Emerald Village West Hollywood, the country’s first municipal cannabis tourism association representing cannabis businesses exclusively in West Hollywood, announces Jason Beck owner and founder of Alternative Herbal Health Services (AHHS) as its newly appointed Board President. Under the City of West Hollywood’s cannabis business classifications AHHS, founded in 2004, currently holds a Legacy Medical Cannabis Business License for being one of four existing medical cannabis collectives that has been lawfully operating since December 31, 2017.
Jason Beck was one of the first owners and is the longest continuously operating owner of legal cannabis retail operations, with interests in vertically-integrated cannabis companies in multiple states. Born with cerebral palsy, Mr. Beck is in the unique position of being a patient, specialist, advocate, and advisor in the fields of medicinal and adult-use of cannabis. Mr. Beck has regularly provided his insights on the industry for over twenty years to federal, state and local government officials and legislators of all political persuasions. He also sits on the boards of numerous not-for-profit criminal justice reform groups.
“Since the AIDS crisis of the 1980’s, West Hollywood has been at the forefront of the movement to legalize cannabis in the United States. Local pioneers like Jason Beck paved the way for medical dispensaries to open and are now guiding the Emerald Village into its new reputation as a global cannabis destination,” said Scott Schmidt Executive Director of Emerald Village West Hollywood.
“For over twenty years I’ve been an advocate for safe and legal access to Medicinal and Adult Use cannabis on both the state and federal levels. As President of the Board for Emerald Village West Hollywood I look forward to continuing that movement to normalize responsible cannabis use while highlighting West Hollywood’s unmatched cannabis businesses and our hospitality partners that draw in tourists and locals alike” said Jason Beck.
Emerald Village West Hollywood members and other West Hollywood licensed cannabis businesses have committed to the movement of cannabis advocacy and social justice through programs including hiring policies to help employ those with past cannabis convictions, reserved shelf-space for small, BIPOC-owned products and more. West Hollywood’s licensed Cannabis businesses are also committed to promoting public safety across the City. Public Safety measures include 24-hour video surveillance and multiple on-site security officers at each store. In addition, each business conducts foot patrols of a two-block radius on an hourly basis
Current members of Emerald Village West Hollywood include Alternative Herbal Health Services (AHHS), The Artist Tree, CALMA (owned by Jay-Z’s The Parent Company), LA Patients and Caregivers Group (LAPCG), MedMen, Zen Healing Collective, AEON Botanika, Monica’s House (owned by Woody Harrelson & Bill Maher), Greenwolf, Pleasure Med and OG Cannabis Café.
Locals and tourists alike can plan their cannabis adventures in West Hollywood through the Emerald Village website. The site features the latest updates on responsible use guides, cannabis news, events, businesses (retail, consumption lounges, medicinal), and attractions to discover what the world’s cannabis capital in West Hollywood has to offer. Cannabis businesses within the Emerald Village also make cannabis access safe, easy, and convenient with scheduled or same day delivery within 60 minutes or less and 2.5% less delivery tax than other dispensaries located in the city of Los Angeles.
To learn more about the Emerald Village West Hollywood and Emerald Village, visit emeraldvillageweho.com and follow @emeraldvillageweho on Instagram.
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About Emerald Village West Hollywood
Founded in 2021, Emerald Village West Hollywood is a representative organization for cannabis businesses exclusively in the City of West Hollywood. Declared as the Emerald Village and the world’s cannabis capital, Emerald Village West Hollywood is governed by a Board of Directors to promote tourism, understanding of legal cannabis regulations, consumer safety and advocacy for cannabis decriminalization and social justice. For more information about the Emerald Village West Hollywood and Emerald Village, visit emeraldvillageweho.com and follow @emeraldvillageweho on Instagram.
Scott Schmidt is the face of greed and corruption–truly a low form of life. Whatever his past supposed accomplishments, he is a disgrace and should be held accountable for crimes committed by his cannabis tourists.
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I don’t know Scott Schmidt. But I see that he is the Executive Director of Emerald Village West which is the group pushing to turn West Hollywood into the Pot City. Scott Schmidt was also one of the “influencers” who the developers at 8850 Sunset hired. So if this is the same Scott Schmidt, looks to me like he’s making a lot of $$$ by trying to sell Weho to whoever. Weho has granted 40+ Cannabis licenses. That’s not 40 locations. That is 40+ entities who can have multiple locations. I am horrified that our entire city is going to… Read more »
This is discouraging. If Scott Schmidt, to whom you referred was really the campaign manager and ally of Lauren Meister I would say we might be cooked…or smoked. Any current intel on this?
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The residents of West Hollywood voted in favor of pot for recreational use. We did not vote in favor of turning our city into a global pot destination. Who is pushing this crap? Vote. Them. Out.
I am voting every single one of these morons out. They are destroying West Hollywood.
