West Works with Stability Cannabis and Oklahoma Groups to Promote Cannabis Prison Reform and Criminal Justice Equity

OKLAHOMA CITY, March 4, 2023 (Newswire.com) - - Donte West, owner of West Enterprises, a national criminal justice advocate, and Legacy Fellow of Last Prisoner Project is leading the charge for cannabis resentencing in Oklahoma. After being sentenced to almost eight years in prison for possessing a pound of marijuana in Kansas, West became the 2779th person to be exonerated in America, according to the University of Michigan Law School. West had no criminal history at the time of his sentencing, and he spent three years at Lansing Correctional Facility before being granted a rare Habeaus Corpus motion and being released in 2021.

Since his release, West has been traveling across the country, advocating for those incarcerated with severe cannabis sentences. He believes that passing State Question 820 is a crucial step toward creating a more just and equitable society in Oklahoma. The law requires resentencing, reversing, modifying, and expunging prior marijuana-related judgments and sentences. The people who don't have a voice have a chance at resentencing on March 7.

On March 2, Stability Cannabis in Oklahoma flew West to Kansas to testify for the House Corrections and Juvenile Justice committee on a decriminalization bill in the midst of campaigning for Yes on 820. The Stability group understood the importance of what it means for him to have an opportunity to share his story anywhere it needed to be told, especially in a state that has no form of legalization.

"Reforming cannabis laws and reducing or eliminating sentences for non-violent cannabis offenses will significantly benefit individuals, families, and our society. Over the past two decades, 15.7 million people were arrested for cannabis-related offenses. Many of these individuals are still incarcerated for something that isn't a crime. Cannabis prison reform can potentially create a more just and equitable society while saving taxpayer money," said Denver Kitch, CEO of Stability Cannabis in Oklahoma.

West added, "I am grateful to Stability Cannabis for their support and for flying me to Kansas to testify for the decriminalization bill. Their dedication to this cause shows that cannabis businesses can have a positive impact on their communities. Together, we can make a difference and create a more just and equitable society."

West's experience in prison also highlights the need for criminal justice reform. He is working closely with Yes On 820, Black Cannabis Magazine, Stability Cannabis, Mango Cannabis, Wise Organic, Sage Cannabis, Origin Extracts, Private Reserve Gardens, Capital Dank, and other groups in Oklahoma to find strategic ways to be successful on March 7th. His story shows how the criminal justice system can be flawed and how the drug war has disproportionately impacted communities of color. By fighting for cannabis decriminalization, West is helping to create a more just and equitable society.

Contact Information:
Hazey Taughtme
Media & Communications
[email protected]
8448422662


Original Source: National Criminal Justice Advocate Donte West Fights for Cannabis Resentencing in Oklahoma

Natural Products Expo West is the leading trade show in the natural, organic and healthy products industry, drawing buyers from retailers of all sizes looking for the latest and best natural foods, products, supplements and ingredients.

ANAHEIM, Calif., March 3, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Space Tea, the world's first adaptogenic mushroom, iced tea and lemonade beverage, announces its participation in the Natural Products Expo West 2023 trade show at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, from March 7-11, 2023.

Join Space Tea at booth #2172, where the company will showcase all six flavors: Original, Golden Mango, Summer Watermelon, Lemon Zero, Hibiscus Zero, and Matcha Zero. Space Tea is certified organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, and kosher.

This year's Expo West is Space Tea's first major trade show and the company's first public appearance since its launch in 2021. Space Tea will feature its innovative line of iced teas and lemonades, which are infused with functional, adaptogenic Reishi and Lion's Mane mushrooms. The company is dedicated to promoting mental wellness through music, meditation, and mushrooms, and its drinks are a delicious and convenient way to benefit from these powerful adaptogens.

"We're beyond thrilled to be exhibiting at Natural Products Expo West this year," said Gabriel Heymann, Co-Founder of Space Tea. "We believe in the power of natural products to enhance health and well-being. Our iced teas are a convenient and delicious way to experience the benefits of adaptogens, and we can't wait to share our products with attendees and hear their feedback."

Natural Products Expo West is the world's largest natural, organic, and healthy products event, featuring over 3,000 exhibitors showcasing the latest in natural and organic products, including food, supplements, personal care, and more. 

Space Tea is available in Los Angeles' Erewhon Market, Sprouts Farmers Markets and Earthbar. Check out Space Tea on Instagram, or visit spacetea.com.

