, about half of which is unauthorised to work in the US, according to government estimates.

About 200 arrested

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said approximately 200 people in the country illegally were arrested in the raid, which targeted two locations of the cannabis operation Glass House Farms.

Agents also found 10 migrant minors at the farm, the department said in an emailed statement.

The facility is under investigation for child labour violations, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott posted on X.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The scene at the farm on Thursday was chaotic, with federal agents in helmets and face masks using tear gas and smoke canisters on angry protesters, according to photos and videos of the scene.

Several farm workers were injured and one died on Friday from injuries sustained after a 9-metre fall from a building during the raid, said Elizabeth Strater, national vice-president of the United Farm Workers (UFW).

The worker who died was identified as Jaime Alanis on a verified GoFundMe page created by his family, who said they were raising money to support themselves and to cover his burial in Mexico.

US citizens were detained during the raid, and some are still unaccounted-for, Ms Strater said.

DHS said its agents were not responsible for the man’s death, saying that “although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a green house and fell 30 feet”.

Agents immediately called for a medical evacuation, DHS said.

Warnings on food supply

California Rural Legal Assistance, which provides legal services and other support to farm workers, is working on picking up checks for detained Glass House workers, said lawyer Angelica Preciado.

Some Glass House workers detained during the raid were only able to call family members after they signed voluntary deportation orders, and were told they could be jailed for life because they worked at a cannabis facility, Ms Preciado said.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin rejected those allegations, saying in an emailed statement that “allegations that ICE or CBP agents denied detainees from calling legal assistance are unequivocally false”.

Some citizen workers who were detained reported only being released from custody after deleting photos and videos of the raid from their phones, UFW president Teresa Romero said in a statement.

Farm groups have warned that mass deportation of farm workers would cripple the country’s food supply chain.

‘Roving patrols’

In her most recent comments, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said there would be “no amnesty” for farm workers from deportation.

Mr Trump, though, has said migrant workers should be permitted to stay on farms.

US District Court Judge Maame Frimpong granted two temporary restraining orders blocking the administration from detaining immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally based on racial profiling and from denying detained people the right to speak with a lawyer.

The ruling says the administration is violating the Fourth and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution by conducting “roving patrols” to sweep up suspected undocumented immigrants based on their being Latinos, and then denying them access to lawyers.

“What the federal government would have this Court believe — in the face of a mountain of evidence presented in this case — is that none of this is actually happening,” Judge Frimpong wrote in her ruling.

Reuters

One of the founders of BrewDog is targeting domestic dominance with a new business, planning to invest £20m into his new medical cannabis company.

Martin Dickie, who founded the alcohol and bars firm with James Watt nearly 20 years ago, now runs Waterside Pharmaceuticals.

A licence was granted by the Home Office last year to cultivate medical cannabis, with the firm describing their set-up as a tech-led vertical farm, with controlled environments and sustainable operations.

The first harvest, from a farm near Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, is expected to yield up to 9kg of medical cannabis – but plans are to expand that to 200kg this year, with ambitions to continually scale-up and grow the business over the coming years.

“Our aim is to become the UK market leader in medical cannabis,” Mr Dickie said. “We have ambitious plans to expand the business, creating up to 100 new jobs in the local economy and investing around £20 million over the next five years.

“Our longer-term ambitions involve building a second facility co-located with a renewable energy source, minimising our environmental impact, creating jobs and diversifying the rural economy.”

Doctors in the UK have been allowed to prescribe cannabis-based medicines since 2018, for some conditions. The company estimates 50,000 to 60,000 patients benefit from them, with the number growing yearly.

Plants in the controlled environment are subject to 12 hours of artificial light and 12 hours of darkness, for optimal growth. Waterside plan to open a second facility over the longer term.

Chief operating officer Morag Thomas, who also previously worked at BrewDog, claimed Waterside had a “premium product” in part through no use of pesticides and fungicides, the Times reported.

Mr Dickie reportedly retains ownership of around 20 per cent of BrewDog. Waterside did not respond to a request for comment over expansion plans and industry challenges.