Ziva Cooper

Can you tell me a little bit about the backstory?

She said that she and her husband found themselves in this surprising company of many other parents who are chasing down studies and doctors who might implement cannabinoids as a type of therapy.

And she was surprised that there was still such stigma.

And again, this was over a decade ago before it was easy to buy wacky tobacco, the devil's lettuce, and assorted other things by just strolling into a dispensary.

What happened around 10 or so years ago where...

Something just, something snapped and the U.S.

But in order to advance the therapeutic options of cannabis, you need randomized controlled trials done by people like Dr. Cooper.

Okay, so that was California's 2016 Proposition 64, and it passed with over 58% of the vote.

Other reasons why it passed were decriminalization and saving money on law enforcement.

Making money for kids programs.

I'm making money.

Making money.

I'm making money.

And you might be shocked to learn that a decade later now, in a state that feeds the world, cannabis is thought to be California's biggest cash crop.

And according to a February 2026 release via CA.gov, in the last eight years, California's sticky icky sales have generated more than $7.8 billion in tax revenue.

But the money train, it was moving faster than the scholastic bus.

Way more research needed to happen.

So the genie was out of the bottle.

The smoke had curled out of the bong.

I think it's interesting because I feel like if you're studying opioids, people are like, that's amazing.