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cannalaugh

Blending Cannabis and Comedy in Chicago (and Beyond) Pg. 26

is a crypto atm right for your store?

Pg. 38

Omni-channel marketing Pg. 46

one bad sign Mike Wittenberg Reflects on his 18 Months in a Foreign Jail for Cannabis Crimes Pg. 54

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FEBRUARY 2026 | ISSUE 309 PUBLISHED BY HEADQUEST INTERNATIONAL LLC

HQ Magazine

President Nicole Gilmer

As the industry’s leading publication for over two decades, we want to remind you all that we are more than just another magazine; WE are the nexus of commerce for the counterculture marketplace; headshops, smoke shops, vape shops, adult novelties, and dispensaries. Both publisher and platform, HQ exists to facilitate the continued evolution of a once-marginalized industry now on the cusp of legitimization.

As a publisher, we are your advocate and your advisor, your continual stream of all information that matters to you; from product knowledge, to business insights, to how it all fits into the panorama of the bigger world. As a platform, we are your connection. We are the bullhorn, the billboard, and the bridge; the perfect bullseye of your target market. And as this industry continues to come into its own and navigate the coming seismic shifts in the landscape, we’ll be the light to guide its steps.

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Contributing Writers Matt Weeks Jonathan Branch Jimmy Wohl Joe Reefer Emily Long Karen Maina Ryan Mills

HQ Experience HQ Magazine, the industry’s longest-running publication, remains committed to serving the smoke shop community.

With an unwavering dedication to delivering award-winning content, and relevant news and providing insight into the latest and greatest industry products, HQ will continue to seek out the best way to reach as many subscribers as possible.

With HQ’s recent acquisition, the tides are turning and we know that YOU are ready for something new, something BIG. If you are looking for an upgraded experience, join HQ’s Elite membership program by scanning the QR code below. With each membership, you will receive HQ Magazine each month with no service interruptions, free access to HQ’s digital magazine, exclusive offers from our advertisers, and periodic sample boxes from the industry’s most trusted brands.

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If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please email us at marketing@headquest.com.

HEADQUEST INTERNATIONAL LLC. assumes no responsibility for contents herein. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the writer.

Published monthly by HeadQuest Magazine, PO BOX 13363, Toledo, Ohio, 43613. Send address change requests (please include information from the shipping label) to the address above, call 505-275-6049, or email subscriptions@headquest.com.

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BEWARE! HQ has no affiliates or outside sales team. Any business or person contacting you and acting as an HQ Representative or claiming affiliation with HQ Publications is unlawfully misrepresenting himself or herself. Please contact marketing@ headquest.com if you are approached by any such entity.

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HeadQuest

TABLE OF CONTENTS 26

38

cannalaugh

42

Is a Cryptocurrency ATM right for your store?

women in cannabis

46

54

62

omni-channel marketing in the cannabis industry

one bad sign

Product Spotlight

Mike Wittenberg Reflects on his 18 Months in a Foreign Jail for Cannabis Crimes

Krave Kratom

Blending Cannabis and Comedy in Chicago (and Beyond)

trade show roundup Alternative Product Expo Miami, FL Mana Wynwood Conv. Center 3/12/26 - 3/14/26

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Behind the Scenes

n l n a C a a ug h Blending Cannabis and Comedy in Chicago (and Beyond)

BY JA M ES J OH N IVA N Cannabis and comedy go hand-in-hand. After all, who hasn’t smoked a joint and immediately caught a case of the giggles? Who hasn’t taken a huge bong rip, only to have your best smoking buddy crack a joke as soon as you inhale?

I recently sat down with Andrew Smith, the mastermind behind CannaLaugh, to discuss our mutual love for the comedic arts, his current project that is taking Chicago by storm, and where his cannabis comedy show might end up next.

“After my first event, I didn't break even, I didn't go negative, I didn't make a profit, and anything I did make I donated it to charity. Like 5% of whatever I earned from tickets was donated to charity, and everybody else got paid out—the comedians, the vendors—everyone was happy,” Andrew said when speaking enthusiastically about his new project.

