{"id":24212,"date":"2022-09-21T08:30:15","date_gmt":"2022-09-21T12:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/?p=24212"},"modified":"2024-07-22T18:21:47","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T22:21:47","slug":"thailands-first-official-cannabis-store-belongs-to-california-rapper-berner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/thailands-first-official-cannabis-store-belongs-to-california-rapper-berner\/","title":{"rendered":"Thailand’s First Official Cannabis Store Belongs to California Rapper Berner"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gilbert Anthony Milam Jr., American rap artist and founder\/CEO of the cannabis brands <\/span>Cookies<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>VIBES Papers<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>is celebrating the launch of his new Cookies store in Thailand<\/a>. Gilbert, whose stage name is Berner, described the Southeast Asian nation\u2019s first cannabis store opening as \u201ca huge step into the global market.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Berner, who has released more than 40 albums and has made his mark on <\/span>Billboard’s “Top R&B\/Hip-Hop Albums” chart, took to his Instagram account to express his enthusiasm: <\/span>\u201cI wonder if anyone from different parts of Asia will fly in?,\u201d he wrote on his <\/span>official Instagram<\/span><\/a> page. \u201cWe\u2019ve been working on this for almost 2 years. The first store in Asia, pretty wild.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At the tender age of 18, the San Francisco resident kicked off his cannabis career checking customer ID cards at a Bay Area cannabis club. Since this time, the 38-year-old has built one of the country\u2019s most well-known marijuana lifestyle brands.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the earliest days in a San Francisco garage to global growth, our goal has remained the same: authenticity and innovative genetics. Our control of the entire experience from start to finish, seed to sale, sets us apart,\u201d said Berner. \u201cWe take pride in our in-house cultivation, global varieties, and a full lineup of strain-specific products.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Cookies\u2019 Foray Into Thailand\u2019s Legal Marijuana Market<\/b><\/h2>\n

Back in 2018, Thailand became the first Asian country to permit medically prescribed cannabis. Then, in June of this year, the Kingdom decriminalized cannabis for adult-use purposes. Thanks to the new law, Thai residents can legally cultivate the plant for personal consumption.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a way of kick-starting the home-growing cannabis culture in Thailand, the Thai government provided residents with 1 million cannabis plants<\/a>. After acknowledging the money-making opportunities in Thailand\u2014the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce predicts that the combined hemp and cannabis markets will generate 43 billion baht ($1.2 billion) by 2025\u2014Berner decided to introduce his brand to the Southeast Asian country\u2019s market.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of Cookies\u2019 exclusive distribution partners for its Southeast Asian business ventures, Las Vegas-headquartered Audacious AUSA AUSAF, also recently teamed up with Thai food manufacturer Golden Triangle Health to produce private-label products.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCookies was named one of America\u2019s Hottest Brands of 2021 by AdAge; the first cannabis brand to ever receive this accolade,\u201d reads a statement published by the company, which sells a diverse selection of tinctures, gel caps, and vapes. Even more impressive is the fact that Cookies was the only cannabis company to be chosen for the title.<\/span><\/p>\n

Berner\u2019s Cannabis Empire Continues to Grow<\/b><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s not just the Cookies brand that <\/span>Berner is proud to be a part of. The young musician, who is also signed to Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang Entertainment, has also founded or co-founded a number of businesses, including:<\/span><\/p>\n