{"id":16453,"date":"2026-07-25T05:30:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T00:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=16453"},"modified":"2026-07-25T05:30:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T00:30:32","slug":"la-weed-company-slammed-over-branded-tent-giveaway-on-skid-row","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=16453","title":{"rendered":"LA weed company slammed over branded tent giveaway on Skid Row"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F2%2F2026%2F07%2F135406340-1.jpg?quality%3D90%26strip%3Dall\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>A Los Angeles company that makes flavor additives used by cannabis products is facing backlash for its latest marketing strategy \u2014 giving away tents branded with their logo to the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/24\/us-news\/long-delayed-lahsa-count-reveals-full-picture-of-las-homeless-crisis\/\">homeless on skid row<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Terp Science Labs handed out over 500 tents in what the company described as a \u201cwin-win situation\u201d \u2014 providing shelter to the homeless  \u2014 that also double as a free advertising campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>A Los Angeles company is facing backlash for handing out tents to the homeless with their logo. <span class=\"credit\">Instagram\/@highceo<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWe did it for our marketing, but also trying to help out as well,\u201d DJ, a store manager told The California Post, adding that there was \u201cno malicious intent.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re always trying best to help our community out, and especially around this time because it\u2019s so hot,\u201d said DJ. \u201cThe tents were a good idea and everyone\u2019s been so appreciative.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But critics argued the tents came off more as a marketing stunt than as an effort to help a community in need.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>A shirtless man walks past tents and tarps on a sidewalk in Los Angeles. <span class=\"credit\">Andy Johnstone for CA Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Baum pictured standing outside the Terp Science Labs, which handed out over 500 tents to the homeless on Skid Row. <span class=\"credit\">Instagram\/@highceo<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Comedian and content creator Harrison Baum discovered the tents earlier this week, telling The Post he counted at least five while walking near 4th and San Pedro in downtown LA.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is definitely one of the craziest things that I\u2019ve seen,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Baum, who makes viral videos that frequently highlight government waste in California, criticized local leadership for failing to address the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/23\/us-news\/staggering-new-figures-show-las-homeless-problem-is-getting-worse-as-karen-bass-gives-pathetic-excuse\/\">homelessness crisis<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s more of a symptom of the failure of our administration to actually take care of this,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Comedian and content creator Harrison Baum discovered the tents earlier this week, telling the Post it was one of the \u201ccraziest\u201d things he has seen. <span class=\"credit\">Instagram\/@highceo<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Homeless encampment in Los Angeles with blue tarps and tents on a street next to a brick wall. <span class=\"credit\">Andy Johnstone for CA Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Despite spending nearly <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/24\/us-news\/las-skid-row-sees-homeless-population-surge-in-latest-data\/\">$3 billion per year on homelessness programs<\/a>, the latest LA city and county report is expected to show that the homeless population grew in 2026 by about 3.4%, sources familiar with the findings told The Post.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI guess the homeless going up means more advertising opportunities,\u201d Baum quipped.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\"\/>\n<p>Michelle Borrow, the company\u2019s managing partner, told The Post she understands why people might see it as a marketing stunt, but underscored the intent was to simply help the community.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf it was totally marketing, there\u2019s definitely easier, more economical ways we could direct market to our consumer,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the pushback, Terp Science Labs is planning on handing out an additional 500 tents in October.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Terp Science Labs said their was \u201cno malicious intent\u201d and it was trying to help the community while also promoting its brand. <span class=\"credit\">Instagram\/@highceo<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThere are people looking forward to it, that have come to our store and have heard about the tents from either their friends or people in the area and they\u2019re excited for our next shipment in October,\u201d said Borrow. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Despite spending nearly $3 billion per year on homelessness programs, the latest LA city and county report is expected to show that the homeless population grew in 2026 by about 3.4%, sources told the Post.  <span class=\"credit\">Andy Johnstone for CA Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Baum, however, remains unconvinced.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would never advertise like that,\u201d he said. \u201cI think there\u2019s lots of legitimate ways to advertise, mostly by having a great product.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Before becoming a content creator, Baum founded one of the most popular smoking subscription box companies called the Daily High Club, which was ultimately acquired for $10 million back in 2021.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven though I love weed, I\u2019ve made my career off of it, I use it every day \u2014 at the end of the day, it is a mind altering substance, and I don\u2019t think homeless and weed shouldn\u2019t intermingle at all until they\u2019re at a better place in their life.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Los Angeles company that makes flavor additives used by cannabis products is facing backlash for its latest marketing strategy \u2014 giving away tents branded with their logo to the homeless on skid row.\u00a0 Terp Science Labs handed out over 500 tents in what the company described as a \u201cwin-win situation\u201d \u2014 providing shelter to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16454,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/135406340-1.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16453"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16453\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}