Introducing CannaLaugh CannaLaugh is the brainchild of Andrew Smith.

Appropriately enough, he came up with the idea while smoking a joint and watching comedy online.

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“I was smoking a joint late at night, and I was really stressed out about coming up with my next idea. What am I going to do to provide for myself and my family? And I was watching YouTube shorts of this comedian named Akaash Singh, and I was cracking up. I was like, This is so funny. I wish I could go to his show and just smoke right there. It was the perfect setting. And then I was like, wait a minute, why don't I just do this? Why don't I just give it a try? What's the worst that could happen?” he explained.

But Andrew wasn’t really a part of the local cannabis industry at that time, and, although he had made a few Hollywood connections from his days working in cigar lounges and smoke shops, he wasn’t a part of the comedy scene, either.

“I started off as a budtender, and I kind of took it from there.

I took all my connections from the tobacco industry, and I was like, hey, what do you think about this? Would you do this with me? Do you want to do a show? And they literally flew out to Chicago the very next week to talk to me about it.”

All of his shows thus far have been successful. Featuring comedians, musicians, glass-blowing, cannabis vendors, and giveaways, and with some venues even allowing on-site cannabis consumption, his late-night idea has since turned into a reality.

Remembering His Roots Andrew has lived in and around Chicago his entire life, so the city was a natural fit for the launch of CannaLaugh.

“A lot of people either still haven't heard about it or have heard about it and are trying to do what I'm doing, which is fine. I love that. You know, there's McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, there's a lot of choices in fast food, and there's going to be a lot of choices in cannabis and comedy in the future, too. I just happen to be one of the first to actually go through at this level with it. And, you know, I put a lot of my own money into it as well.”

“I would like to mention someone. He hosted my first show for me. His name is Ray Grady, and he's a comedian. He lives in LA now, but he's a Chicago native. He's a great guy, and he deserves the recognition for helping me,” Andrew said.

The Changing Face of Comedy Let’s face it—the standup comedy scene has changed drastically over the past 10 or 20 years. With the rise of social media, along with streaming sites like YouTube, a great comedian can now attract a nationwide following quicker than ever before.

“A lot of comedy is now on Instagram and YouTube,” Andrew said. “Because most comedians on SNL—now they're coming from YouTube and going to SNL instead of starting on SNL and going to do their own thing. So I saw this pattern.”

Not only did Andrew pick up on the pattern, but he’s capitalizing on these newer trends, too.

“I'm planning on releasing a podcast called CannaLaugh podcast, and then I'm going to actually put it on my website.

I'm going to do like a $1 per month subscription to kind of just fund the company. So, I'm going to stream each show like an episode, so people can watch it if they can't make it out to a show.”

Continued on pg. 28

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Behind the Scenes

Making People Laugh Beyond the Windy City While Chicago will always be the official home of CannaLaugh, Andrew already has plans to take his show on the road.

“I'm planning a show in May 2026, or maybe earlier, depending on my funding situation, for Michigan. I'm planning one for New York. And I do want to expand nationwide, so any legal state is up for consideration. Minnesota is getting really hot right now. I want to do a comedy festival out there, so it'll be like a three-day CannaLaugh event. And I'm working with someone that does those kinds of events right now to help me through that process.”

Andrew is also working with Natural Genetics to come up with his very own strain of CannaLaugh cannabis. Whether it’s at a local comedy club, online, or within a dispensary, Andrew and CannaLaugh are determined to make people chuckle in Chicago and beyond.

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EdQuest

Is a Cryptocurrency ATM right for your store?

BY M ATT WE E KS On its face, it makes sense: an anti-establishment asset in a counterculture shop. But the ethical ramifications of cryptocurrency ATMs have divided smoke shop owners, who are increasingly asked to host them.

