INFORMATIONAL HEARING OF THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS
PROFESSIONS AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
AND GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE
COMMITTEE OUR SUBJECT TODAY IS
ESTABLISHING EQUITY. IN
CALIFORNIA'S CANNABIS INDUSTRY.
THE STAKES ARE HIGH.
BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY
COMPELLING SPEAKERS TO LEARN
FROM TODAY I DO I WILL KEEP OF
MY REMARKS VERY BRIEF.
CALIFORNIA IS NOW HOME TO THE
WORLD'S LARGEST REGULATED
COMMERCIAL CANNABIS MARKET.
WE AS LEGISLATORS NEED TO ENSURE
THAT THE COMMUNITIES WE.
WHO WERE UNFAIRLY TARGETED
DURING THE TIME CANNABIS WAS
ILLEGAL ARE SUPPORTED AND
ENCOURAGED TO BENEFIT FROM THE
LEGAL CANNABIS MARKET?
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PRIVATE
COMPANIES AND NON PROFITS ARE
DOING TREMENDOUS WORK TO ENSURE
SOCIAL EQUITY IN THIS SPACE.
THIS HEARING WILL EXPLORE
EXISTING AND DEVELOPING PROGRAMS
COMMUNITY NEEDS AND LESSONS
LEARNED IN THE EFFORTS TO
PROMOTE SOCIAL EQUITY. AND
REALIZED JUSTICE IN CALIFORNIA'S
COMMERCIAL CANNABIS MARKET.
I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE HERE
WELCOME MIKE SENATE COLLEAGUES
AND AND ASK YOU FOR. THAT FIRST
OF ALL IF A CO CHAIR SENATOR
MCGUIRE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME
OPENING REMARKS SENATOR MCGUIRE
RIDLEY GOD AFTERNOON GOOD
AFTERNOON THANK YOU SO MUCH
MISTER CHAIR I IN I WANNA TAKE
MOMENT. I TO SAY THANK YOU TO
CENTER HILL FOR A CONVENE IN
THIS IMPORTANT HEARING AND SAY
HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE UP FOR ALL
OF YOUR WORK AS WELL SENATOR
BRADFORD. AYE FOR BRINGING THIS
TO THE CAUCUSES WELL VERY VERY
GRATEFUL APPROVED BY A FIFTY
SEVEN PERCENT OF VOTERS ACROSS
CALIFORNIA. OUR PROPOSITION
SIXTY FOUR WAS PASSED IN
NOVEMBER OF TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN
MAY NEVER AT BEFORE HAS OUR
STATE SEEN SO MUCH CHANGE AT
LEAST IN THE LAST HALF CENTURY.
CALIFORNIA'S NOW COMING OUT OF
AN AIR OF PROHIBITION. GOLDEN
STATE RESIDENTS ARE SEEN THE
MIGRATION OF NORTH AMERICA'S
LARGEST CANVAS MARKET INTO THE
LIGHT OF A REGULATED LEGAL
SYSTEM.
HOWEVER.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE NEW
OPPORTUNITIES CREATED BY THIS
BUT IN INDUSTRY.
THE JOBS AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
BE OPEN TO EVERYONE.
TODAY WE WANNA TAKE A LOOK AT
THE WORK LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
PRIVATE COMPANIES AND NON
PROFITS ARE DOING TO BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES.
AND ALSO TO LEARN WHERE WE CAN
DO BETTER IN CANDIDLY. THERE'S A
LOT OF GROWTH WHERE WE NEED TO
BE ABLE TO FOCUS IN ON WHAT WE
CAN DO BETTER TO MAKE THIS
INDUSTRY OPEN TO ALL.
CANNABIS IS RAPIDLY CHANGING OUR
STATE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYONE IN CALIFORNIA HAS AN
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE AGAIN NUMBER THREE
THANK YOU TO SENATOR HILL.
HE'S VERY CAPABLE STAFFER
BRINGS TOGETHER AND ALSO TO
KNOWLEDGE SENATOR BRADFORD UP
FOR ALL THIS WORK IN THE SPACES
WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH YESTERDAY
ACCUSATIVE REQUIRE AND THANK YOU
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE LAST
FEW YEARS OVER THIS SUBJECT AND.
WE WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY IF IT
WEREN'T FOR THAT GREAT WORK THAT
YOU'VE DONE ELECTED GIVEN
OPPORTUNITY TO OTHER MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEES. IF THEY HAVE TO
LIKE TO MAKE SOME OPENING
REMARKS AND THEN I'D LIKE TO
TURN IT OVER TO SENATOR BRADFORD
WHO HAD A FEW COMMENTS AS WELL.
I I'LL BE BRIEF IT THANK YOU
HERB BOTH CHAIRS. GUY I TO WANT
TO COMMEND CENTER BRADFORD FOR
HIS ADVOCACY AND AND.
VERY CLEAR ARTICULATION THESE
ISSUES AS THEY PERTAIN TO.
MINORITIES AS WE MOVE FORWARD
IN THIS VERY. INTERESTING BY
CHALLENGING PROCESS OF
IMPLEMENTING A REGULATORY
STRUCTURE FOR THE CANNABIS
INDUSTRY. AND YOU GET FULL
CREDIT FOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE
FORWARD NOW LOOK FOR DEFECTS
FAMOUS HERE. THANK YOU SENATOR
NEWMAN.
BRITISH SENATOR BRADFORD THANK
YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.
TO EQUITY IN THIS.
.
IN THIS INDUSTRY IN THIS ISSUE
AND CERTAINLY.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD THANK YOU
ALANA FIRST THINK I CHAIRMAN
HILL AND MCGUIRE FOR CONVENE
THIS HEARING WHICH I THINK WE
ALL FEEL IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WE.
LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF EQUITY AND
INCLUSION AND CALIFORNIA'S
INTEREST IN ENTERING THE
LEGALIZE CANNABIS INDUSTRY I
ALSO WANT TO THANK. MY STAFF AND
ALL YOUR COMMITTEE STAFF WHO
WORKED TO BRING US TO THIS POINT
TODAY. ALSO WANT TO THANK THOSE
WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE AND WHO
WILL BE TESTIFYING OR WATCHING
FROM HOME. TO MAKE SURE THAT.
WE KEEP THIS ISSUE AT THE
FOREFRONT WITHOUT ENGAGEMENT.
HEARING SUCH AS THESE WOULD NOT
BE AS INFORMATIVE AND FOR FULL
AS OUR LEGISLATURE ARE. THE
FUTURE OF CALIFORNIA WOULD BE.
AS MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE
WELL AWARE DIVERSITY AND
EQUITIES IS SOMETHING THAT HAS
BEEN A LONG STANDING ISSUE OF
CONCERN OF MINE WELL BEFORE. I
GOT TO THE CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATURE IS A.
ISSUE THAT IS.
AS OBVIOUS AS THE NOSE ON MY.
FACE AS WE LOOK AT THE LACK OF
DIVERSITY NOT ONLY IN THIS ISSUE
BUT IN MANY AREAS THROUGHOUT THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA THIS NATION.
.
THERE ARE CRITICAL.
NOT ONLY THESE ISSUES SUCH AS
THEIR CRITICAL NOT ONLY FOR THE
SUCCESS OF OUR STATE. BUT TO THE
VERY LIGHT LIVELIHOOD AND WELL
BEING OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
TALENT AND ABILITY. BUT MAYBE
MARGOLYES SIMPLY BE UPON THEIR
RACE THEIR ETHNICITY GENDER
SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
OUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY REASONS
WHY AUTHORED S. B. TWELVE NINETY
FOUR WHICH WILL ENABLE
INDIVIDUALS.
FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO
PARTICIPATE IN CALIFORNIA'S
EXPANDING LEGALIZE CANNABIS
INDUSTRY.
BECAUSE IT'S WITHOUT A DOUBT IF
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE
CRIMINALIZATION OF CANNABIS THIS
ROOM WOULD BE FILLED WITH
NOTHING BUT BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE.
ARE THE LACK OF MINORITY
REPRESENTATION IN THIS CANNABIS
INDUSTRY IS BEYOND TROUBLING.
CONCERNING THERE IS A
DISPROPORTIONATE POPULATION
MINORITY SERVING TIME AND OUR
PRISONS
FOR CANNABIS RELATED CHARGES
WHICH NOW ARE MUTE BECAUSE OF
PASSAGE OF PROP SIXTY FOUR.
GABO TIME AGAIN WE HEAR FROM
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE BEING
BOXED OUT OF THIS INDUSTRY I'VE
HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN
COMMITTED A CONVICTED OF A CRIME.
WHO HAVE THE RESOURCES AND AND
EQUITY TO ENTER THIS MARKET BUT
FOR SOME REASON AT THE DOOR TO
CONTINUE TO BE CLOSE?
