Latest news with #AaronMorris
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wyld Kicks Off Summer 2025 With a Splash, Tapping Into THC Beverage Demand With Introduction of Infused Sparkling Waters
New Drink of the Summer Launches in Select Markets and Online, With Seven Bold Flavors and Two Potency Options PORTLAND, Ore., May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wyld, the #1 cannabis edible brand in the U.S., announced the launch of its Hemp-Derived Delta-9 THC Sparkling Waters. Crafted with real fruit, functional effects, and doses for every type of consumer, this new line of bubbly beverages is poised to be the drink of the summer with consumer habits continuing to pivot away from alcohol in favor of THC beverages. Following the success of Wyld's CBD Sparkling Waters introduced in 2019 and the company's nationwide rollout of hemp-derived, Delta-9 gummies in 2024, the new Infused Sparkling Waters mark the next evolution in Wyld's product line. Available in both 10mg and 2mg dosing options per can, the drinks are crafted with real fruit and designed for a range of experiences—from active and social to calm and restorative. "Honestly, I think we've outdone ourselves with these drinks," said Aaron Morris, CEO and Founder of Wyld. "After testing and tweaking the formulas, we've created something I personally can't stop drinking. They're delicious, consistent, and 100% Wyld quality throughout." The initial launch consists of seven finely tuned flavors with distinct effects: Raspberry Lime (10mg THC) — Active Blackberry Lemon (10mg THC) — Mellow Strawberry Guava (10mg THC, 10mg CBC) — Bliss Watermelon (10mg THC, 10mg CBG) — Refresh Mango (10mg THC, 10mg CBD) — Restore Clementine (2mg THC, 20mg CBD) — Bright White Peach (2mg THC, 20mg CBD) — Chill The two lower-dose offerings—Clementine and White Peach—are designed with cannabis-curious or low-dose consumers in mind, offering a sessionable experience akin to sipping beer versus spirits. Whether consumers are seeking a social setting with multiple beverages or a solo sip, Wyld's Infused Sparkling Waters deliver a buzz that's uplifting, clean and tailor-made for summer gatherings. "We've been producing our CBD Sparkling Waters since 2019, and have been looking for the right time to bring that same Wyld quality to a THC beverage." said Morris. "It just made sense to expand what we offer in the sparkling water format." Wyld's hemp-derived delta-9 Sparkling Waters are available now in select markets where hemp products are permitted, through specialty retailers, wholesale partners and online. All products are tested to ensure quality, potency and safety—part of Wyld's ongoing commitment to raising the standard for hemp-derived consumer goods. For more information or to order online, please visit About WyldKnown as America's favorite edible, Wyld is a boundary-pushing cannabis brand that has been driving market innovation since 2016. Crafted by our expert food scientists, Wyld blends real fruit juice with cannabinoids and natural ingredients to create a unique collection of uplifting, balanced and relaxing focus areas. Dedicated to creating a brand and product that makes choosing to feel good a point of everyday pride, Wyld is devoted to fostering a cleaner environment, empowering communities and championing social justice. Their operations span both the U.S. and Canada, with availability continuing to expand across the THC and CBD sectors. Learn more: Media ContactMolly SposatoGrasslands: A Journalism-Minded Agencymolly@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Wyld Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wyld Launches New Kiwi THC:THCV Gummy That Puts Energizing Tetrahydrocannabivarin in the Spotlight
The Brand's 15th SKU Introduces THCV to Its Best-Selling Portfolio of Gummies, Bringing a Bold New Flavor With a New Cannabinoid Experience PORTLAND, Ore., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wyld, the #1 cannabis edible brand in the U.S., is introducing a new Kiwi 1:1 THC:THCV gummy across select markets nationwide, beginning with New York and Michigan. The Kiwi gummy is Wyld's first to feature tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), known for its uniquely energizing effects. "Wyld is back at it with innovative cannabinoids, and we're excited to introduce our Kiwi 1:1 THC:THCv gummies to the family, " said Aaron Morris, Founder and CEO of Wyld. "These new gummies offer a combination of THCv and THC—different from the rest of our THC products— giving consumers an uplifting, clear-headed feeling, like a level up!" In a 1:1 THC:THCV ratio, this new member of Wyld's Uplifting collection offers consumers an experience distinct from Wyld's popular Balanced and Relaxing product lines. THCV Kiwi is designed for consumers looking for adventure, movement and clarity—offering a brighter, focused high. Like all Wyld edibles, the new Kiwi gummy is made with top-quality ingredients including real fruit, with consistent dosing for a reliable consumer experience. Each gummy contains equal amounts of THC and THCV per gummy, and is available in Wyld's iconic origami packaging. Kiwi THC:THCV Gummy availability is rolling out in phases across select markets starting in late April, with Michigan and New York officially leading the charge. The rollout continues in coming months for markets in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon and Washington state. "These new THCV gummies are the natural next step in Wyld's commitment to innovation and quality," said Morris. "Adding new products to support all consumer experiences, and are made with real fruit and trusted dosing, are the perfect complement to our existing lineup." The introduction of the Kiwi gummy brings Wyld's product lineup to 15 total SKUs, further expanding its Uplifting collection. For more information and product availability, visit Wyld's location mapper at About WyldKnown as America's favorite edible, Wyld is a boundary-pushing cannabis brand that has been driving market innovation since 2016. Crafted by our expert food scientists, Wyld blends real fruit juice with cannabinoids and natural ingredients to create a unique collection of uplifting, balanced and relaxing focus areas. Dedicated to creating a brand and product that makes choosing to feel good a point of everyday pride, Wyld is devoted to fostering a cleaner environment, empowering communities and championing social justice. Their operations span both the U.S. and Canada, with availability continuing to expand across the THC and CBD sectors. Learn more: Media ContactMolly SposatoGrasslands: A Journalism-Minded Agencymolly@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Wyld
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Reimbursements for Oklahoma mental health providers under scrutiny from lawmakers
Oklahoma Chief Financial Officer Aaron Morris, back, and specially appointed financial expert, David Greenwell, front, testify at a select committee of lawmakers investigating finances of the Oklahoma's mental health department on Monday. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Lawmakers expressed concerns Monday about whether the state's mental health department is adequately reimbursing a group of specialized providers who care for uninsured Oklahomans. Lawmakers peppered the state's chief financial officer and a special expert appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt with questions about whether providers who operate certified community behavioral health centers are being correctly compensated for services after Oklahoma Voice last week reported that several providers said they're owed close to $150 million in unreimbursed costs during the 2024 and 2025 budget years. Aaron Morris, the state's CFO, and David Greenwell, who has temporarily been appointed by Stitt to oversee the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services' finances, were the latest officials called to testify before a special legislative committee probing the agency's financial shortfalls and ongoing disarray that's resulted in contracts being cut or canceled and warnings that the department can't afford to pay its nearly 2,000 employees. Both men said the state agency would need a supplemental appropriation to make ends meet and make payroll for the rest of the current fiscal year, but said they were still trying to determine what that amount is. They said that supplemental request would not include the $150 million that several providers have said hasn't been reimbursed by the state agency. While these providers haven't historically been reimbursed for 100% of these services and the agency isn't contractually obligated to do so, reimbursements have been made when funds are available, Morris said. Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, who chairs the select committee, said many providers have received these payments for years and built them into their business models. Lawmakers will consider including funds for these reimbursements in a supplemental appropriation, he said, but paying state employees and 'getting through' the current fiscal year comes first. Joy Sloan, president of the Alliance of Mental Health Providers of Oklahoma, a coalition of eight certified community behavioral health centers, has said that providers generally aren't reimbursed for all claims and don't expect to be. In a letter addressed to Mental Health Commissioner Allie Friesen and sent to lawmakers on Monday, Sloan wrote that while she understands Friesen's burden, the recent financial cuts have placed an 'unprecedented strain' on Oklahoma's certified community behavioral health centers. 'Without financial support to offset the costs for those unable to pay, our ability to sustain this open-access model is in jeopardy,' she wrote. 'Some of us may be forced to reduce services, lay off staff, or close programs. None of us want that. Therefore, considering this challenging budget year, and in the spirit of shared responsibility, charity and compromise, we request that ODMHSAS consider funding some portion of these services.' In total, the eight providers have over $84 million in services not reimbursed this fiscal year. Slightly over 1 in 4 clients was uninsured, according to the letter. Following the hearing, the mental health department released a statement that said the agency has not traditionally budgeted separately for the payments but instead used funds still available at the end of the year. Friesen had asked a former employee to create 'an algorithm to assist providers in estimating and planning' for those payments, but it wasn't completed, said Maria Chaverri, the agency's spokesperson, in a statement. She acknowledged 'significant and sometimes unrealistic mandates' that make the current payment model 'challenging' for providers, and said the department is working to 'restore the model's original fidelity' to ensure the monthly contract rates are sufficient. 