Some see the digital kiosks, which stand five feet tall and take up four square feet of floor space, as sensible ways to make money. Most BTMs (Bitcoin ATMs) offer a stable monthly payment to store owners and a legal, legitimate opportunity to bring in extra business by providing a physical location that can convert cash into crypto.

Others look on them less kindly. The machines charge exorbitant fees, invite scams, and can help criminals launder money. The FBI fielded 11,000 complaints about BTMs in 2024—a 99% increase since 2023—and estimates Americans lost about $246 million last year alone.

The counterculture industry has always lived cheek by jowl with the edge of legality, but crypto kiosks present a new frontier in ethical decision-making. Here’s a quick look at the facts behind the hype.

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A Marriage of Similarities In the past five years, BTMs have flourished across cashheavy businesses like gas stations, haberdasheries, and liquor stores. But purveyors vastly prefer to install crypto kiosks in smoke shops. Why? The user bases are nearly identical.

About 14% of Americans hold cryptocurrency, according to a 2025 Gallup poll, although most transact their business online. The ones who value the privacy of a walk-up machine tend to look a lot like smoke shop patrons.

Customers of both BTMs and counterculture stores skew male, range in age from 18 to 50, and earn middle-to lowermiddle-class incomes.

But that’s where the comparisons stop. BTMs’ secondary clientele includes users who aren’t comfortable online, such as the elderly, who often find ATM-style kiosks more welcoming than wading through internet exchanges. In addition, BTMs cater to the unbanked, who have begun to turn to cryptocurrency to safely store their money.

The Benefits of Going BTM Bull or bear market, BTMs bring in cash. Shops can earn $200-$500 per month just for hosting the machines, depending on location. According to kiosk manufacturers, about 35% of BTM users make a store purchase every time they deposit cash.

However, the choice to install a BTM often comes only partially from financial incentives. Most often, it’s about culture fit. Some smoke shops, especially those in big cities, boast a tech-savvy customer base that views cryptocurrency as part of the counterculture. Some shops allow customers to buy goods with more popular currencies, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, so it makes sense to offer conversion.

While BTMs charge higher fees (up to 30%) than internet exchanges, proponents justify them as the price of true anonymity. Online crypto dealers must adhere to knowyour-customer (KYC) laws. These regulations, designed to prevent money laundering, force financial institutions to do their due diligence in collecting information on their customers’ identities. That means recording information such as each user’s full name, date of birth, and address.

Most BTMs, aside from those in Texas and a few other places, collect less identifying information.

“I use [BTMs] for the privacy,” said Leith Davis, a selfdescribed crypto investor in Ohio. “I see the fees as the price I pay for not having to deal with KYC. I think nearly every crypto investor now sees their wallet in two ways, with one holding the KYC crypto and the other holding the non-KYC.” There’s something freeing about spending money that can’t be traced to you, he added. The data suggests he’s right. Increasingly, cryptocurrency has found broader appeal. Square, the payment processing app, recently joined mega-retailers such as Starbucks and Home Depot in adding cryptocurrencies to its checkout options. While optimists have long predicted that a digital currency future is imminent, many believe the Trump administration’s friendly posture (and the Trump family’s personal businesses) will accelerate mass adoption.

When it’s Not Right While crypto might fund the future, some shop owners see problems in the present.

They’ve also become a favorite vehicle for online scammers.

In these frauds, a con artist convinces a mark to deposit cash in a BTM and then sends them the crypto. Crypto is nearly impossible to trace, meaning scammers don’t get caught and victims rarely get their money back.

The scams have become more common as BTMs have proliferated. Matthew Fortin at Upper Limits Midwest Inc. in Springfield, Illinois, saw the trend up close. It took him just four weeks to pull the plug on the BTM installed in his store.

“One hundred percent of the time that we saw somebody at the machine, they were being scammed,” he told the Springfield Business Journal. “So I was like, this machine has to go. I’m not going to be a part of that.”

The association with scams can make for bad optics.