CONVERSELY FOR MINORITIES WHO
HAVE OPERATED CANNABIS
ENTERPRISES PRIOR TO
LEGALIZATION THERE WERE PLACE AT
THE FRONT OF THE LINE.
WHEN HE CAME TO BE INTERESTED
CHARGE CONVICTED AND
INCARCERATED WHICH ALL
CONFERENCES ARE FORCED TO
SHORTER THOSE COSTS OF
IMPRISONMENT.
ALTHOUGH MY BILL S. B. TWELVE
NINETY FOUR IS FOCUSED PRIMARILY
ON LOCAL AND STATEWIDE EQUITY
PROGRAM TO REVERSE IMPACT OF OUR
PREVIOUS FILL POLICIES SUCH AS
THE WAR ON DRUGS. WHICH WE
CLEARLY KNOW WAS A WARM BLACK
AND BROWN PEOPLE THIS ISSUE IS
MUCH MORE DEEPER PROBLEM WHICH
IS REFLECTED IN ALL SECTORS OF
OUR ECONOMY.
FOR INSTANCE I'VE HAD
CONVERSATIONS AGAIN WOULD
INDIVIDUALS WHO FIND IT HARD TO
ENTER THIS MARKET AND CONTINUE
TO BE DENIED LICENSE IN ACCESS
OUT FOR LEGALIZED OPERATIONS.
COMMENT DENOMINATORS IN MOST OF
THESE DISCUSSIONS IS PEOPLE OF
COLOR AND THE ONLY EXPLANATION
FOR THIS IS WHAT WE SEE IN A
MANNER AND MANY INDUSTRIES SUCH
AS SAY. RACE MATTERS AND
STRICTLY IN EQUITY HOT CONTINUES
ARE CALIFORNIA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A
WORLD RENOWNED LEADER AND WHILE
WE'RE NOT THE FIRST STATE TO
LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL OR DON'T
USE CANNABIS WE CAN BE THE FIRST.
TO GET IT RIGHT. ARE BY
INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
PUNISHED AND STIGMATIZED BY
INEFFECTIVE IN OLYMPIA OVER
PUNITIVE POLICIES AND SUPPORTING
ALL PEOPLE COLOR FROM ALL WALKS
OF LIFE I LOOK FOR TO THIS
HEARING AND THE COURAGEOUS
PRESENTERS TODAY. AND AGAIN I
THINK YOU FOR.
.
TO VENUS IN THE TRUTH IS WE MUST
WORK TOGETHER IF WE'RE GOING TO
TRULY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE SO
THANK YOU VERY GOOD COULD
COULDN'T OF SAID IT BETTER SO I
BRADFORD THANK YOU.
WE HAVE A VERY FULL AGENDA AS
YOU'VE SEEN AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE AND I KNOW ALL OF THE
SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN A. GOOD O
ADMONISHED ON A TIME LIMITED CAN
I KEEP IT AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE
THAT WE DO HAVE TIME FOR
QUESTIONS CERTAINLY FROM
EVERYONE AND WE WANT TO. HOLD IT
OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE
END OF OUR AGENDA IS WELL SO
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO I'D LIKE TO
START BY WELCOMING OUR FIRST
PRESENTER. OF RODNEY A HOKUM.
WHO IS A STAFF ATTORNEY WITH THE
DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE MISTER
HOLCOMB WELCOME?
NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
WELL I GOOD MORNING MISTER CHAIR
PERSONS AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE AYE IT'S A PLEASURE TO
BE HERE TODAY HOW MANY MIZRAHI
HOLCOMB AND I AM.
RESIDENTS OPEN IN A STAFF
ATTORNEY IN THE OFFICE OF LEGAL
AFFAIRS AT THE DRUG POLICY
ALLIANCE.
I WE HAVE CAMPAIGN FOR THE
LEGALIZATION OF MEDICAL AND
RECREATIONAL CANNABIS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY PRO ARE THE LAST TWO
DECADES AND HERE CALIFORNIA WE
WERE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE
DRAFTING CAMPAIGNING AND NOW THE
IMPLEMENTATION. OF YOU DON'T USE
OF MARIJUANA ACT WHERE THIS MORE
CALMLY KNOWN PROP SIXTY FOUR.
I'M HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE SOME
OVERVIEW OF HOW WE ARRIVED AT
THIS POINT IN TIME. LONG BEFORE
ITS CRIMINALIZATION WITH THE
FOUNDING OF THE U. S. FOR THAT
MATTER CANNABIS WAS REGULARLY
USED FOR MEDICINAL AND NON
MEDICINAL PURPOSES ITS FIRST USE
WAS DOCUMENTED SOME TWELVE
THOUSAND YEARS AGO.
BUT AFTER SEVERAL CENTURIES OF
ACCEPTED USED CANNABIS BECAME
CRIMINALIZED.
THIS DID NOT HAPPEN BECAUSE OF
THE DISCOVERY THAT CANNABIS
POSED A RISK TO PUBLIC HEALTH OR
TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS IS
INSTEAD RESULT OF RACIAL
PREJUDICE AGAINST IMMIGRANTS
ARRIVING FROM MEXICO WHO
CONSUMED CANNABIS.
THE HEADLINES EMERGING AT THIS
TIME WERE RACIST AND GENERATED
UNFOUNDED FEARS OF MEXICAN
PEOPLE TITLES LIKE THOSE THAT
YOU ALL CAN SEE ON PAGE TWO SUCH
AS EVIL MEXICAN PLANTS. THAT
DRIVE YOU INSANE REGULARLY
APPEARED ON THE FRONT PAGE THE
POPULAR NEWSPAPERS.
IT WAS BELIEVED THAT MEXICAN
PEOPLE WERE SUPER HUMAN AND THAT
WHEN THEY CONSUME CANNABIS IT
MADE THEM MORE VIOLENT. THIS IS
WHAT ULTIMATELY PROMPTED THE
PROHIBITION OF CANNABIS AT THE
FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL IN OUR
COUNTRY.
NOW THIS WAS ONLY MADE WORSE IN
THE EARLY SEVENTIES WHEN
PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON DECLARED
THE WAR ON DRUGS NIXON
DRAMATICALLY INCREASED THE SIZE
AND PRESENTS A FEDERAL DRUG
CONTROL AGENCIES. AND PUSHED
THROUGH MEASURES SUCH AS
MANDATORY SENTENCING. NIXON'S
ADVANCING OF THE DRUG WAR WAS
LATER NOTED TO BE FOOLED BY HIS
ADMINISTRATION'S TOP TWO ENEMIES
THE ANTIWAR LEFT. IN BLACK
PEOPLE.
A DECADE AFTER THIS WAR BEGAN
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN
ESCALATED IT.
IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES RATES OF
INCARCERATION IN A REST FOR
CANNABIS OFFENSES SKYROCKETED.
NOW THE INCREASE IN
INCARCERATION RATES HAD A
PARTICULARLY DEVASTATING IMPACT
ON BLACK AND WHITE NEXT
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE OF ALL RACES
USE AND SELL DRUGS AT THE SAME
RATES BLACK AND LET NEXT PEOPLE
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MORE LIKELY TO
BE ARRESTED CONVICTED AND
INCARCERATED FOR CANNABIS
OFFENSES. ACROSS THE NATION
BLACK PEOPLE ARE TWO POINT TWO
TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED
FOR CANNABIS LAW VIOLATIONS THAN
THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS AND
THESE DISPARITIES ARE JUST AS IF
NOT WORSE IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. FROM TWO THOUSAND
SIX TO TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN IN
THE STATE BLACK PEOPLE WERE TWO
TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED
FOR CANNABIS MISDEMEANORS AND
FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE
ARRESTED FOR CANNABIS FELONIES
THAN WHITE PEOPLE. DURING THE
SAME PERIOD LIE NEXT PEOPLE WITH
THIRTY FIVE PERCENT MORE LIKELY
TO BE ARRESTED FOR CANNABIS
RELATED CRIMES THAN WHITE
CALIFORNIANS.
DECADE THE PROHIBITION HAPPY
EFFECTIVE RIPPING APART TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF VULNERABLE FAMILIES
FUELING POVERTY AND LEAVING
COMMUNITIES IN UTTER DESPAIR. IT
ADDITIONALLY LED TO WHAT WE NOW
KNOW AS MASS INCARCERATION.
AND NOW BEYOND THE CRIMINAL
PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE
CANNABIS CONVICTION A PERSON IS
ALSO BURDENED BY AN ENDLESS
NUMBER OF COLLATERAL
CONSEQUENCES THESE OF THE LEGAL
AND SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES THAT
COME ATTACHED TO CRIMINAL
CONVICTIONS.
