Kyle Kazan, a former officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, has transitioned from law enforcement to becoming one of the largest legal cannabis growers in the United States.
As the co-founder and CEO of Glass House Brands, Kazan revealed to Fox News Digital that his company produces over 600,000 pounds of cannabis annually, with plans to surpass the one million mark in the near future.
Despite owning six million square feet of greenhouse space, Kazan stated that less than half of it is currently in use. His journey into the legal cannabis industry was not without its challenges, including partnerships with questionable associates, such as an associate of notorious LA mogul Suge Knight. However, Kazan managed to attract legitimate investors and establish a dominant presence in the California cannabis market.
Yet, Kazan is acutely aware of the darker side of the legalized cannabis industry. Despite his company's success, thousands of individuals are serving felony prison sentences for nonviolent cannabis dealing, a scale dwarfed by his operation. "Justice, then, certainly isn't blind now, is it?" Kazan questioned.
Kazan estimates that between 2,700 and 3,000 individuals are incarcerated on cannabis distribution charges in federal prisons, with thousands more in state prisons. The Last Prisoner Project, a Colorado-based nonprofit, estimated that in 2018, approximately 32,000 inmates across the country were serving sentences for cannabis-related charges.
Kazan strongly believes that this is an injustice, especially considering that none of these individuals were involved in operations as large as his. He has even traveled across the country to advocate for nonviolent cannabis dealers facing lengthy prison sentences.
In 2022, Kazan flew to the federal courthouse in Augusta, Georgia, to support Jose Valero Jr., who was facing three charges related to eight pounds of cannabis. Kazan pointed out the irony that while Valero was being sentenced, anyone could legally own stock in his cannabis company through a Charles Schwab account.
Kazan is advocating for clemency for nonviolent dealers and reasonable regulations for the cannabis industry. He has criticized politicians from both parties, particularly President Biden, for the continued incarceration of cannabis dealers.
Kazan argues that cannabis users should be treated similarly to alcohol users, allowed to consume legally but within reasonable and safe limits. He expressed frustration with the perception that his argument supports public disorder and drug misuse, stating, "There needs to be some laws around this, but you can do this in a sane, rational way."
Kazan also commented on a recent case involving a woman who fell into a "marijuana-induced psychosis" after consuming a high-potency strain of cannabis, leading to the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend. He compared the high THC content she consumed to the higher alcohol content in Jack Daniel's whiskey compared to beer.
However, he disagreed with her acquittal, stating, "It needs to be some personal responsibility... If you make a choice to obliterate yourself with alcohol or whatever, I think you should still bear the consequences of your actions."
Login