While counterculture shops frequently wade into waters condemned by mainstream society, the causes they usually champion—alternative medicine, drug reform, etc.—don’t include cryptocurrency. Some owners fear that hosting a machine invites extra scrutiny.

“I don’t have a problem with anybody using Bitcoin… I don’t think anybody in our industry does. But I’m not sure that I’m the guy to see about doing that,” said one smoke shop owner who asked to remain anonymous. “Believe me, the last thing I want is any more reason for the cops to show up.

They already like to hit smoke shops for any reason they want.”

They certainly draw powerful attention. City and state legislators passed a slew of anti-BTM laws in 2025. Cities like Spokane, Washington, and St. Paul, Minnesota, banned the machines outright. Many more restrictions have been passed, such as requiring ID, limiting deposits, capping fees, forcing stores to register with the government, and requiring kiosks to display scam warnings.

How to Find a Verdict Hosting a BTM requires the kind of business calculus that’s mostly gut feeling. There’s a bottom-line practicality to the endeavor, and those nearly always come with ethical tradeoffs. Before you clear out a space on your showroom floor, it’s worth considering the consequences. You might be on the ground floor of the next big thing, or installing a machine that does more harm than good. The only real risk is not to give the decision much thought.

Law enforcement agencies across the country have raised concerns about BTMs, claiming they’ve become go-to money-laundering spots for drug dealers. Because most crypto ATMs don’t require ID, criminals can deposit cash from drug sales, robberies, or other illicit activities without leaving a trail or raising eyebrows from financial watchdogs.

Continued on pg. 40

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Women in Cannabis

women IN cannabis

BY EM ILY LONG When Adelia Carrillo (Fakhri) and Parisa Rad first sat down for brunch in Phoenix, AZ, with a few other women in the cannabis industry, they had no idea how that moment would change the trajectory of their lives. “The energy in that room was transformative,” Adelia says. Four years later, that initial gathering has blossomed into Blunt Brunch, which Adelia describes as a “national movement rooted in authenticity, collaboration, and women building alongside one another.” They’ve hosted hundreds of events across the United States, including the recent Blunt Brunch Nationals at MJBizCon, which have brought together over 15,000 women and allies over the years.

Before starting Blunt Brunch with Parisa, Adelia founded the Direct Cannabis Network (DCN) and later EventHi, where she remains active in the cannabis industry

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through events, experiences, and community connection.

However, before that, cannabis was not part of her world at all. “My dad was a sheriff, and my mom worked in the district attorney’s office,” she says. After “climbing the corporate ladder and checking all the boxes,” Adelia’s personal health journey and reckoning with her own mortality forced her to reevaluate her life. “It opened the door to exploring cannabis for my own healing,” she says.

“It completely shifted my understanding of what this plant could offer."

Neither Adelia nor Parisa imagined cannabis would become such a cornerstone of their personal and professional lives. Still, both women found help and healing in the plant—Adelia after a nearly fatal ectopic pregnancy and Parisa through her disabled daughter.

“I came from a very traditional Persian family where cannabis was definitely not dinner table conversation,” Parisa says. “But life had other plans.”

When asked about their experiences as women in the cannabis industry, Parisa says it’s equal parts inspiring and exhausting. “We’ve had to fight for our seat at the table and sometimes even build the table ourselves,” she says, noting that many of the gender-based challenges she’s experienced are prevalent across many industries too—specifically “being underestimated, overworked, and overlooked.” Adelia adds that the most significant challenges are often around access, sustainability, and visibility without losing authenticity. “But I’ve learned that strength doesn’t always come from fighting,” Adelia says. “Sometimes it comes from collaboration and presence. By showing up authentically, staying consistent, and supporting other women along the way, I’ve built lifelong relationships that have shaped my journey.”

“There’s a genuine sense of community among women in this industry who lead with purpose,” Adelia says.

This camaraderie and community make all the hard work worth it. “There’s a genuine sense of community among women in this industry who lead with purpose,” Adelia says. “We may all be building different things, but we share the same mission.”