IN CALIFORNIA THERE MORE THAN
FOUR THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED OF
THESE CONSEQUENCES MANY OF WHICH
PREVENT A PERSON FROM SEEKING
GOT MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES OBTAINING
OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES RECEIVING
PUBLIC BENEFITS AND OBTAINING
STUDENT LOANS.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
NEARLY ONE MILLION IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA HAVE BEEN
CONVICTED OF A MARIJUANA OFFENSE
OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES AND
THE ASSOCIATED CONSEQUENCES MAKE
LEADING PRODUCTIVE LIVES NEXT TO
IMPOSSIBLE.
TO GET SOME IDEA OF HOW HARSH
ENFORCEMENT CAN BE FROM TWO
THOUSAND FIVE TO TWO THOUSAND
FIFTEEN. HALF A MILLION PEOPLE
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WERE
ARRESTED FOR CANNABIS LAW
VIOLATIONS.
AND THIS WAS ONLY MADE WORSE BY
THE MILITARIZATION OF THE POLICE
IN OUR COUNTRY.
BUT THEN CAME NOVEMBER TWENTY
SIXTEEN WHEN CALIFORNIA VOTERS
PASSED PROPS DE FOR WHICH
INCLUDED SEVERAL NOVEL
PROVISIONS THAT SEEK TO MITIGATE
THE HARMS WROUGHT BY CANNABIS
PROHIBITION.
CALIFORNIA NOW PLEASED ALLOCATE
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MARIJUANA
REVENUES TO COMMUNITY
REINVESTMENT GRNT PROGRAMS
AFTER DISTRICT.
DISBURSEMENTS ARE MADE TO OTHER
FUNDS CALIFORNIA WILL DEDICATE
SIXTY PERCENT OF ITS MARIJUANA
TAX FUNDS YOU DRUG USE
PREVENTION AYE TWENTY PERCENT TO
ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION.
PROCESS BEFORE ALSO ALLOWS
PERSONS WITH PRIOR CANNABIS
CONVICTIONS THAT HAVE THOSE
CONVICTIONS COMPLETELY REMOVED
FROM THEIR RECORDS OR REDUCE
FROM FELONY TO MISDEMEANOR OR
MISDEMEANOR TO INFRACTION.
AND WHILE THESE ARE ALL GREAT
MOVEMENTS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
ARE THIS IS BY NO MEANS THE END.
WE'VE RECENT INTERESTING AND
NEVER BEFORE SEEN CHANCE TO
REALLY RIGHT YEARS OF WRONG. NOW
THERE ARE NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES
TO ENTER THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY
AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
COMMUNITIES MOST HARM IN MOST
AFFECTED BY PROHIBITION SHOULD
BE OUR PRIORITY.
AND THE FURTHERANCE OF PROP
SIXTY FOR THE LEGISLATURE IS
ABLE TO CREATE EQUITY WITHIN THE
INDUSTRY WHICH WOULD HAVE THE
EFFECT OF TRANSFORMING LIVES IT
TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES.
ONE OF THE STATED INTENT
SURPRISE SIXTY FOUR IS TO REMOVE
BARRIERS TO ENTRY THE CANNABIS
INDUSTRY.
WHICH CAN BE DONE BY OFFERING
SUPPORT TO PERSONS MOST HARMED
BY PROHIBITION AS THEY SEEK TO
ENTER THIS INDUSTRY.
ANOTHER A NUMBER OF OTHER
CONCERNS MUST ALSO BE ADDRESSED
THROUGH BUDGET AND POLICY TO
REALLY WRITE THESE PAST HARMS.
THESE INCLUDE REMOVING FEDERAL
BANKING RESTRICTIONS CREATING
MONEY PULLS FOR PERSONS
INTERESTED IN OBTAINING LOANS TO
INTO THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY.
REMOVING STATUTORY RESTRICTIONS
TO OBTAINING LICENSES FOR
CERTAIN PROFESSIONS FOR PERSONS
WITH CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
CONVICTIONS ARE REMOVING A
REDUCING PRIOR CANNABIS
CONVICTIONS AND ENSURING THAT
THE FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR
COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ARE
PRESERVED IN THIS PROCESS.
S. B. TWELVE NINETY FOUR THE
GREAT FIRST STEP TO ENSURE THAT
THIS NEW INDUSTRY IS
REPRESENTATIVE.
AND THAT IT THRIVES.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME
THANK YOU TO HOKUM QUESTIONS OF.
YOU KNOW I HAD ONE THAT TO YOU
KNOW THIS ISSUE SPAIN'S QUITE A
PICTURE OF US. OF THE HISTORIC.
ISSUE AND.
INVOLVEMENT AND AND REALLY THE.
IMPRESSION THAT.
MARIJUANA HAS HAD IN CALIFORNIA
AND THE UNFORTUNATE OUTCOME THAT
WE SAW. DO YOU THINK THAT THIS
THE STORY THE PICTURE THAT YOU
PAINTED IS THAT UNDERSTOOD BY.
MANY POLICY MAKERS PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY. HAVE BEEN THIS IS.
DO DO MOST OF THEM UNDERSTAND
THIS AND IF THEY DON'T HOW CAN
WE COMMUNICATE THAT TO THEM SO
THAT THEY HAVE A NARRATIVE THAT
REALLY WORKS FOR THEM. AND WORK
FOR FOR REALITY RATHER THAN THE
FICTION THAT WAS CREATED.
THURMOND I YEARS AGO CERTAINLY I
THINK MORE CONVERSATIONS LIKE
THIS NEED TO HAPPEN BUT I
IMAGINE FOLKS IN THE AFFECTED
COMMUNITIES ARE WELL AWARE OF
HOW HORRIBLY THE DRUG WAR WAS
AND WHAT HARMS IT WROUGHT ON
THEIR COMMUNITIES BUT OF COURSE.
I CONVERSATION THE POLICYMAKERS
WE NEED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THESE
PASSED LAWS WERE RACIST OUR
CLASSES TO IN THAT WE MUST
CONTINUE THE FIGHT TO AND. A
PROHIBITION IN ALL ITS UGLY WAYS
AND THINK OF THE POLICY MAKERS
HERE CERTAINLY THIS IS HELPFUL
TODAY BUT THAT THOSE IN
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOT
NECESSARILY THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN
AFFECTED.
BY THE ARRESTS IN THE.
THE INCARCERATION THAT.
THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST SO
I THINK ANYTHING THAT CAN BE
DONE TO ENCOURAGE SATURDAY
INFORM AND EDUCATE IS IS CRUCIAL
SO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH QUESTION
YES I DO NOT QUESTION I WOULD
JUST ONLY SO JUST AND I
APPRECIATE THE EXAMPLE OF THE
HUNDRED YOUR ARTICLE. BUT ALSO
SEE THE FILM REEFER MADNESS AND
IT'S A PRIME EXAMPLE OF. WHO
THEY WERE TARGETING IN OF WHAT
THEY WERE TRYING TO DO IN THE
RACIAL OVERTONES OF THAT FILM?
VERY TRUE.
WELCOME THANK YOU THANK YOU
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR
TESTIMONY TODAY AND HEALTH.
LEARN. NOW WOULD LIKE TO INVITE
TO JAMES SWEENEY TO THE TABLE.
MISTER SWEENEY.
THANK YOU.
IS A MEMBER OF THE CANNABIS
ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND.
JUST AS A.
THIS ONE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT
THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD LIKE TO
CARIFY THAT MISTER SWEENEY'S
SPEAKING TO.
TO HIS OWN EXPERIENCES AND THAT
DOES NOT REPRESENT EITHER THE
STATE OR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES
MISTER SWEENEY THANK YOU FOR.
SPEND SOME TIME WITH US THIS
MORNING AND FOR YOUR INSIGHT
INTO THIS SUBJECT.
AND THE STATE PERSPECTIVE.
ESR.
FIRST AND FOREMOST I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK YOU ALL FOR.
OPENING THIS CONVERSATION UP
BECAUSE IT'S A.
IT'S A REAL CONVERSATION BECAUSE.
THE IMPACTS ARE SO REAL FOR SO
MANY PEOPLE.
AND.
.
ALL I CAN SAY THAT.
.
YES I OF.
SIT ON THE ADVISORY ARE
COMMITTEE. ON A MEMBER OF THE
CANNABIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
.
OUR BACKGROUND IN INCLUDES.
THE FACT THAT THE COMMITTEE WAS
APPOINTED IN THE FALL OF TWENTY
SEVENTEEN.
JANUARY TWENTY EIGHTEEN THE
COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED TEN
SUBCOMMITTEES TO ADDRESS
SPECIFIC ISSUES.
SUCH AS EQUITY ENFORCEMENT
LICENSING OUR APPLICATION PUBLIC
HEALTH YOUTH ETCETERA.
OUR OTHER SUBCOMMITTEES ARE MY
PRO BUSINESS RETAILERS TESTING
LABS CULTIVATORS DISTRIBUTORS
AND MANUFACTURERS.