About Space Tea

Space Tea is the world's first mushroom tea and lemonade featuring a refreshing and classic blend of iced tea and lemonade. Its mission is mental wellness through music, meditation, and mushrooms. Space Tea is brewed with functional, adaptogenic Reishi and Lion's Mane mushrooms, which have been studied extensively for their effects on energy, focus and memory. Check out Space Tea on Instagram at instagram.com/spacetea.

Contact Information:
Morgan Hall
[email protected]


Original Source: Space Tea Set to Attend Natural Products Expo West 2023

NEW YORK, March 3, 2023 (Newswire.com) - iQuanti: Despite the best intentions to properly manage our finances, our efforts sometimes get derailed by unplanned bills and mounting debt. Fortunately, there are options when it comes to addressing money problems, like taking out a personal loan or borrowing from loved ones. In this post, we'll give you five strategies you can consider using to help you get out of financial trouble and back on the right track. 

1. Take out a personal loan 

If your money issues are due to an unexpected expense like a large medical bill or home repair, consider taking out a personal loan. 

Personal loans are commonly used for a variety of purposes, including the financing of major purchases, or paying off high-interest debt. In most cases, this will be a better option than putting the expense on a credit card because a personal loan can often have a lower interest rate for a qualified applicant. 

A personal loan can often be a secured loan. This means that something of value like your home or vehicle must be pledged as collateral to secure the financing. Keep in mind that defaulting on a secured loan could lead to forfeiture of the asset. 

2. Leverage the equity of your home 

If you've owned your home for several years, you might be able to use the equity you've built to help you get the funding you need with a home equity loan.  

Equity refers to the value of the home that you, as the homeowner, would be entitled to if it were sold. For instance, someone who owes $100,000 on a home valued at $250,000 would have equity of $150,000. 

A loan using the equity of a home can take one of two forms. The homeowner can either get a home equity loan and borrow a lump sum amount or use a home equity line of credit, typically known as a HELOC. A HELOC grants the homeowner access to a revolving line of credit until the principal must be repaid, which can be for a period ranging from five to 10 years, and the borrower only needs to pay the interest charges during each periodic billing cycle. 

Keep in mind that as with a secured personal loan, defaulting on a home equity loan could lead to forfeiture of the asset. 

3. Borrow from family or friends 

You may want to consider asking family or friends for financial assistance if you cannot get a loan from a bank or other lender.  

If you take this route, it's in everyone's best interest to be sure the terms of the loan are put in writing. Even though these are people who care about you, and you care about them, no one will want to get into any disagreements about the loan and then have it negatively affect the relationship. 

4. Prepare for the next time 

If you're experiencing financial trouble right now, there's no reason not to be proactive to prevent more damage. Preemptive damage control can be accomplished through a variety of simple steps: 

• Make a budget and stick to it 
• Switch to cash instead of using credit cards 
• Focus on paying off your debts using an acceleration strategy like the debt snowball method, i.e., pay off smallest debt(s) first. 

The Bottom Line 

There are many resources you can turn to for help if you encounter financial troubles. Personal loans, a home equity-based loan, or assistance from loved ones may be able to help you to meet your debt obligations. If the problem is more serious, you should consider reaching out for professional guidance. 

Contact Information:
Keyonda Goosby
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
(201) 633-2125


Original Source: How to Get Help When You're in Financial Trouble

NEW YORK, March 3, 2023 (Newswire.com) - OneMain Financial: Late payments can happen now and again. Sometimes borrowers get so busy they forget a payment is due. Occasionally, borrowers delay payment because they don't have the funds in their bank account to cover it.  

While online resources such as loan payment calculators can help people plan and estimate their total payment obligations, late payments can still occur. Here's what to expect when a loan payment is submitted late.   

Late fees  

Almost all loans have a late fee that penalizes the borrower when the scheduled payment is not received. Depending on the loan contract, lender, and state laws, this fee amount varies.  

Additional interest accumulation  

Additional interest charges apply for each day a payment is late. Depending on how long it takes for the borrower to pay the overdue amount, a significant amount of interest could build up.  

Remember that a late payment throws off the original loan schedule when interest charges have been structured into the payments. As a result, there will likely be an outstanding balance on the back end of the loan, which will also have to be paid off to cover the extra interest charges.  

Interest rate increase  

Some loans, such as auto and student loans, have contracts with built-in clauses that allow the lender to increase the interest rate if a payment is missed. Again, this results in more interest charges which means higher payments.  