By connecting with and supporting fellow women in cannabis, “we’re rewriting what leadership looks like in cannabis,” Parisa says. “It’s nurturing, powerful, and unapologetically feminine.”

Unsurprisingly, Blunt Brunch attracts and resonates with other leaders and brands who place intention, authenticity, and community at the heart of their work. “Companies like Kikoko, Kiva, Kanha, and Yummi Karma continue to impress me with their commitment to quality, innovation, and creating products that truly resonate with women,” Adelia says. Other cannabis communities she admires include the International Cannabis Business Women’s Association (ICBWA), Project Sister Dope, and Freedom Grow, as well as Mskindness B. Ramirez of Club Kindness and Whitney Beatty of Josephine & Billies. “They’re the kind of women who not only build their own paths but also open doors for others along the way,” Adelia says. “I’ll always champion women-led brands who are carving their own lane,” Parisa adds. “Companies like Pinks, PRETTYHIGH, and EventHi blend culture, advocacy, and style so effortlessly.”

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Women in Cannabis

Both women are also quick to celebrate each other, and their gratitude for their collaboration and partnership is palpable. As they come off their latest event, “Pearled Up & Powerful” Blunt Brunch Nationals in Las Vegas, Adelia and Parisa have plans to expand Blunt Brunch’s virtual community to give women more ways to connect and collaborate. They’re also facilitating private events and experiences for other brands and businesses who want to connect more deeply with their audiences, as well as expanding their event offerings on the East Coast. Through industry partnerships with NECANN and MJBizCon, Blunt Brunch hopes to continue to grow authentically, elevating and uniting women at major industry events and beyond.

That’s why Blunt Brunch exists—to unite, celebrate, and empower women in the cannabis industry through connection, education, and leadership. “It’s been wild watching this sisterhood grow into a real movement,” Adelia says. Both women want to see this beautiful community create ripple effects in the cannabis industry as a whole. “I want to see this industry mature into something more compassionate and inclusive,” Parisa says. “Less bro culture, more impact. Cannabis is medicine, it’s culture, it’s community, and the future should reflect that.”

Adelia agrees, adding that she wants to see the industry move beyond tokenism and representation to allow women and BIPOC entrepreneurs to not just survive but thrive in these spaces. “We’ve built the foundation,” she says. “Now it’s time to elevate the next generation of leaders who are bringing heart, innovation, and integrity to this space. I believe the future of cannabis will be shaped by those who prioritize community over competition and impact over ego.” And fellow women in cannabis have an open invite to Blunt Brunch. “Whether you’re a brand, a woman in the industry, or just someone curious about this space, there’s always a seat for you at our table,” Parisa says.

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Omni-Channel Marketing in the Cannabis Industry

BY JAME S JOHNIVAN When it comes to marketing, cannabis is different from every other consumer good available today. If sales start to dip in traditional retail, you can simply increase ad spending. However, with companies like Google, Meta, and even traditional broadcasters placing strict bans or severe limitations on cannabis advertising, the standard “pay-to-play” system just doesn’t work.

This regulatory landscape forces owners and operators to be smarter in their cannabis advertising and, more specifically, it requires a shift from single-channel tactics to a more holistic omni-channel strategy.

Optimizing Your Online Presence

46

and manage your reviews on a consistent basis. Doing so helps prove your company’s legitimacy in the virtual eyes of Google, which will ultimately help you dominate those “dispensary near me” searches.

• Social Media: Due to strict platform policies against selling controlled substances, social media is generally used for engagement only. The goal here is to build your community and showcase brand lifestyle without triggering any profile bans or restrictions. For best results, use today’s social media platforms to educate consumers and drive traffic to your store or website, where the actual conversion takes place.

A company’s online presence is important in any industry, and cannabis is no exception. You might face certain restrictions that others don’t have to deal with, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t succeed just the same.

• SMS: Although some tend to underestimate their effectiveness, text messages are actually a great way to connect with customers in a more casual environment.