ARE WE STARTED.
.
ARE HOLDING THESE MEETINGS AND
OUR FEBRUARY AND MARCH OF TWENTY
EIGHTEEN. ON MARCH TWENTY
EIGHTEEN FULL COMMITTEE WE ARE
REVIEWED SEVEN OF THE.
BOB CAN SUBCOMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND.
.
WE ARE CURRENTLY DEALING WITH LE
LICENSING ENTITIES TO CONSIDER.
ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
FINALLY RULE MAKING.
ARMED THIS IS SOME SERIOUS
BUSINESS.
ARE THERE IS NO QUESTION ARE
THERE.
THE WHOLE IDEA OF INSURING THAT
THERE IS EQUITY.
ARE THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES PUT
TOGETHER BEHIND THE NOTION OF
EQUITY VINTON EQUITY IS
INCLUSIVE NOT ONLY OF OUR
AFRICAN AMERICANS NOT ONLY OF
WOMEN NOT ONLY OF MINORITIES.
BOB BUT IT IS ALSO INCLUSIVE OF
WHAT CALIFORNIA IS ABOUT AS YOU
ALL KNOW CALIFORNIA IS ONE OF
THE DIVERSE.
FAITH IN AMERICA.
AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO PROVIDE
POLICY THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT
PEOPLE AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IT ONLY
MAKES SENSE.
IT ONLY IS TRANSPARENT
THAT WE NEED TO HAVE OUR EQUITY.
AND SO THE VERY FACT
THAT THIS LAW A PARTICULAR BILL
WAS WHO WAS PUT OUT.
IS IS A BILL WHICH IS DESIGNED
TO SAY WE WANT TO BE INCLUSIVE.
WE WANT TO BE FAIR.
ALL WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
NEGATIVELY M. PEJORATIVELY
IMPACTED.
CAN BE POSITIVELY IMPACTED.
AND IT'S.
.
IT IT IS ACTUALLY. OUR TESTIMONY.
ALL THAT THIS IS A VERY VERY
VIABLE AM IMPORTANT ASPECT THAT
HAS TO BE.
.
DEALT WITH.
ARM.
ARE SO CLEARLY ACCESS TO CAPITAL
AND MONEY ACCESS TO REAL ESTATE.
OUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
OUR SHARED FACILITY.
OUR OWN THOSE ARE PART AND
PARCEL.
OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ARE
INCLUSIVE.
EN
THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS A VIABLE
AND IMPORTANT.
.
FOR YOU WALL AS SO LEGISLATOR OR.
ARM.
ARE AND SO.
OUR HOUSE SIMPLY.
BE OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU
MAY TAKE A LITTLE SWINGS AYE I
DID HAVE ONE WHAT WAS THE EQUITY
SUBCOMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
WELL.
OUR OUR.
WHAT WE DID?
WAS WE TOOK A LOOK AT.
WHAT WAS GOING ON?
IN OAKLAND CALIFORNIA. IN TERMS
OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE.
OP OKAY.
YES SO WE TOOK A LOOK AT WHAT
WAS GOING ON IN OAKLAND.
CALIFORNIA WE TOOK A LOOK AT
WHAT WAS GOING ON IN SAN
FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA WE TOOK A
LOOK AT WHAT WAS GOING ON. IN
THE EYES SACRAMENTO. ARE ARE
CALIFORNIA WE ARE.
.
EN EN EN ROUTE BEGINNING ALL OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS.
BOB OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WERE TO
ENSURE.
.
ONCE AGAIN THAT WE WILL BE AN
INCLUSIVE THAT WE WOULD BE
UNFAIR. AND THATWE WERE HITTING
THOSE.
ORGANIZATIONS THOSE PEOPLE
THOSE GROUPS THAT HAD.
BEEN IMPACTED IN THE PAST.
ARM.
AND SO BUT WITH THIS SPECIFIC
WAYS IN WHICH THAT WOULD BE DONE
AND ACCOMPLISHED.
THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC WAYS AND
WHICH ARE THAT WAS TO BE DONE.
OUR MOON THAT'S THAT'S WHY WE
LOOKED AT ALL OF THESE.
.
A. DIFFERENT PATH.
WE WE WE LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED
IN OAKLAND.
OUR WE LOOKED AT WHAT HAPPENED
IN SAN FRANCISCO WE LOOKED AT
WHAT WE WE'VE LOOKED AT ALL OF
THOSE PLACES WERE NOT.
THROUGH YET SO WE'RE NOT THROUGH
WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WE'RE
AND THE INCEPTED.
PAGES
OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
ARM.
SO THAT'S A THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
AT THIS POINT IT BECOMES VERY
IMPORTANT IN IN YOUR OPINION DO
YOU FEEL THAT YOU SHOULD.
STATE SHOULD DEVELOP SEPARATE
EQUITY CRITERIA OR MIRROR THOSE
OF THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS YOU
MENTION SAN FRANCISCO SACRAMENTO
I THINK WE SHOULD CERTAINLY
MIRROR. THOSE BUT THAT DOES NOT
MEAN WE SHOULDN'T TAKE A LOOK AT
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER OPTIONS.
BECAUSE THE STATE DOESN'T JUST
NEED TO BE OUT GOAL ALONG TO GET
ALONG.
STATE NEEDS TO BE IN THE
FOREFRONT OF SAYING THERE ARE
SOME MARKERS THAT AR IMPORTANT
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE
STATE INCLUDE DOVE MARKERS.
YEAH AND THAT MAKES IT MAKES
GOOD SENSE AND THEY HAD THE. ONE
OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS THAT
THAT SOME OF THE FEEDBACK FROM
THE PUBLIC.
ON EQUITY PROGRAMS ENCOURAGED
EXPANDING CRITERIA CRITERIA TO
TO VETERANS AND THAT COMPASSION
PROGRAMS.
.
DID THE COMMITTEE CONSIDER THESE
COMMENTS THAT WE ABSOLUTELY
CONSIDERED THOSE COMMENTS WE
FOUND THOSE COMMENTS ARE
RELEVENT. WE FOUND THEM JERMAINE.
AND INCLUSIVE
AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE WANT
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
VETERANS WERE ALSO INCLUDED IN
THIS.
SO THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS IS
THERE STILL.
THE PERKY LA GRADUATED IN.
BEING FORMED WITHIN THE
SUBCOMMITTEE OKAY THANK YOU
QUESTIONS.
NO MISTER SWEENEY THANK YOU I
APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE TODAY
IN THE AND FOR YOUR TESTIMONY
AND FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE.
ON THE COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU.
NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM FROM
REPRESENTATIVES OF CITIES WHO
HAVE. CREATED FOR OUR CREATING
EQUITY PROGRAMS.
WOULD LIKE TO INVITE TO THE
TABLE. THE FOLLOWING THE
CONSTRUED CHRISTINE SOTO TO BURY
REPRESENTS A SITTING COUNTY OF
SAN FRANCISCO'S OFFICE OF THE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY. NICOLE
ELLIOTT.
IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE SAN
FRANCISCO OFFICE OF CANNABIS AND
A CAT PACKER IS THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AND GENERAL MANAGER OF
THE LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF
CANNABIS REGULATION.
WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES FOR
EACH ONE OF YOU AND I KNOW WE'RE
CUTTING IT SHORT AND YOU COULD
PROBABLY TALK FOR HOURS AND.
AND WE WOULD LOVE TO.
HERE YOU FOR HOURS FRANKLY
BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH AN
IMPORTANT SUBJECT BUT.
BUT WE ARE LIMITED SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE THE SORT OF.
GOOD AFTERNOON LEGISLATORS AND
THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS
IMPORTANT HEARING MY NAME IS
CHRISTINE SUFFERED A VARIOUS
SERVICE CHIEF OF STAFF TO
DISTRICT ATTORNEY GEORGE GAS GUN
IN SAN FRANCISCO. I WAS ASKED
NOT TO SPEAK TODAY TO THE WORK
WE'RE DOING ON THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE FRONT AS IT INTERSECTS
THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY. AS WE
KNOW THERE MANY EQUITY
CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING HERE
ABOUT ENTERING THE CANNABIS
INDUSTRY BUT A CRIMINAL
CONVICTION HAS CONSEQUENCES THAT
REACH FAR BEYOND SOMEBODY'S
APPLICATION. TO THE LICENSE OR
RUN A CANNABIS FACILITY ARE
THINGS SUCH AS JOBS EDUCATION
STUDENT LOANS EMPLOYMENT ALL
THINGS THAT IMPACT PUBLIC SAFETY
IN PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO RE
INTEGRATE INTO OUR COMMUNITY
AFTER A CONVICTION.
WE HEARD EARLIER FROM THE DRUG
POLICY ALLIANCE THAT DRUG USE IS.
