My job is so dope: A peek inside the regulated cannabis environment

If I had a dollar every time someone asks me for a free sample whenever I say that I work in the cannabis space, I would be crazy rich by now.

Six years into this job and I still get a kick out of the reactions from family, friends, and Filipinos in general. When I’m happy, they’d say I’m high; when I’m quiet, I’m stoned. Whatever I do or what mood I’m in, they see it as a laughing trip, a food trip, a bad trip, name it! I’ve run out of comebacks and have practically accepted that the stigma around cannabis is here to stay no matter what. But rather than be defensive, I explain my job and take these remarks as an opportunity to change people’s stereotypes.

That said, my job in the government involves making sure that legalized cannabis does not jeopardize public health and the safety of our communities by providing oversight to the cannabis industry. We make certain that facilities are not close to residences, schools, parks, and other spaces where the youth are likely to congregate. We mandate training for cannabis business owners to ensure that they have protocols in place to prevent access to products by minors.

We audit inventory to make sure they’re not being diverted into the black market. We see to it that buildings are up-to-code and require high-tech security systems to protect the plants, products, and the people that work there.We scrutinize ownership and conduct background checks to rule out potential ties to organized crime. We monitor compliance, collect taxes, and revoke the permits of delinquent taxpayers and other rulebreakers. We file civil or criminal cases against bad actors.

We keep our ears on the ground and pivot as needed to make sure that our regulations still make sense.

Clearly, no other industry in California is still as tightly regulated as the cannabis industry. Over the past five years, regulations have gone through several iterations and will only continue to be tweaked as loopholes, gray areas, and curveballs arise.

“My job is so dope” is the hashtag I use on social media to showcase my work. Many find it fascinating that while I go to inspections, I don’t get to test-drive cannabis products. Also, for the record, I am no expert on which strains give the best high or how to grow a cannabis plant undetected. Nor do I have any tips on how to pass a sobriety test, let alone a drug test.

I hope that cannabis posts on social media trigger curiosity among more of our leaders and make them wonder: “What is so special about this plant that is prompting nations to change their laws?”

Sure, there are already a few trailblazers out there—the likes of Sen. Robin Padilla and Representatives Pantaleon Alvarez and Tonypet Albano, and a few others who have authored cannabis bills. Their legislation may have different intended outcomes, but all are rooted in the same goal: to light the blaze and initiate the difficult conversations that need to be had about cannabis. Perhaps hoping that just like other nations whose histories have been rewritten on the account of this plant, we, too, could somehow improve patients’ lives and rethink our stance on crimes.

We need more of them to get it and not just surrender to the assumption that the country isn’t ready for it. With political will, it is possible. With well-crafted regulations, it is definitely doable. I hope that by describing the work that I do, I was able to somehow draw a big picture of what a regulated system looks like. Is it a perfect system? No. But without the ability to regulate, we are essentially giving control to the black market and won’t have the tools needed to protect our youth and our communities.

Unless someone makes the first move, we are stuck in a cycle of false starts and bills that end up in smoke (no pun intended). If we can somehow figure out the answer, that would be so dope!

Zarah Uytingban Cruz,

[email protected]