Texts are ideal for general news, updates, and fresh product drops.

• SEO & Google Business Profile (GBP): Paid ads are restricted in the cannabis industry, so organic local SEO will become a vital part of your digital strategy. A fully optimized GBP acts as your digital storefront in this case, so make sure to include accurate contact data

• Email: One of the more traditional tools involved in digital marketing, email blasts and newsletters are still great when it comes to maintaining customer relationships and providing product or service updates that don’t require an immediate response.

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Winning Over the Local Community Considering that the majority of the traditional advertising channels are unavailable, one of the best things you can do for your cannabis business is to tap into the local community. They’ll be the ones purchasing and consuming the majority of your product, after all, so it’s essential to make a good impression here before anywhere else.

Local farmers’ markets are a great choice due to the variety of both consumers and vendors. Even if you can’t legally sell THC products outside of the dispensary, you can still take advantage of these markets to create brand awareness and advertise your goods. Other possible opportunities include music festivals, parades, carnivals, and trade shows.

Finally, head shops and dispensaries often organize holiday drives for their local communities. Organizing food, clothing, or toy drives can go a long way in giving back to those who are in need—whether it’s a holiday or not.

Are you struggling with partnership ideas? Consider collaborating with some of the following businesses:

Start by organizing vendor days and working with brand partners to host frequent vendor pop-ups. Apart from giving consumers further insight into the industry, events like this are a great way of introducing transparency into the process from seed to sale.

You might also consider hosting “meet the grower” or “meet the manufacturer” sessions, too. These events are helpful when it comes to maintaining transparency about your business and building trust amongst your customer base, both of which could lead to greater brand loyalty, repeat business, and increased sales in the long run.

Forget What You Know About Marketing Success in the cannabis industry requires a great deal of dedication, persistence, and creativity. Many of the standard marketing strategies just aren’t effective here, so owners and operators are forced to think outside the box and take extra steps that aren’t required of other businesses. It might not be fair, but, for the earliest pioneers in the cannabis industry, it’s the price we pay for being ahead of the curve.

• Yoga studios, gyms, spas, and massage therapists: Partner with health and wellness companies to highlight the benefits of responsible cannabis consumption.

• Music venues, festivals, and comedy clubs: Marketing is all about meeting your customers where they already are, so these establishments are a natural fit for any dispensary or head shop.

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• Restaurants, cafes, and bakeries: We’ve all had the munchies at one point or another, so why not partner with a local eatery to advertise your products?

• Transportation services: Organize a rideshare to and from your store or host a tour of the most iconic counterculture locations in your area.

• Podcast hosts and influencers: Connect with local podcasters and social media influencers to promote your store in lieu of traditional advertising channels.

Maximizing the In-Store Experience With curbside pickup and even cannabis delivery becoming popular in some areas, the physical sales floor remains your most powerful stage for building out your brand. Shops that can create memorable in-store experiences might even transform their store from a local staple into a counter-culture icon.

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Heads of Industry

One Bad Sign Mike Wittenberg Reflects on his 18 Months in a Foreign Jail for Cannabis Crimes

BY M AT T WEEK S While Mike Wittenberg sat in a Dominican Republic prison, a thought occurred to him. “I could appreciate flushing the toilet,” he said. “When you’re in a third-world jail without running water 23.5 hours a day, you learn to appreciate the little things.”

His 18 months incarcerated outside Santo Domingo couldn’t be further removed from his old life, when he led C3: Counter Culture Convention. What brought him from the high life to life in a foreign prison feels like an episode of “Locked Up Abroad” with a Cheech and Chong twist. It’s the kind of absurdity that would be funny if it weren’t for the consequences.

The simplest explanation, from his point of view, is that he was arrested for a crime he didn’t commit.

The Fall from Grace During the COVID-19 pandemic, he planned a small C3 convention in Punta Cana, where lockdown rules permitted public gatherings. At first, everything was going fine. Vendors and buyers talked deals and enjoyed the scenery. As the C3 participants were relaxing by the pool, resort staff pulled Wittenberg aside and asked him to sign for a pallet. He slipped on some Crocs and a T-shirt and followed them up front, where a group of men waited with AK-47s trained on him.

