BRANDON CRUZ THE NEXT PADRON IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY Only time will tell!

Brandon Cruz is an ambitious entrepreneur with a vision of becoming the next Padron in the cigar business.

But there’s one exception: His cigars are embedded with high-grade cannabis which he calls the E4P Cannagar

Cruz has branded a cigar made entirely out of cannabis, wrapped in hemp paper. Inside, he uses the finest weed. The Cannagar was in fact inspired by the “Thai Stick” which is from Thailand and was popular during the 1960s and 1970s in the United States.

The E4P cannabis cigars are manufactured in San Diego with locally grown flowers from expert growers, which are molded into a cigarillo-shaped core and then rolled in a solvent-free extract. The cigar is then wrapped, washed and dried in fresh cannabis leaves and cured for a minimum of 30 days in high quality humidors.

“We have a facility in Southern California. But we’re working out of a New Jersey facility as well. I’m trying to juggle both sides,” Cruz explained from his office in San Diego, adding that he has four associates in California, and another four in N.J. who work full-time. While he sells THC cigars in California, his New Jersey-based business only sells CBD cigars.

The evolution began slowly for E4P Cannabis Cigar. When Cruz was 17-years-old, he started rolling joints with his friends. “It was a competitive thing. We started rolling really cool little joints,” he said.

The E4P was born out of the Bronx with a bunch of scrappy kids twisting joints and getting stoned out of their minds. Go figure. Back then, Cruz remembers his uncle growing cannabis plants. “But, the bud wasn’t ready,” he said. “So, we turned them into cigars.” Eventually he used Google search to discover how to use wooden sticks to roll cigars. “We made our first cigar, and it smoked really well. We kind of grew from there.”

After he launched his E4P in California and got involved in various pop-up shows, Cruz started another satellite office in New Jersey in 2015.

Although Cruz has a grandiose vision of creating the next cannabis-infused Padron cigar, he knows the marketplace is steeped with competitive brands, who are frequently nipping at the heels of his E4P Cannagar business.

According to Cannigma – an online research-based informational platform about all things cannabis – the four best Cannagars in 2023 are: The Joya de Vazquez Queen Nzinga from California; the Leira IVXXX Cannabis Cigar based out of Washington State; and finally, the Buddy Homburg Infused Cannagar with CBG from Ontario, Canada. So far, the E4P Cannagar is ranked third by Cannigma.

However, due to tight regulations in the cannabis industry, it’s been a challenging experience for Cruz. “There’s a lot to learn, from the manufacturing side to the retail aspect of the business,” he said. “In California it’s been tough. In New Jersey, it’s been easier because it’s a newer (business model). People are willing to take risks.”

Can this entrepreneur brand the next marijuana-infused Padron cigar?

“I’m pushing for that, keeping the quality-control up there,” Cruz admits. “A lot of guys in the traditional cigar world want to maintain that integrity behind their brand, while continuing to expand and grow. I certainly would like to keep it in the family. I want my cannabis cigars in the lounges. I want it to be the same as the traditional tobacco cigar. But keeping a few secrets in the family. That’s why those guys (like Padron) are winners.”

For more information visit: e4pcannabiscigars.com

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