'Several factors have contributed to the current rise in pended payment amounts, including systemic shifts such as the transition to managed care, broader state-level reforms, and increased service mandates placed on (certified community behavioral health centers),' Chaverri said in a statement. Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said she's worried that those provider payments are being viewed as 'optional' when the Legislature mandates that the services be provided. It has increased the number of uninsured receiving treatment, she said. 'I'm worried that we're going to view it as optional when actually they've built this capacity based on our requirements,' she said. Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, asked that Morris and Greenwell consider including the payments in the supplemental budget request for the current fiscal year and in the budget request for the upcoming fiscal year. He said the budget request would not be accurate without them. 'We will be back here next year with a giant headache on our hands if we shut these providers down,' he said. 'Because we all know that we're going to treat these people somewhere, and it's going to be somewhere in the system, and I'd much rather be in the mental health system than in jails and in the court system.' Morris, the state CFO, said they will provide lawmakers with the 'support' to make that determination. Immediate needs and obligations, like making payroll, are the priority, Morris said. One lawmaker said around $1.5 million has been added to the mental health department's payroll by new executive staff hires. Morris and Greenwell did not offer a dollar amount on how much would be needed for a supplemental appropriation at Monday's hearing, but said they planned to get a number to lawmakers later that day. The two financial experts said they would be meeting with leaders from the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency to finalize and compare numbers Monday. 'There are human beings behind every single dollar we're looking at,' Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, said. 'People in crisis, people in need of services, and please don't lose focus of that.' After lawmakers are presented with a request for an appropriation, they will internally review it before it can go through a joint committee on appropriations and budgets. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DHS shuts ‘open door' for women and queer immigrants to report abuse, advocates say
The Trump administration has gutted three key oversight offices responsible, in part, for safeguarding the rights of immigrant victims of gender-based violence, including immigrant victims of domestic violence and trans immigrants facing abuse in detention. The decision to weaken the agency's oversight powers has had an immediate impact on the lawyers and advocates who regularly act on behalf of victims of gender-based violence, including victims of domestic violence and LGBTQ+ people facing abuse based on their gender identity. Amid long-standing systemic issues, and as the administration forges ahead with its push to deport more immigrants, three offices at the Department of Homeland Security that advocates described as the only 'open doors' at the agency are now closed. In late March, the Trump administration fired dozens of staffers working within the offices — one tasked with overseeing compliance with civil rights laws, and two internal watchdogs overseeing the agency's detention and legal immigration policies. The decision impacted more than 100 jobs, according to The New York Times. It's unclear how many staff members remain at these offices or their capacity to carry out their previous functions.; In a statement, a senior DHS spokesperson said that the agency 'remains committed to civil rights protections' but that the three offices that suffered staffing cuts 'have obstructed immigration enforcement.' DHS did not respond to questions about how many staff remain at these offices or their capacity to investigate complaints. The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 'really created a deterrence against abuse, and when abuses happened, they were a mechanism to reduce, eliminate or mitigate against them,' said Aaron Morris, the executive director at Immigration Equality, which has filed complaints of abuse or mistreatment on behalf of LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants. The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, which was gutted by the administration's actions, was the first stop for flagging systemic issues or pleading on behalf of specific clients who were facing discrimination or abuse at the hands of the agency. 