China supports illegal U.S. pot farms: Cops
THE BIG IDEA
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- China supports illegal pot farms: Law enforcement
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CHINA SUPPORTS NETWORK OF ILLEGAL US POT FARMS: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Chinese organized crime, with support from the Chinese government, is behind a nationwide network of U.S. weed farms supplying the illegal market, law enforcement and policy experts told a U.S. House of Representatives panel this week. Their testimony and the ensuing discussion focused more on these farms as a threat to national security than questions of legalization.
PLUS: This summer a California county called for Gov. Gavin Newsom(D) to declare a state of emergency about illegal Chinese farms’ alleged pesticide use.
QUICK HITS
Federal:
- A GOP-controlled House committee voted to block Trump from rescheduling.
MJBiz - Don’t think rescheduling would be easy, compliance-wise, writes lawyer turned consultant Robert Hoban.
Forbes - A Senate panel dropped a provision to ban hemp THC products from The Farm Bill.
Forbes - Trump’s nominee for “Drug Czar” Sara Carter, who has expressed support for MED, said “all options” are under consideration for rescheduling.
Cannabis Business Times
Business:
- How is the industry dealing with its multi-billion dollar “debt avalanche?”
MJBiz - Edible Arrangements is taking its THC delivery service — Edibles.com — nationwide.
Inc. - MSO Green Thumb Industries announced plans to buyback $50M in shares.
- MSO Verano announced plans to redomicile from British Columbia to Nevada.
- An article in Cannabis Industry Journal discusses how to successfully navigate receivership.
State and local:
- A New Mexico operator is suing the state alleging a worker flooded its grow with E.coli-laced acequia water.
Albuquerque Journal - Michigan lawmakers favor a pot tax hike.
Marijuana Moment - After a long legal battle, a Massachusetts judge cleared the path for the reinstatement of top regulator Shannon O’Brien.
WGBH - Rhode Island opened dispensary applications for the first time since legalization.
Boston Globe - Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker threatened “executive action,” to regulate hemp.
Chicago Tribune - Minnesota shops starting selling REC.
Star-Tribune - New York shops won a temporary reprieve after the state miscalculated the buffer zone between them and sensitive locations.
NY Times - MED demand is strong in Virginia as the state continues to weigh REC sales.
Virginia Mercury - Cannabis entrepreneur and member of the University of Colorado board of regents Wanda James is running for Congress. She’ll launch a primary challenge against incumbent Democrat Diana DeGette (D-Colo.).
MJBiz - Revolution Brewing, Chicago’s largest craft brewers is launching THC-infused seltzers.
Chicago Sun-Times - Politico has a dispatch from “Tokelahoma’s” once-booming MED market which has fallen on hard times.
- Former Michigan Speaker of the House Rick Johnson (R) got out of prison after serving time for a license-related corruption scheme.
Crain’s Detroit - Documents obtained from a freedom of information request allege a Connecticut licensee received a retaliatory inspection after its CEO made unfavorable public comments.
WSHU
Enforcement:
- The Atlantic looks at the new war on unlicensed smoke shops.
- Federal agents seized hundreds of thousands of illegal (nicotine) vapes they say were smuggled in from China.
AP
Fun and interesting:
- New York Mag asks, ‘Should your kid know about your weed gummies?’
- In High Times, Jake Kuczeruk, with homegrow company ILGM, explains why Amsterdam weed is mostly overpriced boof.
CALIFORNIA HITS
State:
- The bill reducing the excise tax awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. So does the bill to regulate hemp like cannabis.
Times-Standard, Cannabis Business Times - The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) recalled four infused beverages.
- Tax agency CDTFA’s cannabis vendor compensation program is ending as planned.
Business:
- San Diego Business Journal has more on the March and Ash / Pacafi merger.
- As the industry struggles, NorCal retailer Goldenhour Collective is expanding.
Media News Group - Longtime Kiva exec Caren Woodson is departing the edibles maker to start a consultancy.
- Jeeter launched in New York.
amNY
Local:
- Sacramento greenlit pot cafes.
KCRA - After many years of debate, Santa Monica will allow REC dispensaries.
Santa Monica Daily Press - The OC Register named its favorite local pot shops.
- A judge upheld Fresno’s strict smoke shop regulations.
GVWire - Pacific Grove (Monterey Co.) is accepting dispensary applications.
- Sonoma city council rejected a bid for a second shop in the city. Sparc has the city’s only license.
Upcoming:
- The Latinas in Cannabis Summit is September 27th in LA.
GreenState - Block party and hashfest Puffcon is October 4 and 5 in LA.
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