Credit score decline  

Perhaps one of the most significant consequences of missing a loan payment due date is the effect it could have on the borrower's credit score, also called a FICO^® Score.   

A borrower's payment history accounts for 35 percent of the total FICO score. Just one late payment can cause that score to drop significantly.  

Some people believe they have a certain number of days before a late payment begins to affect their credit score. Depending on the lender and type of loan, that may be true. Many lenders wait at least 30 days before notifying the three major credit bureaus about the late payment. However, other lenders will immediately report the late payment. Since there's no telling which practice an individual lender uses ahead of time, it's not worth taking the risk.  

Reduced ability to qualify for future loans  

In addition to experiencing a hit to their credit score, borrowers who make late payments will most likely have difficulty securing new lines of credit or getting approved for future loans. Even if they are approved for a loan, the interest rate they'll be offered will probably not be as favorable as one given to someone with no history of late payments.  

The Bottom Line  

Borrowers should understand the consequences that may result when loan payments are late or missed. The immediate repercussions will most likely be late fees, accumulation of more interest, and a potential increase in the interest rate. Long-term issues include the impact on the borrower's credit score and the ability to qualify for new loans in the future.  

SPONSORED CONTENT 

Contact Information:
Keyonda Goosby
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
(201) 633-2125


Original Source: OneMain Financial: The Consequences of Making Late Loan Payments

NEW YORK, March 3, 2023 (Newswire.com) - iQuanti: According to *reports, the average cost of getting married in 2021 was $27,000. If that sounds like more than what you'd like to spend to say your "I do's," there are plenty of ways to curb your expenses and get the funding you need, like taking out a personal loan.  

Here are 10 pro strategies for saving money when paying for a wedding. 

1. Set a budget  

First things first, have a conversation with your fiancée about how much you're comfortable spending. Use this number to establish boundaries for each of the main categories, such as the venue, food, dress, etc. Couples who do this exercise upfront will be far more successful at sticking to their budget and not overspending. 

2. Schedule an off-peak wedding  

While everyone else may pay more for a summer wedding or a date close to Valentine's Day, try saving some money by going with months that are generally slower, such as December or January. Also, being open to days other than Saturday may lead to even better rates. 

3. Keep the guest list intimate 

You might love your family and friends, but the simple truth is that the more people you invite, the more mouths there will be to feed. Instead, keep the guest list shorter by focusing on the people who matter the most. 

4. Make your own invitations 

Elaborate wedding invitations are nice, but they can be very pricey and often quickly forgotten. For this reason, consider printing your own. There are dozens of reputable websites with beautiful templates you can use. Or, if you'd really like to be frugal, send out your invitations electronically and skip this expense altogether. 

5. Serve food buffet style 

It costs a lot for wedding venues to provide waitstaff when food is served individually to the guests. Instead, consider going with a buffet-style option where guests can serve themselves. The food is often comparable, and guests can choose what they'd like to eat. 

6. Reduce the drink options at the bar 

Open bars are a cash cow for wedding venues because they charge for every drop of liquor consumed. To tame this expense, limit the bar options to just a few select types. You could even have some fun with this by asking them to have a "featured drink" named after you. 

7. Swap cake for another dessert 

Wedding cakes may be traditional, but they're not always the more affordable option. Look into having another more fun dessert such as cupcakes, cookies, brownies, etc. 

8. Schedule your honeymoon for a later date 

You may wish to go on your honeymoon in the days following your wedding. But that might not always be the most economical time to go. Being open to alternate days could save you thousands of dollars on your flights and hotel accommodations. 

9. Apply for a loan instead of using a credit card 

If you don't have enough money to pay for your expenses outright, avoid using a credit card, where high-interest debt will accumulate if the balance isn't paid in full and on time. Instead, consider applying for a personal loan featuring a more reasonable interest rate especially if you're a creditworthy applicant. 

10. Don't sweat the small stuff 

It's perfectly natural to want everything at your wedding to be perfect. But don't feel like you must spend unnecessary amounts of money to make it a reality. Even if the flower arrangements have 12 stems instead of 24, or the dress came off the rack, you're still going to get married to the person you love and create a lifetime of beautiful memories. 

* https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/personal-finance/articles/this-is-the-average-cost-of-a-wedding-in-2022/#:~:text=2022%20wedding%20price%20tag,on%20par%20with%202021%20costs. 

Contact Information:
Keyonda Goosby
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
(201) 633-2125


Original Source: 10 Ways to Save Money When Paying for a Wedding