'There's no longer a place to go to if something bad happens, and also bad actors are no longer deterred from doing the wrong thing, and that sets up a really disastrous system without any oversight.' Overseen by the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties was the Council on Combating Gender-Based Violence, which focused on victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and other crimes that disproportionately impact women. It's not clear to what degree the council is still staffed; the council's main webpage, which detailed the agency's commitment to these victims, was removed from the agency's website. (An archived version is still available on a non-government website.) Irena Sullivan, senior immigration policy counsel at the Tahirih Justice Center, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of immigrant survivors of gender-based violence, said her organization has regularly worked with the office to help with individual cases and address systemic issues. The council in 2022 developed and distributed a 'know your rights' pamphlet with the agency's logo detailing domestic violence, female genital mutilation, stalking, forced marriage and sexual violence, and urging immigrant victims to seek help within and outside the agency. Sullivan said the agency also helped ensure that other branches of DHS were complying with confidentiality requirements for victims of violence — for example, that their address or the status of their immigration case was not shared with an abuser. DHS is also barred from using information provided by a known abuser to make a decision on a case. When issues cropped up with individual cases, lawyers at Tahirih could reach the office to help address them and get recourse for those victims. 'There is no other point of contact at the agency with expertise on this issue,' Sullivan said. Last year, advocates at Tahirih became aware of instances in which border agents were taking away prescription medication to treat post-traumatic stress disorder from survivors of sexual violence. The group raised those concerns with the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at DHS, which by August had issued a policy directive that would ultimately allow more detainees to continue taking their medication. More broadly, the council also helped make sure that other DHS branches were taking a trauma-informed approach to adjudicate cases and conducted interviews with survivors of gender-based violence according to established guidelines set by the agency. In addition to the civil rights watchdog, advocates also regularly engaged with two other gutted offices: the Office of Inspector General, known as OIG, and the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, or OIDO. In addition to the staff cuts, the agency has also deleted an online library of past investigations into alleged abuses or malpractice within the agency. The memos sometimes validated an immigrant's account of individual abuse, or detailed systemic issues and corrective action at detention centers. Advocates made clear that these watchdog offices were not always effective at addressing systemic or individual issues and said that even before the offices were gutted, abuse was pervasive within the system. Last June, Immigration Equality, the National Immigrant Justice Center and Human Rights First published a report highlighting the 'widespread abuse' facing LGBTQ and HIV-positive people in the agency's custody. Morris said that the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties has long lacked sufficient enforcement power. At the same time, advocates saw it as a way to engage with the agency over the most egregious instance of civil rights violations, and a way to keep other branches within the agency in check. In 2022, for example, Immigration Equality and nine other organizations filed a complaint calling on the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to investigate Houston's Asylum Office over its handling of the 'credible fear' interviews administered to asylum seekers. They argued that the office was not following established guidelines for interviewing people fleeing abuse based on their sexual orientation, or who had survived trauma and torture. A few months later, the watchdog issued a memo notifying the Houston Asylum Office and U.S. Customs and its parent agency, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, that it had received a complaint and would begin an investigation over the office's practices. (That memo has now been removed from the agency's website; only a preview is available.) Morris said that an attorney with Immigration Equality recently reached out to the agency to ask if they were still accepting complaints of civil rights and civil liberties violations. Someone at the agency responded simply that yes, they are still accepting complaints. 'OK? I mean, to what extent can they adjudicate any of them? I don't know,' Morris said, noting that before the administration did away with dozens of positions, the agency was facing a backlog of several hundred complaints. 'Someone is still taking complaints, but I don't know how they would prioritize or triage or get through all that.' Sullivan said her group is working through how it will engage with those left at the agency, 'to the extent there are people still there who are willing to talk with about these things.' While Congress may step in and provide some oversight, Sullivan said the biggest impact will be on individual victims. Advocates' ability to quickly resolve a delay or an error made in the case of a victim who has faced harrowing abuse 'are not necessarily shiny examples, but extremely impactful for those who are applying for relief.' In the absence of a responsive watchdog within the federal government, Morris said that advocates will be forced to turn to the courts more often. 'Litigation is expensive for everybody. It's inefficient,' he said. 'But it is the mechanism we're left with.' The post DHS shuts 'open door' for women and queer immigrants to report abuse, advocates say appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Executive Order on Birthright Citizenship Casts a Narrow View of Family
