Glass House Brands Inc. ("
Glass
House" or the "
Company") (CBOE CA:
GLAS.A.U) (CBOE CA: GLAS.WT.U) (OTCQX: GLASF) (OTCQX:GHBWF), one of
the fastest-growing, vertically integrated cannabis companies in
the U.S., has issued an open letter to President Biden, Former
President Trump and Vice President Harris urging them to completely
de-schedule cannabis and to grant clemency to those incarcerated in
federal prison for nonviolent marijuana offenses.
Dear President Biden, Former President Trump and
Vice President Harris,
Our nation has spoken, and it wants federal
cannabis laws to change. But, the people don’t just want cannabis
rescheduling, they want complete de-scheduling.
On July 22, 2024, the Drug Enforcement
Administration’s (DEA) comment period on the Health and Human
Services (HHS) current science-backed recommendation to reclassify
cannabis from a Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 drug ended. Over 42,000
public comments were received by the DEA, more than for any other
DEA proposal in history.1 The level of public engagement was
unprecedented.
While the public comments are overwhelmingly in
favor of the DEA proposal to remove cannabis from Schedule 1, it is
also clear Americans view rescheduling alone as insufficient.
Almost seventy percent of the public comments supported removing
cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act completely.2
This makes sense. As over 74% of Americans live
in a state where marijuana is legal for either recreational or
medical use, the American public now sees cannabis as another
product like tobacco and alcohol, and not like an illicit, or even
pharmaceutical drug.3
Rescheduling of cannabis to Schedule 3, instead
of outright de-scheduling will not solve the problems that have
been created by the Schedule 1 classification, such as unnecessary
incarcerations and the loss of qualified applicants in the
workforce, nor will it provide relief for the millions of Americans
whose right to use it is being curtailed by federal
prohibition.
To date, progress in legalizing and regulating
cannabis has been driven by the states and American citizens at the
grassroots level. It is time for the federal government to follow
the people’s lead and stop villainizing a plant that people have
been safely consuming for over 6,000 years. By de-scheduling
instead of rescheduling, individual states will be in a better
position to be able to decide what makes sense for their
communities.
Moreover, President Biden, we ask that you honor
your campaign promises to decriminalize marijuana, release cannabis
prisoners from jail and expunge cannabis convictions from their
records. We urge you to grant clemency to the approximately 3,000
individuals currently incarcerated in federal prison for nonviolent
marijuana offenses, many of whom are serving life sentences. The
continued incarceration of these individuals prolongs the legacy of
the War on Drugs and imbrues our justice system. No one should be
in prison for a plant. We have been a consistent advocate on this
issue, including in early 2021 when we urged then President Trump
to pardon Parker Coleman.
Americans are divided on so many issues. But one
thing that the vast majority of both Democrats and Republicans
agree on is that it is time to reform federal cannabis laws.
We believe that whichever presidential candidate
takes on the mission of de-scheduling cannabis will be rewarded at
the ballot box. As such, it is critical that the American public
know where each of you stands on the federal legalization of
cannabis.
Leadership is desperately needed on this issue.
On behalf of Glass House Brands, we strongly urge all three of you
to embrace de-scheduling cannabis. In this case, the bold choice is
the right choice.
Sincerely,
Kyle Kazan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Glass House
Brands
Graham Farrar, Director and President of Glass House Brands
Footnotes and Sources:
- Please see this link
- Please see this link.
- Please see this link.
ABOUT GLASS HOUSE BRANDS INC.Glass House is one
of the fastest-growing, vertically integrated cannabis companies in
the U.S., with a dedicated focus on the California market and
building leading, lasting brands to serve consumers across all
segments. From its greenhouse cultivation operations to its
manufacturing practices, from brand-building to retailing, the
company's efforts are rooted in the respect for people, the
environment, and the community that co-founders Kyle Kazan Chairman
and CEO, and Graham Farrar Board Member and President, instilled at
the outset. Through its portfolio of brands, which includes Glass
House Farms, PLUS Products, Allswell and Mama Sue Wellness, Glass
House is committed to realizing its vision of excellence:
outstanding cannabis products, produced sustainably, for the
benefit of all. For more information and company updates, visit
www.glasshousebrands.com and
https://glasshousebrands.com/press-releases/.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains certain
forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, as
defined in applicable securities laws (collectively referred to
herein as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements
reflect current expectations or beliefs regarding future events or
the Company's future performance or financial results. All
statements other than statements of historical fact are
forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward- looking
statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans",
"expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates",
"continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends",
"anticipates", "targets" or "believes", or variations of, or the
negatives of, such words and phrases or state that certain actions,
events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or
"will" be taken, occur or be achieved. All forward-looking
statements are qualified by this cautionary statement. Although the
Company believes that the expectations expressed in such statements
are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not
guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments
may differ materially from those in the statements. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. There are certain factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
information, including those risks disclosed in the Company's
Annual Information Form available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and
in the Company's Form 40-F available on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. For
more information on the Company, investors are encouraged to review
the Company's public filings on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The
forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of
the date of this news release or as of the date or dates specified
in such statements. The Company disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
other than as required by law.
For further information, please
contact:Glass House Brands Inc. John Brebeck, Vice
President of Investor Relations T: (562) 264-5078 E:
ir@glasshousebrands.com
Mark Vendetti, Chief Financial Officer T: (562) 264-5078 E:
ir@glasshousebrands.com
Investor Relations Contact:KCSA
Strategic CommunicationsPhil Carlson T: (212) 896-1233E:
GlassHouse@kcsa.com
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