EQUITABLE ACROSS ALL
COMMUNITIES HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES BUT THE ENFORCEMENT OF
THOSE RULES IS NOT BEEN.
AND AS WE NOW ENTER INTO AN AREA
OF ENDING A PROHIBITION I THINK
IT IS IMPORTANT AND DIG ASK ON
THINGS IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE
A SYSTEM WIDE RECONCILIATION
AROUND.
IF WE NO LONGER ARE SAYING THAT
MARIJUANA IS AN ILLEGAL
SUBSTANCE THAT WE HAVE TO DO
MORE THAN SIMPLY ADDRESS THE
INDUSTRY SPECIFIC CONCERNS WE
NEED TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRETY OF
THE CONSEQUENCES. THAT THE
CONVICTIONS FOR MARIJUANA
RELATED CONDUCT HAVE BROUGHT ON
CALIFORNIANS.%
TO REMEDY THAT IN SAN FRANCISCO
DIEGO ASK ON FELT THAT HE WAS
WELL POSITIONED. TO BE PROACTIVE.
IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR WE
REALIZED WE HAD RECEIVED LESS
THAN THIRTY APPLICATIONS FOR A
DISMISSAL OR ME SENTENCING OF A
MARIJUANA PETITION.
WE RAN A LIST WITH OUR COURT
DATA SYSTEM ON THAT KEEPS
RECORDS BACK TO NINETEEN SEVENTY
FIVE. WHEN WE LEARNED THAT WE
HAVE APPROXIMATELY NINE THOUSAND
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE
FOR POTENTIALLY I THEIR
DISMISSAL OR RE SENTENCING OF
THEIR CHARGE.
SO IT IS CLEAR THAT WAITING ON
THE INDIVIDUAL TO PURSUE THE
REMEDY IS GOING TO BE A VERY
LENGTHY AND PERHAPS NEVER
ACHIEVED GOAL OF EQUITY. AND
WHAT THE DA ORDERED US TO DO WAS
TO TAKE SAID LIST AND.
BEGIN IMMEDIATE PROCESS OF
PROCESSING ALL THE MISDEMEANORS
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A DISMISSAL OF
THEIR CHARGE.
SO WE HAVE BEGUN THAT WORK
APPROXIMATELY THREE THOUSAND
EIGHTY THREE CASES.
WE OF UP.
MEASURE UP CAN YEAH.
APPROXIMATELY ONE THOUSAND OF
THOSE HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. AND
OUR COURT SYSTEM CONTINUES TO
PROCESS THOSE THE BENEFIT OF THE
SYSTEM HAS BEEN THAT INDIVIDUALS
DO NOT NEED TO SEEK OUT THE
REMEDY. THEY NOT NEED TO.
DETERMINE WHICH COURT HOUSE
THE CASE WAS HEARD IN THE DO NOT
NEED TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO HELP
THEM. COMPLETE THE PETITIONS
FILED FOR HEARING THEIR SAVINGS
FOR THE INDIVIDUAL ON THE SYSTEM
AS A WHOLE IF WEEK I CAN
PROACTIVELY AND AFFIRMATIVELY
AGREED THAT THESE CASES DO NOT
REQUIRE.
OF THE DISPUTED HEARING.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT SEVERAL
COUNTIES HAVE FOLLOWED OUR LEAD
ASSEMBLY TALE IS NOW IN THE.
BEGINNING STAGES OF A PROGRAM
ALAMEDA. ON CINEMA COUNTY
SEATTLE THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS
FOLLOWED HER LEAD AND OTHER
CITIES HAVE REACHED OUT TO US
AND ARE CONSIDERING SIMILAR
EFFORTS.
HOWEVER THERE FIFTY EIGHT
COUNTIES IN THE STATE AND THE
VAST MAJORITY HAVE NOT
UNDERTAKEN ANY KIND OF EFFORT TO
DO A PROACTIVE REVIEW OF
CONVICTIONS.
AND PROVIDE THE REMEDY TO THOSE
INDIVIDUALS AS THEY'RE ENTITLED
UNDER PROP SIXTY FOUR. WOULD
ENCOURAGE. OTHERS DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS ARE UNIQUELY SITUATED
TO DO THIS WORK WE CAN REQUEST
THESE LISTS FROM THE COURTS AND
BEGIN THE PROCESS WE ARE THE.
PARTY THAT WOULD DISPUTE A
DISMISSAL OR RE SENTENCING SO IF
WE ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT WE
ELIMINATE MUCH OF THE FRICTION
IN THAT SYSTEM AND CAN
FACILITATE. THE REMEDY TO
INDIVIDUALS AND A MUSTACHE MUCH
FASTER RATE.
ONE THING I WOULD RECOMMEND TO
THIS COMMITTEE OR OTHERS IS TO
CONSIDER REQUESTING THE DATA
FROM YOUR INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES
ARE PERHAPS ALL THE COUNTIES
ACROSS THE STATE. SO THAT THEY
CAN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
THAT WORK WOULD WOULD LOOK LIKE
FOR THEM.
AND PERHAPS THEY CAN BEGIN WITH
A SUBSET OF THAT WORK IF THEY
DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO
DEAL WITH ALL OF IT.
COM AND THE SECOND THING I WOULD
RECOMMEND IS CONSIDERING SOME
SUPPORT TO COURT STAFF.
IN SAN FRANCISCO THE BIG LIMITER
ON US BEING ABLE TO DO THIS AT
THE RATE WE WOULD LIKE TO. IS
THE AVAILABILITY OF A COURT
CLERK TO PROCESS THE PAPERWORK
THAT WE FILE.
I'M SO I WOULD IMAGINE. THERE
OTHER COUNTIES AROUND THE STATE
THAT HAVE A SIMILAR.
RESOURCE LIMITATION OF THE COURT
LEVEL.
UP WITH THAT I WILL CLOSE I
WOULD JUST SAY I WOULD ENCOURAGE
OTHER DA'S TO EMBRACE THEIR ROLE
AS. GUARDIANS AND FACILITATORS
OF JUSTICE AND DO THE WORK THAT
THE LEGISLATION. UP REQUESTED IN
THE VOTERS ANTICIPATED THERE
WERE.
IN ACTING AND HELP INDIVIDUAL
SEAT THIS REMEDY THANK YOU NO
THANK YOUS DESOTO DO VERY I
APPRECIATE.
CITIES.
LEADERSHIP AND.
IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT EGG
ASSEMBLY IS ALAMEDA IN LIKE SAN
MATEO AND SONOMA.
ARE THE PROCESS IS THE SAME IN
ALL OF THE COUNTIES IS THERE A
SIMILARITY IN IN IN THE WAY
THEY'RE DOING IT IS THERE. THEM
COORDINATION AND THAT.
.
TRYING TO BUILD A MAYBE SOME
MORE MOMENTUM AROUND THE STATE.
THERE IS NOT A COORDINATION I
IMAGINE EACH COUNTY IS DOING IT
A BIT DIFFERENT THE ONES YOU
MENTION ARE ATTEMPTING TO
REPLICATE WHAT WE HAVE DONE
WE'VE SHARED THE FORM WE CREATED
WITH OUR COURT.
ON WITH ALL OF THOSE COUNTIES TO
HELP THEM BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT
THE PROCESS
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING
NOW WITH THE. NONPROFIT
TECHNOLOGY COMPANY TO HELP
FACILITATE.
THEY REVEALED THE FELONY CASES
WILL BE ANNOUNCING THAT
TOMORROW'S WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT
IT HERE YET. BUT I WILL HAVE
ANNOUNCEMENT IN THAT REGARD
TOMORROW. AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT
THAT WILL BE A RESOURCE THAT
COULD HELP SOME OF THE LARGER
COUNTIES ARE THE LESS RESOURCE
COUNTIES.
CONDUCT THIS REVIEW MORE
EFFICIENTLY IF YOU THINK YOU.
SENATE MCGUIRE.
CARE SO I THINK THE ONE ITEM I
WOULD SAY IS THAT I IN.
FROM CINEMA COUNTY THINK. YOU
HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD SO MANY
FOLKS JUST DON'T KNOW OR DON'T
REMEMBER RIGHT AND IF THERE IS
ON A PROACTIVE ROLE.
WILL NEVER OUT MOVED TO BE OF
EXPUNGED THE RECORD.
.
SO I HOW IS THIS BEING AT THEY
FOR EXAMPLE AT THE END OF
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS CONFERENCE
THAT BEING ABLE TO FOCUS IN ON
THAT CAN YOU CAN TALK TO US
ABOUT THAT. AND THE OTHER ITEM
IS RESOURCE IS OBVIOUSLY IT SAID
UP COURTS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY
CHALLENGING CONSERVE RESOURCES
WHAT IS IT TAKING FOR YOUR STAFF.
ARE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE ON ACTION
LIKE THIS.