Recovery not quite working out for you? Ample opportunity to spark one up or hit the booze in WeHo steps from the recovery center! 40+ dispensaries, no waiting! Get your “prescription” onsite so you can enjoy at your apartment, neighbors be damned! Get one for you “ESA” as well!
Do you really want WeHo to become the Desert Hot Springs of LA County?
Seems like the Council sure does. They are totally dismissing the voice of the people and going with the voices in their head. VOTE. THEM, OUT.
Mr. Beck has way overstepped his purview and has apparently declared West Hollywood as the ‘World’s Cannabis Capital’. Much to the dismay of many who maintain business interests in West Hollywood there was no opportunity for anyone to weigh in on this matter such as a simple vote or putting it on the ballot. He unilaterally decided, perhaps with his other “Board Sitters” that it would be a profitable marketing move. What is remarkable here is that the city attorney didn’t question this or any of the issues that continually came up in the flawed process of anointing folks with… Read more »
Agreed. Who decided that we want our city marketed as a global cannabis destination? Shouldn’t the residents that live here decide that? Who is pushing this crap down our throats?
It was legalized for recreational use, this was expected following that. And it will be seen in other states and cities. Stop acting like you speak for everyone or any majority.
‘this was expected ” Absent any qualified foresight. The genesis was the lure of medical cannabis which got the ball got rolling. Too many saw it as medical utopia without investigating other modalities equally successful which avoid making perpetual users or addicts out of users.
Then the clever had the foresight of an economic windfall and so it goes…ambulance chasers one and all including developers. Great way to fund a project. LOL.
I’m not saying I speak for everyone. But the residents did not vote to turn our city into a global pot destination. We voted in favor of personal recreational use. There is a huge difference between the two and if you don’t understand it I don’t have the time or the patients to explain it to you.
Personal recreational use… Facilitated by dispensing businesses such as stores and lounges. Did you think we were just going to order directly from the government and have it shipped to our homes where it would be confined or what? It’s going to be on the same level as alcohol. You know, which is served in bars and sold in stores. This was all part of the plan which the majority of citizens support in voting.
West Hollywood, the “World’s Cannabis Capital”.
A very low bar.
Not something that a city or an individual would want on their resume.
Absolutely
It seems as if a developer touted as local, home town developer has achieved ” Most Favored Nation Status”. Cannabis license, EZ Pass on the redevelopment of Hornberg Jaguar without consideration of Historic Resource Status and the financial benefits of Digital Billboarding nearly the entire building. That seems to be a trifecta. Any intel on this technique?
Jason Beck has a long history and deep roots in West Hollywood and the Eastside. Back in the 90s when we were fighting to have access to legal medical marijuana for our people suffering from AIDS/HIV, Jason was one of the few people willing to take the risk to open a business that the Federal government did not recognize as legal and was subject to confiscation. Back then people in the compassionate care business were always in danger of having their home and bank accounts seized by the Feds. It is rather sad to see how our community has forgot… Read more »
He might have had a seemingly noble cause back then but has clearly switched lanes to opportunism with little concern for the overall community. Sitting on too many boards and full of himself. Entitled.
Bravo to him for his past work. But I have not seen a large movement backed by residents to promote our city as a cannabis global destination. If anything people are saying we have enough problems already with crime, homelessness. People are upset and pushing back because of the direction our city is going. That needs to be addressed.
While I see there are positive sides to the City’s cannabis business I completely agree with you that residents feel that the City is often unfocused and seems detached from the issues impacting the quality of life and public safety. Hopefully when we finally start having in person Council meetings the Council will get the message directly from the residents.
Yes! I agree!
Do you really want to promote the City’s Cannabis dispensaries? Repeal the 15% added excise tax the City added to all purchases of Cannabis. The whole idea of Emerald Village is idiotic.
Yep, seems to be the overall consensus of residents but our city council is pushing us down this road and instead of doing the people‘s bidding they’re moving forward with their own agenda. Vote. Them. Out.
Oh brother, here we again with promoting weho as a pot shop destination. No Bueno!
This idea os forwarded by people with short horizons and little experience in dealing a wide variety of fellow humans. Money! Money!
The residents of West Hollywood don’t want this. This idea reeks of skunk and greed. The residents didn’t vote for this or for the 40 additional licenses the City Council chose to dole out in order to line their own pockets. This is a bad idea all around in a city comprised of only 1.9 square miles.
Yup!
Nope. Lots of us are in fact looking forward to the new cannabis businesses and hope they are successful.
Don’t speak for a lot of people. You can only speak for yourself. Isn’t that what you told me? Perhaps you didn’t catch the article about how Amsterdam realized that all the legalized pot destroyed their city and now they’re reversing course and limiting access to pot. Only a fool repeats the mistakes already made by others. Watch and learn.
We don’t want our city marketed as “a global cannabis destination.” We already have enough problems that we can’t handle.