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The next thing he knew, he was handcuffed in the back of a police car. It was four hours before he was let out, on the other side of the country, and interrogated in Spanish.

Eventually, Wittenberg learned he was arrested for international narcotics trafficking. The pallet he signed for—a collection of products his vendors had mailed to show buyers at the convention—contained outlawed materials like THC gummies and vape pens. He was facing 20 years.

“I was put in the same category as cocaine smugglers from Cuba,” Wittenberg said. “Here I am, the only white guy in this whole place. I don’t speak the language. And everybody thinks I’m the rich American, even though I had nothing. It was humbling.”

The next day, he was allowed to use the phone. He called home only to learn his mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Life on the Inside In the beginning, Wittenberg thought the situation would be over quickly. He didn’t pack the pallet; he was American, he had a good business, and he knew people.

He was a Long Islander who was used to talking his way out of things. But as the days wore on, a dark cloud descended. As court appearances were rescheduled

and he was carted to a long-term facility, it became clear his stay wouldn’t be as temporary as he hoped.

Jail life was hard. He couldn’t keep the food down, so he subsisted on cookies and crackers he purchased from the commissary. And because the country doesn’t issue uniforms, he spent weeks in his Crocs and shorts before he could afford new clothes. To add salt to the wound, his wife discovered evidence of affairs on his phone and proceeded to exact revenge.

“My second ex-wife took everything I had—all my IP, all my assets, everything. She sold it and gave away a lot of my IP. When I went to jail, I had a great business. I was doing really well, thank God. Life was okay,” he said. “But even that— losing everything—it was all right. What I was concerned about was I didn’t see my kids.”

All told, during his 18 months on the inside, Wittenberg lost his marriage, his business, and about 100 pounds.

“People ask why I didn’t get PTSD, but I didn’t because, once I got out, I could wake up and see my kids. I could wake up and have a cup of coffee. So, at the end of the day, that was a horrible, horrible time in my life, but if I was to have any traumatic stress, it was when I was in there, not when I’m out,” he said.

Friends in High Places Wittenberg’s displeasure at the situation is evident, but it also seems strangely muted. What roils him are the friends he lost along the way.

“When I went to sign for the package, I was in the pool with my vendors. But they weren’t even my vendors. We’d traveled the world together. A few had been at my wedding,” he said. “Some knew my kids. They all knew my mom.”

But that was the last time he saw them. One minute, they were in the pool; the next, he was handcuffed and en route to prison.

“Nobody called. Nobody said, ‘Here’s 5,000 bucks to help.’

Nobody picked up the phone when I called,” Wittenberg said.

Could they simply be listening to legal advice, hoping to avoid liability? “No! Fuck that,” Wittenberg says. “What are they worried about? Getting extradited for a vape pen?

Forget it. Most of these guys—this industry was built by guys who used to be addicts. They know the rules of the street.

It wasn’t made by a bunch of CEOs. And when something like this happens, when somebody takes a bullet for you, the rules of the street say you don’t leave him there. You help him.”

He sees his abandonment as a stain on the counterculture industry. It’s a group that has long styled itself as an antidote to the worst capitalist practices. Wittenberg felt that C3 was part of that community: a company built by regular people who believed in helping other outcasts. Now, he thinks about most of those relationships differently.

“It’s not like everyone was bad,” he said. “I actually did receive a bit of help, but none of it was from my vendors. I received a little bit of assistance from some buyers. They weren’t there, by the way. They just knew me and wanted to help out a bit.”

What’s Next Wittenberg finally went free after 18 months, thanks to a good lawyer, a little luck, and—he believes—a good word from the president of the D.R. The easiest explanation for Wittenberg’s debacle is that mistakes were made. Some vendors accidentally sent materials—gummies, THC-laden vapes, etc.—to a country where they’re illegal. Wittenberg says he told them to obey the country’s rules, and he trusted them to do so. Maybe they forgot. Maybe they misunderstood or thought the worst thing that could come of a mistake was a simple fine.