Getty Images This post originally appeared on The 19th. The White House's effort to redefine who is entitled to U.S. citizenship also sent a strong signal about the administration's narrow view of family — one that excludes LGBTQ+ couples. The order, 'Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,' would exclude two categories of U.S.-born infants from the right to U.S. citizenship: infants born to a mother who is unlawfully in the country and a father who is not a citizen or permanent resident, and infants born to a mother who is authorized to be in the country for a temporary period of time and a father who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The order, which has been temporarily blocked in court, goes on to define mother and father as male and female 'biological progenitors,' disregarding families made up of same-sex, transgender or nonbinary parents. Lawyers involved in the legal fight against the administration's policy revoking birthright citizenship to some children of immigrants say the policy violates the 14th Amendment and expressed confidence that the courts would block its implementation. At the same time, they said the policy, like others coming out of the White House, has created fear and confusion for many families who wonder how this may apply to their children and makes clear the Trump administration's more narrow view of what constitutes a family and how it may apply it in the immigration context. 'I fully expect it to be struck down over and over, just like every other attempt to water down the 14th Amendment has,' said Aaron Morris, the executive director of Immigration Equality, an organization that advocates for the rights of immigrants who are LGBTQ+ or HIV-positive. 'But, they do very narrowly define who a mother is and who a father is. Here — even in this executive order that purports to be about citizenship — you see an attempt to deny the way that LGBTQ+ families are created, the health and happiness that those families produce, especially when it comes to children.' A 2021 analysis by the Williams Institute at UCLA found that 3 percent of undocumented adults in the United States, or nearly 290,000 people, identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans. LGBT undocumented immigrants skew younger than the national LGBT population, with almost half being between the ages of 18 and 29, compared with 15.2 percent of the U.S. adult LGBT population. The institute estimates that about 18,200 same-sex couples with at least one foreign-born partner or spouse are raising an estimated 31,000 children under the age of 18. Cody Wofsy, the deputy director at the Immigrant Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union, and lead counsel on the organization's case against the order, said that it's not clear how the insertion of a 'hateful ideological point' into the birthright citizenship order would work in practice. If the order is enforced, it's not clear whether the administration would seek to deny citizenship to children of same-sex couples where the U.S. citizen parent is not biologically related. It's one of many questions causing confusion among families, advocates and government officials. 'There's a lot of uncertainty about how it's all supposed to work and what it's all supposed to mean. You have federal and state and local agencies and organizations all you know, scrambling and scratching their heads and trying to figure out how the hell we're supposed to do this,' Wofsy said. 'I would just say that for those who are out there and are, you know, scared or confused or have questions, that we will keep fighting this until it's gone for good, and we are optimistic that we'll win at the end of the day.' Morris with Immigration Equality said his organization has successfully fought over the birthright citizenship rights of children born to same-sex couples. In 2021, following several court challenges, the State Department and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated their respective internal policies to ensure that the foreign-born children of married same-sex couples in which one parent is a U.S. citizen would be swiftly granted U.S. citizenship. Previously, the children of such married parents were considered 'born out of wedlock,' and parents were required to provide proof of a child's biological connection to their U.S. citizen parent. Morris said the policy resulted in the unjust denial of citizenship applications to some children, including that of a twin with American and Israeli parents, whose sibling was granted U.S. citizenship. The legal fight eventually led to settled policy. Morris said his organization and broader network of advocates would 'do everything in our power to protect families going forward, if it was necessary.' He said he remains confident that the birthright citizenship policy will not go into effect. 'Part of our hope and goal is to dispel that fear by explaining the history of citizenship and the history of the 14th Amendment, and also, it's really scary when it's the president who's saying your children shouldn't be citizens,' Morris said. Get the best of what's queer. Sign up for them.'s weekly newsletter here. Originally Appeared on them.
