Political greenBrief
Wednesday, November 8, 2017“High tax rates raise prices in legal markets, reinforcing the price advantage of black markets, California’s black markets for cannabis were well established long before its voters legalized cannabis in November 2016 and are expected to dominate post-legalization production.”
The Global Credit Ratings Firm Fitch Ratings In A Report
“According to the CDC, in 2015 we lost 52,000-plus Americans – 52,000 – and a good portion of those are from opioids: heroin, fentanyl, prescription drugs, that has to be our priority right now. Not CBD.”
Drug Enforcement Agency Spokesperson Rusty Payne
Adelanto Mayor Pro Tem Arrested, Facing Federal Charges (CA – Cannabis Industry)
Daily Press (November 7, 2017) Mayor Pro Tem Jermaine Wright faces federal charges he solicited and accepted a $10,000 bribe from an undercover FBI agent in exchange for using his political influence to assist and shield a supposed commercial marijuana transportation business, the Daily Press has learned.
http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/20171107/adelanto-mayor-pro-tem-arrested-facing-federal-charges
As FBI Pressure Intensified, So Did Adelanto Mayor Pro Tem’s Desperation (CA – Cannabis Industry)
Daily Press (November 8, 2017) Weeks before he was arrested to face two federal charges, Mayor Pro Tem Jermaine Wright began, the FBI said, to contrive a strange plot: Hire someone to rough him up to the point where he loses his memory. “So, how much is it going to cost to get my ass beat?” Wright, 41, reportedly told an FBI informant during a recorded Oct. 23 conversation. ”(A)nd it needs to happen quickly though. Beat to the point where I have memory loss, all the rest of the stuff, they have to let me go … I have a good-ass attorney.”
http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/20171108/as-fbi-pressure-intensified-so-did-adelanto-mayor-pro-tems-desperation
The California Marijuana Tax Problem: Why Prices Could Increase 70% In 2018 (CA – Cannabis Taxes)
Fortune (November 6, 2017) Buying weed in California is about to get less risky and much more expensive. A patchwork of new policies, including special taxes, will roll out in the state before sales of recreational marijuana begin at the start of 2018.
http://fortune.com/2017/11/06/california-marijuana-tax/
New Policy Sets Rules For Marijuana Growers To Protect California Water (CA – Cannabis Cultivation)
News Deeply (November 7, 2017) On October 17, the California State Water Resources Control Board adopted new environmental policies to regulate how marijuana growing operations will impact California’s already limited water resources. The new regulations are in response to voters’ approval of Proposition 64 in 2016 to legalize recreational marijuana.
https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2017/11/07/new-policy-sets-rules-for-marijuana-growers-to-protect-california-water
City Council Stubs Out Pot Shops In Pasadena (CA – Cannabis Shops)
Pasadena Now (November 7, 2017) Despite the State’s legalization, the City of Pasadena won’t allow any commercial pot dispensaries in any part of the City. And for the moment, no one knows how long the new ban will be in place, or if it will ever be lifted. Monday night the Pasadena City Council unanimously approved a set of changes to its zoning code that would formalize the City’s current ban on pot dispensaries, which are currently labeled “nuisance businesses,” much like liquor stores.
http://www.pasadenanow.com/main/city-council-stubs-out-pot-shops-in-pasadena/
Clovis City Council Considers The City’s First Marijuana-Related Operation (CA – Cannabis Operations)
ABC 30 (November 6, 2017) These samples will be small, about the size of an eraser top. The state of California will be sending small eraser sized samples to these labs which will be checking them for potency, all under strict security. In a city with one of the strictest anti-marijuana ordinances passing an amendment, however limited, take detail and time.
http://abc30.com/community-events/clovis-city-council-considers-the-citys-first-marijuana-related-operation/2611504/
Cannabis Campuses Coming To Golden State In 2018 (CA – Cannabis Campuses)
Bisnow (November 6, 2017) Before recreational cannabis enthusiasts light up legally in California, cultivators and dispensaries will face many headaches. Finding real estate will be one of them. New regulations will push more grow operations indoors and increase demand for already limited industrial space.
https://www.bisnow.com/san-francisco/news/industrial/cannabis-campuses-coming-to-golden-state-in-2018-81154
Voters To Decide Pot, Rent Control Issues In Low-Key Tuesday Election (CA – Cannabis Election)
SF Gate (November 6, 2017) A mellow off-year election could get an intriguing boost Tuesday when voters in two Bay Area cities consider marijuana taxation measures — but for those uninspired by ganja, local ballots also will feature rent control, an urban growth boundary and a school parcel tax.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/pot-vote-marijuana-weed-pacifica-cotati-measure-g-12336199.php#photo-14489919
Nutritional High Announces Strategic Acquisition Of Leading Cannabis Distributor In California (CA – Cannabis Distribution)
Nasdaq (November 7, 2017) Nutritional High International Inc. is pleased to announce that is has entered into a letter of intent to acquire a 100% interest in Calyx Brands Inc., a California based distributor actively engaged in distributing cannabis products to legal dispensaries in California. Calyx is a leading distributor of cannabis products throughout California and is conditionally approved for a Distributor and Transporter Permit issued by the City of Oakland.
http://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/nutritional-high-announces-strategic-acquisition-of–leading-cannabis-distributor-in-california-20171107-00586
DEA Wants Feds To Grow Almost 1,000 Pounds Of Marijuana Next Year (USA – Medical Cannabis)
Forbes (November 7, 2017) 443,680 grams. That’s how much marijuana the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) wants federally-licensed researchers to grow for use in scientific studies in 2018. That amounts to a little more than 978 pounds of government-cultivated cannabis.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomangell/2017/11/07/dea-wants-feds-to-grow-almost-1000-pounds-of-marijuana-next-year/#3a5454fc7362
DEA Spokesman: Agency Not Going To ‘Break Down Door’ Of Parents Administering CBD To Their Children (USA – Medical Cannabis)
Ganjapreneur (November 7, 2017) In an interview with Indiana’s WTHR, Drug Enforcement Agency spokesperson Rusty Payne admitted that while parents giving CBD oil to their children are violating federal law, it is unlikely they will face federal prosecution for their actions.
https://www.ganjapreneur.com/dea-spokesman-agency-not-going-to-break-down-door-of-parents-administering-cbd-to-their-children/
Massachusetts Bill Would Allow Some Cannabis Convictions To Be Expunged (MA –Cannabis Convictions)
Ganjapreneur (November 7, 2017) A criminal justice reform bill making its way through the Massachusetts legislature would allow individuals convicted of cannabis possession to completely expunge the record, according to a MassLive report. The House provision is part of a broader criminal justice reform package that includes language allowing citizens with otherwise clear records to expunge some offenses 10 years after conviction, and after any period of probation or incarceration is complete.
https://www.ganjapreneur.com/massachusetts-bill-would-allow-some-cannabis-convictions-to-be-expunged/
Maine Lawmakers Fail To Override Gov. Veto Of Adult-Use Regime (ME –Cannabis Convictions)
Ganjapreneur (November 7, 2017) Maine lawmakers were unable to override the veto of the legislature-approved recreational cannabis implementation measure by Gov. Paul LePage, according to several media reports. According to a Herald Gazette report, the House voted 74-62 to override the veto, falling short of the two-thirds required; the Senate did not vote because the House did not reach the majority.
https://www.ganjapreneur.com/maine-lawmakers-fail-to-override-gov-veto-of-adult-use-regime/