Whether what happened stemmed from negligence, bad luck, or something closer to willful blindness is debatable.

It depends on how much responsibility Wittenberg had for what vendors shipped under his name.

“I’m trying to figure things out,” he said when pressed about the future. Does he plan to sue? Probably. He’s looking into it. Does he plan to get back into the industry? He might. It’s what he knows, after all.

What concerns him now is his life in Florida, where he can see his children (ages 13 and 17) and help care for his mother.

In the two years since his release, he’s begun rebuilding the life he lost that day in Punta Cana.

His ideas about the future are simple. He wants to write a book. He’s been making the rounds on podcasts. He still has marketable skills—his businesses were highly successful.

Someone could hire him. Maybe one of his friends.

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Product Spotlight

Krave Kratom It feels impossible sometimes to escape the more ridiculous aspects of pop culture—like pickleball, whatever a Labubu is, and the inevitable media frenzy surrounding Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s upcoming wedding.

Thankfully, there’s at least one trend that’s still on the rise that I can get behind, which is kratom.

The explosion of kratom in recent years has taken the market by storm, and Krave Kratom has been part of the movement since the beginning. If you’re looking for a highquality product that is meticulously sourced and backed by a long history of consistency, Krave Kratom is the name to know.

In a market crowded with gimmicky brands and fly-by-night formulas, Wes and the team at Krave Kratom deliver a product that does exactly what it promises. Krave Kratom delivers a potent, trusted product that’s been formulated

with care. I caught up with Wes, the owner of Krave Kratom, about their approach to the industry, their latest product release, and how they plan to continue their decade of excellence.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and how Krave got started.

My name is Wes, and I’m the owner of Krave Kratom.

We started this business ten years ago as a very small company, and we’ve grown the business to be all over the U.S. Throughout the years, we’ve created innovative products that have inspired the market. Our team focuses on using quality ingredients, finding the right sourcing for the product, stringent testing, and following GMP guidelines. We are constantly launching new products, new ideas, and finding innovation within our industry.

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Q: Krave Kratom is always coming out with new products. Do you have anything exciting on the horizon for us to look forward to?

There is a new product that we’re going to be launching here shortly. It’s a tablet that’s got MIT in it, and only mitragynine. It doesn’t have any 7-hydroxy, which is great for people looking for a different experience.

There’ll be 10 tablets per pack, six packs in a display, and each tablet will contain 100 milligrams. They come in six delicious flavors: grape, watermelon, wild berries, lemon mint, blue raspberry, and strawberry banana.

Q: What makes Krave different from other kratom brands?

Krave Kratom is basically the Red Bull of kratom.

We were one of the first people to be in the kratom business in the U.S. We have name recognition and the trust of the consumer, because people know they can rely on our product to be of the highest quality. We’ve been in this arena since day one.

We’re incredibly proud of the quality of our product, which is why our customers are so loyal. Shop owners tell us sometimes people try different stuff, but they always come back and ask for Krave again.

We push ourselves to have the most effective products on the market. The efficacy and potency of our product are what’s most important to us.

Q: What’s your relationship like with distributors?

We sell direct to distributors, and our distributors love doing business with us. Stores love our product because it literally sells itself. We have strong, wellrecognized branding, fast shipping, and good quality customer support.

Q: Anything else you want readers to know about Krave or the industry in general?

I don’t have anything else to add. I just hope current regulations get in favor of kratom throughout the U.S., and we stop the injustice of local jurisdictions criminalizing kratom.

Q: What’s the best way for retailers to carry Krave in their stores?

If you’re interested in working with us, just give us a call at 760-500-0035. We’ll be more than happy to take care of you. You can also visit our website at KraveKratom. com to find out more about our products and for wholesale inquiries.

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