USA
FROM
CA TO
THE UK
California legalised recreational cannabis in
2016. But it’s the CBD and wellness markets that
present the greatest opportunity for expansion
beyond state and international borders.
Words by Gordon Stribling
Over the past 18
months, the UK’s legal
cannabis space has
grown from a niche
concern to spanning
multiple industries.
Devin Ruzbasan - Air Factory
100
It can now be considered a
formidable sector of its own and
continues to learn f rom and work
with brands across the US.
One such experienced brand is
Air Factory, which began life as an
e-liquid f irm back in 2013. Over the
past six months, the company, now
based in its own facility in Irvine,
outside of Los Angeles, has dived
head-f irst into the world of CBD
and branched out internationally.
Air Factory’s Devin Ruzbasan
recently moved to London so we
thought we’d catch up and talk all
things CBD.
“Our company is pretty diversif ied,
so not only do we do Air Factory
and CBD, we’re also in the process
of opening up a cannabis testing
lab,” Devin says.
“Most major cannabis companies
are in Oregon, Washington or
California, so we’re in the hub of the
industry where it’s pretty easy to
get accessories and the governance
of the laws.
“I mean, why wouldn’t you, right?”
Recreational cannabis has been
legal in California since 2016 and
the state is now home to the
world’s largest cannabis market,
last year totalling close to $12 billion
in estimated sales.
But rather than capitalising on
the thriving demand for legal
THC-rich products, Air Factory has
opted to go the broad spectrum
route, which opens doors not just
beyond state lines but also to
those who could be penalised for
consumption in a legal state.
“Although cannabis is legal in
California, if you go through a
background check and you have
THC in your body, you might not
get the job.
“We wanted to have the effects
of the CBD oils f rom the highest
producing companies and we