SO AT WITHIN THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THE STAFFING
NAM.
IS LESS OF AN IMPEDIMENT AT
THINK IT REALLY IS AT THE
COURTHOUSE LEVEL WHERE THAT
CHALLENGE BECOMES MOST.
POIGNANT UP CERTAINLY EVERY
OFFICE WILL TELL YOU THEY NEED
MORE STAFF AYE IF YOU ASK ME ON
SOME OTHER TRYING TO TELL YOU
ANY MORE STUFF FOR A LOT OF
THINGS BUT. A AN IMPORTANT PART
OF THIS WORK I THINK IS THAT WE
ASSUME THAT RESPONSIBILITY RIGHT
THAT WAS WORK WE CONDUCTED ON
BEHALF OF CALIFORNIANS AND NOW
THE CALIFORNIA THAT'S US TO
UNRAVEL THAT AND I THINK IT'S
INCUMBENT UPON US TO DO THAT
WITHOUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
THAT MAY NOT BE SOMETHING OTHER
COUNTIES CAN ENGAGE IN. BUT IS
CENTURY REQUIRES ASKING THE
COURT DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO
RUN YOU A LIST OF EVERY
STANDALONE MARIJUANA CONVICTION.
AND WHEN THEY GIVE YOU THAT LIST
IT GENERALLY COMES IN A IN A
READABLE FORMAT THAT CAN BE
CONVERTED INTO A SPREADSHEET.
AND THEN YOU CAN PULL THOSE ON
INDIVIDUALS ON THE MISDEMEANORS
THERE'S NO ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
SO THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT HAVE
TO PULL IN INDIVIDUALS RAP SHEET
EVALUATE THEIR CRIMINAL HISTORY.
THEY'RE ENTITLED TO THAT REMEDY
NOT SO THOSE ARE MUCH EASIER TO
COMPLETE AND IS ESSENTIALLY A
ONE PAGE FORM HAS TO BE
SUBMITTED TO THE COURT AND THEN
THE COURT HAS TO ENTERED INTO
THEIR. SYSTEM AND THEN IT GOES
TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE
APPRECIATE IN A DETACHED THE
REASON I BRING THAT UP AND
PLEASE CORRECT IF YOU THINK I'M
WRONG. OF BEING A FORMER WITH
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WHAT WE
ALWAYS HEAR WHEN THERE'S WORKING
ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S WORK IN
THE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT WANT TO
BE A MOVE ON IT. IT ALWAYS
BECOMES A BUDGET ISSUE OR WORK
FLOW ISSUE RIGHT RISKS I IN SO
WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY AT
LEAST WITHIN YOUR DEPARTMENT.
ARE THE WORKLOAD IS TIP IS GONNA
TYPICALLY BEYOND AT THE COURT
SIDE AYE AND A RELATIVELY PARA
AS. RELATIVELY EASY PATH OF IDEA
TO GET TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO
BECAUSE YOU'RE LEGALLY LIFTED
THE DATA FROM THE COURTS.
RIGHT SO WE HAVE PARALEGALS
DOING THIS WORK SO IT'S NOT A ON
THE MISDEMEANORS NOT REQUIRING
ATTORNEYS ENGAGEMENT UNTIL THE
VERY LAST MOMENTS. MUSCLE
PARALEGALS TAKE THAT LIST FILL
OUT THE FORMS THEY GET THE OKAY
AND FROM AN ATTORNEY WITHIN THE
OFFICE AND THEN THERE SUBMITTED
TO THE COURT.
AS INDICATED ON THE FELONIES
THAT DOES REQUIRE REVIEW AN
INDIVIDUAL'S RAP SHEET BECAUSE
THERE ARE CERTAIN.
EXCLUSIONS.
POTENTIAL EXCLUSIONS AND SO
WE'RE WORKING ON A TECHNOLOGICAL
SOLUTION THAT SHOULD EXPEDITE
THAT ROCESS.
NOTICE THAT MENTIONED HEREIN
OBVIOUSLY THINK I NEVER WANT TO
PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH BUT I.
I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
CRAZY THAT WE CONTINUE TALK
ABOUT CANNABIS BEING ON THE SAME
SCHEDULE AS HEROIN OR
METHAMPHETAMINE ON AND SHOULD
NEVER BE A SCHEDULE ONE. AYE AND
WANTING TO BE OUT HERE I'M YOUR
PROCESS AND THAT IS REALLY
ENCOURAGING IN REGARDS TO THE
WORK FLOW RIGHT AND WHAT IT TOOK
TO BE TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS
HAVE REALLY APPRECIATE DOING
THAT FOR US YOU YOU'RE WELCOME
ASSEMBLY MEMBER I WOULD ALSO
JUST OUT IF. IF IT COUNTY WERE
TO RUN ITS LIST ON THE COULD
PRIORITIZE RIGHT THEY IF THEY
CAN'T ACCOMPLISH ENTIRELY STATE
ONCE THEY COULD PRIORITIZE IF
THEY WERE PARTICULARLY RACIALLY
DISPARATE. IN WAYS THAT THEY NOW
WANT TO RECONCILE OF THE COULD
BEGIN WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS IF
THEY WANTED TO BUT THEY WERE
CONCERNED ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE.
SEEKING COLLEGE OR OTHER LOANS
ARE STERN THEY COULD START WITH
THOSE PEOPLE THEY COULD START
WITH THE NEWEST CONVICTION SO
WE'VE WE'VE CHOSEN TO PRIORITIZE
OURS BY THE MOST RECENT
CONVICTIONS AND WORK OUR WAY
BACKWARDS THE OLDER ONES ARE
HARDER FOR US BECAUSE.
FILE MANAGEMENT FROM THE
NINETEEN SEVENTIES AS YOU CAN
IMAGINE. A LITTLE LACKING. BUT
THE RECENT CONVICTIONS QUITE
EASY SO THAT'S HOW WE'VE CHOSEN
TO PRIORITIZE OURS WITH A COUNTY
COULD CHOOSE TO MAKE THAT
PRIORITIZATION WHICHEVER WAY
THEY SAW APPROPRIATE. I THINK
ONCE THEY RAN THEIR LIST THEY
COULD DECIDE WHAT PRIORITIES
THEY WANTED TO ACHIEVE WITH THAT
RECONCILIATION AND IN BEGIN
THEIR.
I THINK WE'RE GOOD THANK YOU
MICELI.
WELCOME THANK YOU THINK CARE
HEALTHCARE MCGUIRE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME
HERE TODAY NICOLE ELLIOTT
DIRECTOR OF THE SAN FRANCISCO
OFFICE OF CANNABIS. PERSON FOR
MOST I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE MY PEERS ARE
PARTICIPATING IN THIS HEARING
TODAY IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO BE
A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION WITH
THEM.
I'M SOME BRIEF OVERVIEW OF A AND
BACKGROUND OF SAN FRANCISCO'S
EQUITY PROGRAM A. B. M. LAST
FALL WITH AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IN
OUR REGULATORY STRUCTURE
ORDINANCE. THAT WE WOULD NOT
ISSUE PERMITS FOR COMMERCIAL
CANNABIS ACTIVITY IN TWENTY
EIGHTEEN AND TELEPORT AYE EQUITY
PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED.
MY FORMER BOSS THE LEAD MERELY
AND MY CURRENT BOSS CITY
ADMINISTRATOR NAOMI KELLY WERE
ONE HUNDRED PERCENT COMMITTED TO
MAKING IT CLEAR THAT EQUITY IN
THE CONTEXT OF CANNABIS.
RELATED ENTREPRENEURIAL AND
OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WOULD
COME FIRST BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE.
SO AS A CITY THIS REALLY HELPS
US TO ENSURE WE COLLECTIVELY
CRAFT CRAFTED A PROGRAM THAT THE-OFFICE OF CANNABIS IS NOW
IMPLEMENTING AND GROWING IN REAL
TIME.
I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T GIVE
ESPECIALLY KNOWLEDGE INTO SUCH A
SAN FRANCISCO SUPERVISOR MILLIE
ECHOING IN HER STAFF WHO WORKED
WITH STAKEHOLDERS. TO DRAFT THE
CRITERIA OF OUR PROGRAM FOR
EQUITY APPLICANTS INEQUITY
INCUBATORS.
AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM
MONUMENTAL WORK OF OUR BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS WHO MOVED A
COMPREHENSIVE REGULATORY PACKAGE
THERE ARE LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL
PROCESS IN RECORD TIME TO MEET
THE TWENTY EIGHTEEN DEADLINES.
I'D ALSO BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T
KNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT OAKLAND
HAS DONE ALONG WITH THE MANY
OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS ROOM
PRIOR TO OUR PROGRAMS
ESTABLISHMENT.
