By Kristi Palmer, President & Co-Founder, Kiva Confections

420 is always my favorite day of the year — a moment to celebrate how far cannabis has come, reflect on how much progress still lies ahead, and most importantly, raise a gummy to the incredible community that has made all of it possible. After more than a decade in this industry, these milestones never get old.

But because I've been in this space long enough to see it at its best and its messiest, I also feel a responsibility to use this platform for something more than celebration. I want to talk about two things that are genuinely important to me, and crucial for our community as cannabis becomes more and more accessible and widespread: keeping cannabis safe in our homes, and making sure consumers are buying from legitimate sources.

Keeping It Safe: Edibles Storage 101

Cannabis is now part of the daily routine of millions of Americans- and that's a beautiful thing! But with that normalization comes real responsibility, especially when it comes to keeping products out of the hands of children and pets.

Here's the rules we always come back to at Kiva:

Out of sight, out of reach. Most regulated cannabis packaging — including ours — includes child safety features. But these are generally designed to deter children under five. If you have older kids or teenagers at home, a package that’s difficult to open is not enough. Keep your products somewhere they simply cannot access.

A locked box goes a long way. Just like you'd secure prescription medications or important documents, cannabis products deserve that same level of intentionality. A small lockbox is an inexpensive, simple solution that gives real peace of mind.

Take inventory. Know what you have and where it is. Periodically checking your supply sounds basic, but it's one of the most effective ways to stay on top of things- whether you're concerned about kids, curious guests, or even pets with an adventurous streak.

Have the conversation. As children grow up, they deserve age-appropriate, honest conversations about cannabis — what it is, how it affects the mind and body, and why it's for adults. Cannabis, like alcohol or prescription medication, is a powerful substance. The more open and informed these conversations are, the better equipped young people are to make good choices.

How We Designed Camino With Safety in Mind

At Kiva, safety isn't an afterthought, it's baked into every product decision we make. Our Camino gummies come in a reclosable tin specifically designed with a child-resistant mechanism: to open it, you have to push down and turn- a combination that takes a dexterity and intentionality that young children lack.

It's a small detail that I'm genuinely proud of. When we release new products, I always ask: would I feel comfortable with this in my own home, with my own children? With Camino and all the rest of our edibles, the answer is yes- provided you're also following the storage practices above.

A 4/20 Warning: Scam Sites Are Out There

Now, for the part of this post I wish I didn't have to write.

As Kiva has grown, so has our visibility, and unfortunately, that's attracted bad actors who want to profit off our reputation. We're seeing an increase in fraudulent websites and social media pages that mimic the look and feel of Kiva and other trusted cannabis brands, designed to trick consumers into purchasing products from the illicit market.

This matters for several reasons. Products from unlicensed sources are not lab tested. They don't meet the safety and dosing standards that licensed manufacturers like Kiva are held to. You genuinely do not know what you're consuming- and in a space where accurate dosing and ingredient transparency are everything, that's a serious problem.

Here's how to protect yourself:

  • Buy from licensed dispensaries. If you're in a state where cannabis is legal, purchase through a licensed retailer — in-store or through their verified online platforms. You can find Kiva products at legitimate dispensaries and delivery services throughout the country.
  • Go to the source when online. Our official websites are kivaconfections.com for our cannabis-based products and shopkivaconfections.com for our hemp-based edibles. If you find a site selling Kiva, Camino, Lost Farm, Terra or Petra edibles that looks off, has unusually low prices, or is operating outside of a licensed and legitimate context, trust your instincts- it's almost certainly not us.

The illicit market isn't just a regulatory issue, it's a consumer safety issue. One of the things I've worked hardest on throughout my career is helping build an industry that people can actually trust. Scam sites undermine all of that. Please be careful, and please spread the word to your friends and family that partake.

Here's to 4/20

Okay, enough of the serious stuff — it is 4/20 after all!

This day always reminds me why I fell in love with this plant in the first place. Cannabis has a way of bringing people together- breaking down walls, sparking real conversations, turning strangers into friends. There's a sense of freedom in it too, a permission to slow down, be present, and really enjoy the moment. Fifteen years in, and 4/20 still gives me butterflies knowing that somewhere out there, thousands of people are sharing something we made with their favorite humans- laughing a little harder, relaxing a little more, connecting a little deeper. That will never get old.

From everyone here at Kiva, we hope you have a safe, joyous, and celebratory 4/20!

— Kristi

Kristi Palmer is the President and Co-Founder of Kiva Confections. She has served on the boards of CCIA and CCMA, and has spent over a decade advocating for a safe, equitable, and well-regulated cannabis industry.