TO LEAD THE WAY ON POLICIES TO
ESTABLISH A MORE EQUITABLE
CANNABIS INDUSTRY THEIR PROGRAMS
ALONG WITH THE WORK LOS ANGELES
HAD DONE AT THE TIME. ULTIMATELY
INFORMED THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR
EQUITY REPORT AND THE LESSONS
LEARNED ONTINUE TO REFORM OUR
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION TO THIS DAY.
AT THE END OF THE DAY. SAN
FRANCISCO ESTABLISHED A PATHWAY
FACULTY APPLICANTS WHO MEET
CRITERIA ESTABLISHED OUT LAST
FALL OR EQUITY INCUBATORS PEOPLE
OR ENTITIES THAT DO NOT MEET
THAT CRITERIA BUT WHO ARE
INTERESTED IN DOING. BUSINESS IN
SAN FRANCISCO AND SUPPORT OUR
BROADER EQUITY GOALS.
HER COMMITMENT TO AN EQUITABLE
AND INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE AND THE
PROVISION OF SPACE AND SECURITY
AND OR THE EQUIVALENT AND
TECHNICAL SERVICES TO VERIFY
EQUITY APPLICANT FOR NO LESS
THAN THREE YEARS.
HAPPY TO REVIEW THE SPECIFICS OF
THAT CRITERIA IF YOU ARE
INTERESTED BUT THE COMMON THREAD
IS THAT THE CRITERIA FOR OUR
EQUITY APPLICANTS SEEK TO
ACKNOWLEDGE. ACKNOWLEDGE THE
COLLATERAL IMPACTS THE WAR ON
DRUGS HAD BROUGHT THE WAR ON
DRUGS HAS HAD ON PEOPLE AND
COMMUNITIES. ON ESPECIALLY THOSE
WITHIN OUR CITY THE CRITERIA
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT ONE MAY HAVE
TROUBLE SECURING A JOB OR
MAINTAINING HOUSING DUE TO AN
ARREST OR CONVICTION. REGARDLESS
OF WHERE THAT ARREST OR
CONVICTION OCCURRED.
IT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE IS A
SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE IN THE
ARREST OR CONVICTION OF AN
IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER CAN HAVE
GENERATIONAL IMPACTS ON FAMILIES.
FOR OUR INCUBATORS THAT CRITERIA
REFLECTS THE CITY'S COMMITMENT
ALSO SEEA DIVERSE INCLUSIVE
WORKFORCE BY REQUIRING
INCUBATORS TO HIRE HIRE A LOCAL
WORKFORCE AND PRIDE PRIORITIZING
THE HIRING OF A WORKFORCE THAT
REFLECTS REFLECTS OUR
COMMUNITIES. MOST IMPACTED BY
OVER POLICING.
THE CRITERIA ALSO REFLECTS A
FLEXIBILITY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
NOT EVERY IN Q. EIGHTY MAY NEED
SPACE.
BUT PERHAPS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
IS THE HIGHEST NEED.
AND FOR OUR NEWLY CREATED PER
OPERATE CANNABIS BUSINESS
PERMITS WE ONLY ALLOW THE
FOLLOWING QUALIFIED APPLICANTS
TO SEEK THESE PERMITS MOVING
FORWARD. OUR EXISTING INDUSTRY
OPERATORS WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY
SHUT DOWN IN SAN FRANCISCO DUE
TO FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT OR THE
THREAT OF FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT.
AND PARTICIPANTS IN OUR EQUITY
PROGRAM.
AT THE END OF THE DAY THE
SIMPLEST WAY TO DESCRIBE POWER
EQUITY PROGRAM FITS INTO THE
STRUCTURE. OF SAN FRANCISCO'S
COMMERCIAL CANNABIS FRAMEWORK IS
THIS.
ANY GROWTH OF OUR EXISTING
INDUSTRY OR ANY BUSINESS SEEKING
TO ENTER THE SAN FRANCISCO
MARKET MUST DO SO THROUGH OUR
EQUITY PROGRAM.
AND NOT AND NOT UNTIL OUR EQUITY
PROGRAM REPRESENT HALF OF OUR
LOCAL INDUSTRY WILL WE ALLOW NEW
BUSINESSES TO SEEK PERMITS
ABSENT PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ WE
PROGRAM.
AND EVEN THEN WE WILL MAY WE
WILL MAINTAIN A FIFTY PERCENT
PARTICIPATION RATE.
I'M A COUPLE OF LESSONS THAT
WE'VE LEARNED OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU
HAVE RAPID CREATION AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES ON
THERE ARE SOME UNEXPECTED
PITFALLS AND WE TRY TO CAPTURE
THOSE ON A DAILY BASIS AND AND
SEEK TO. ON RECONCILE THOSE.
AS A COST RECOVERY DEPARTMENT
AND WITH NO CANNABIS SPECIFIC
TAX MEASURE IN PLACE IN SAN
FRANCISCO WE WE LACK THE
SPECIFIC SPECIFIC FUNDING AT
THIS POINT.
TO IMPLEMENT A TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM MUCH LIKE
OAKLAND'S THAT WOULD GO ABOVE
AND BEYOND WHAT THE CITY ALREADY
OFFERS THROUGH TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO SMALL BUSINESSES.
OBVIOUSLY THE CHALLENGES WITH
THE CONFLICT WITH CONFLICTING
FEDERAL LAW AND FEDERAL FUNDING
TO MANY OF OUR NONPROFIT.
WORKFORCE AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS CREATES
COMPLEX FOR THE PROVISION OF
SERVICE EQUITY APPLICANTS.
AND OBVIOUSLY IN A CAPITALIST
SYSTEM CAPITALISTIC SOCIETY THAT
NAGESH REWARDS THOSE WHO WORK
HARD BUT IS ALSO KNOWN TO REWARD
THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF OTHERS. THE SWIFT
IMPLEMENTATION OF A PROGRAM CAN
LEAD TO LOOK LOOPHOLES THAT THE
MARKET WILL EXPLOIT.
THAT'S WHY IT'S INCUMBENT ON US
AS PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS TO
SERVE AS AN EXTRA LAYER OF
SCRUTINY ON BEHALF OF OUR
VERIFIED EQUITY APPLICANTS.
AND TO DO SO IN A FIRM BUT FAIR
AND BALANCED MANNER.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS I THE
STATE CAN DO I THINK TO SUPPORT
US IN FRANCISCO AND OUR FELLOW
JURISDICTIONS EQUITY PROGRAMS AS
WELL AS TO ENCOURAGE OTHER
JURISDICTIONS TO IMPLEMENT
PROGRAMS SUCH AS OURS.
.
WHEN LOCALITIES PRIORITIZE
EQUITABLE OUTCOME THEY OFTEN
KNOW WHAT'S BEST IN THEIR
JURISDICTION HOWEVER ABSENT
LOCALITIES DOING THIS AND IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT THE STATE'S
STEPPIN.
DEFERENCE TO LOCAL PERSPECTIVES
THOUGH LIKE SAN FRANCISCO I
THINK IS APPROPRIATE AND
NECESSARY.
SO PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO THOSE
WHO PARTICIPATE I THINK IS
IMPORTANT UP POLICY OBJECTIVE.
THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK
AT AND YOU KNOW IN SAN FRANCISCO
WE WOULD LOVE TO RECEIVE
TARGETED STATE FUNDING PRIOR TO
PRIORITIZE PROCESSING FOR
APPLICANTS. AND ADDITIONAL
SPECIAL RESOURCES.
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER ARE
EQUITY PROGRAM CALLED OUT MAJOR
BARRIERS TO ENTRY AND THERE ARE
THINGS THAT THE STATE CAN DO TO
ADDRESS MANY OF THESE BARRIERS
SUCH AS. FINANCIAL.
PROVIDING ACCESS TO LOW
INTEREST OR NO INTEREST LOANS OR
GRANTS THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY
NOT HAVE PERSONAL CAPITAL CAN
AFFORD TO GET THEIR BUSINESSES
OFF THE GROUND AND ACCESS REAL
ESTATE.
INCENTIVES GO ACCESS TO REAL
ESTATE MAY JUST BE ONE OF THE
HIGHEST HURDLES AND THE OPERATOR
MUST OVERCOME.
PROVIDING ARMS FUNDING OR TO
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN
JURISDICTIONS WITH EQUITY
PROGRAMS OR TO STATE EQUITY
APPLICANTS.
LEGAL SERVICES BUSINESS PLANNING
MARKETING AND REGULATORY
COMPLIANCE THESE ARE ALL SKILLS
THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR SUCCESS IN
ANY BUSINESS.
IF EQUITY OPERATORS NOTABLY
FIRST TIME ENTREPRENEURS ARE
GOING TO GET A BUSINESS UP AND
RUNNING AND MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL
THEY WILL NEED THE SUPPORT.
LICENSING ASSISTANCE CHALLENGE
FOR ANY BUSINESS TO NAVIGATE
THROUGH RELATIVELY COMPLEX DUAL
LICENSING SCHEMES AND SAN
FRANCISCO WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL
IN HELPING INDIVIDUAL OPERATIONS
MOVE TOWARDS COMPLIANCE BY
WORKING WITH THEM EVERY STEP OF
THE WAY. AND WHILE THE BCC HAS
BEEN PRETTY GOOD ABOUT DOING
THIS WITH OPERATORS AND THEY
WILL GET SPREAD THIN AND SO
HAVING STAFF WITHIN LICENSING
AGENCIES. THAT ARE DESIGNATED
SPECIFICALLY TWO EGGS TO ASSIST
EQUITY OPERATORS AND NAVIGATE
THE COMPLEXITIES.
OF THE LICENSING PROCESS AND
USING THEIR STAFF TO CONNECT
TRAINING SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE
STATE WOULD GO MILES TOWARDS
ENSURING SUCCESS.
TAKING THE REGISTERED SUPPORT OF
AB THIRTY ONE FIFTY SEVEN
SERIOUSLY. IN TODAY'S ATMOSPHERE
WELL FUNDED BUSINESSES THAT CAN
BUILD IN FINANCIAL CONTINGENCY
FOR UNFORESEEN TAX LIABILITIES
WILL HAVE AN ADVANTAGE OVER LESS
ECONOMICALLY ADVANTAGED VENTURES.
THIS WAS CALLED OUT SPECIFICALLY
ON OUR EQUITY REPORTER IN WHILE
EQUITY PROGRAM COMPONENT SHOULD
BE DESIGNED TO MEDICAID MITIGATE
THESE BARRIERS. SO SHOULD
GENERAL COMMERCIAL CANNABIS
CAUGHT POLICIES INCLUDING
TAXATION.
THE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE CLEARLY
SAID THE TAX BURDEN IS TOO
ONEROUS AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME.
AND THIS TAX BURDEN CAUSES A
BARRIER TO ENTRY FOR NEW
BUSINESSES OR STRUGGLING
BUSINESSES AND BECAUSE OF THIS
IT TAKES AWAY THE ABILITY OF
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS SUCH AS SAN
FRANCISCO. TO REINVEST POTENTIAL
TAX REVENUE INTO ARE
DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES
EITHER THURSDAY ALLOCATION OR
LOCAL COMMITMENTS.
REMOVING CRIMINAL BARRIERS A
CRIMINAL RECORD CAN LIMIT AND AN
INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO GAIN
EMPLOYMENT APPLY FOR GOVERNMENT
ASSISTANCE OR EVEN OBTAIN ALONE.
IN THE CASE OF INDIVIDUALS
CONVICTED OF A DRUG OFFENSE HE'S
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
COUPLED WITH FINES COURT COSTS
INCARCERATION OTHER SUBSEQUENT.
DISADVANTAGES CAN BE
INSURMOUNTABLE IN RECOGNITION OF
THIS TIME PROUD THAT OUR
DISTRICT ATTORNEY GEORGE GASCON
CHOSE TO PROACTIVELY EXPUNGE
MOST RECORDS. AND THIS IS THE
TYPE OF THINGS ALL AGENCY SHOULD
BE DOING LOCAL AND STATE TAKING
A LOOK AT THE IMPACTS OF OUR
AGENCIES. AND THOSE IMPACTS IN
PERPETUATING INEQUITIES AND
DOING SOMETHING PROACTIVE TO
ADDRESS IT.
THE STATE CAN BE A MORE ACTIVE
PARTICIPANT IN THIS BY PUSHING
JURISDICTIONS TO TAKE RDAS LEAD.
AND PRIVATE PROVIDING THE
SUPPORT NECESSARY TO MAKE THAT A
REALITY THINGS LIKE CHRISTINE
POINTED OUT.
IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT I'M PROUD
TO LIVE IN A CITY WHERE RDA WILL
CONTINUE TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES
AND LEAD THE WAY ON THIS FRONT.
AND FINALLY FOUND HELPING LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS DEVELOP TRUST WITH
THE COMMUNITY THIS HAS PASSED TO
BE DONE ACROSS THE BOARD. IN ALL
JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE STATE
ON AND BY THE STATE A LOCAL
EXAMPLE. FROM SAN FRANCISCO I'M
AS WE CREATED THE CRITERIA FOR
OUR EUITY PROGRAM WE ALSO RAN
AN AMNESTY PROGRAM FOR EXISTING
FOR EXISTING SAN FRANCISCO BASED
INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS.
THROUGH THIS AMNESTY PROGRAM WE
INVITED UNREGULATED OPERATORS TO
MAKE THEIR ACTIVITY KNOWN TO THE
CITY. WE FURTHER REQUIRE THAT
OPERATORS PROVE THEIR ACTIVITY
PRIOR TO LAST FALL THEY'VE PAID
THEIR TAXES OR ALLOW THEM TO
MAKE AMENDS WITH OUR TAX
COLLECTOR.
AND ESTABLISH THE VIABILITY OF
THEIR LOCATION FROM A PLANNING
AND REGULATORY SOME.
PERSPECTIVE. WE'VE ENDED A LIFE
A LIGHT TOUCH LIFE SAFETY
INSPECTION AND ARE NOW IN THE
PROCESS OF PUTTING OUT PUTTING
OUR EXISTING INDUSTRY THE ENTIRE
SPECTRUM OF ACTIVITY.
I'M INTO TEMPORARY PERMITS IN
RAMPING THOSE OPERATIONS UP TO A
HIGHER LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE.
THIS WAS DONE BECAUSE IT IS
SIMPLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO BUT
THE BENEFIT OF THIS PROGRAM IS
TO HELP. IS IT HELPED MY OFFICE
DEVELOP A GOOD RAPPORT WITH OUR
EXISTING INDUSTRY AND THIS HAS
HELPED TO SET THE TONE. BRAG
WITTY PROGRAM BUSINESS
BUSINESSES WHO WANT TO WORK WITH
HIM FRANCISCO MOVING FORWARD.
ALL STOP THERE AND I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THINK AGAIN
WE'RE HAVING LOW TODAY.
APPRECIATED.
WELCOME. THANK YOU KNOW HERE LOS
ANGELES'S.
ROLAND THIS THEY'RE BIGGER THINK
INTENTIONAL PUN.
THE
I AGAIN CAT PACKER EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AND GENERAL MANAGER OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF CANNABIS
REGULATION FOR THE CITY OF LOS
ANGELES I'D LIKE TO THANK. OUR
LEGISLATORS HERE THE SENATE
GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
IN THE SENATE BUSINESS
PROFESSIONS AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE POP FOR
HOSTING THIS INFORMATIONAL
SESSION SUCH AN IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION TO HAVE. ARE ALSO
WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR MAYOR
MAYOR AIRCRAFT STUDY I DON'T
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HERB WESSON IN
THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US
TO PASS A SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM.
IN ALIGNMENT AT THE SAME TIME AS
OURLARGER REGULATORY FRAMEWORK.
BUT I'D LIKE TO DO IS TO PROVIDE
BACKGROUND. ON OUR SOCIAL EQUITY
PROGRAM IN INTO TRAIN PROVIDE
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT THE
STATE CAN DO TO SUPPORT.
OFFER THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW UP
PRIOR TO JANUARY FIRST TWENTY
EIGHTEEN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED MEDICAL
CANNABIS OPERATORS BUT GAVE
CERTAIN OPERATORS NAMELY THOSE
WHO HAD BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE
TWO THOUSAND AND SEVEN. AND
THOSE WHO HAD BEEN COMPLIANT
WITH PASSED CANNABIS POLICIES
LIMITED IMMUNITY FROM
PROSECUTION A
DESPITE THIS PROHIBITION ON THE
CITY OF LOS ANGELES HAS MANY
UNLAWFUL OPERATORS.
THE PASSAGE OF PROPOSITION SIXTY
FOR THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES
LARGELY LED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
RULES ELECTION AND
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. BEGAN TO
CONSIDER AND DRAFT POLICIES TO
ALLOW FOR THE REASONABLE
REGULATION OF COMMERCIAL
CANNABIS ACTIVITY TO INCLUDE
BOTH MEDICAL AND ADULT USE.
THIS CONSIDERATION INCLUDED THE
CREATION OF PROGRAMMING DESIGNED
SPECIFICALLY AND INTENTIONALLY
TO ADDRESS THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND
COMMUNITIES DISPROPORTIONATELY
HARMED BY THE DISPROPORTIONATE
ENFORCEMENT CANNABIS POLICIES
AND THE LARGER HARMS OF THE WAR
ON DRUGS.
LARGELY FOLLOWING IN THE
FOOTSTEPS OF OAKLAND UP LARGELY
LED BY MISS DEADLY BOOKS IS HERE
TODAY AYE ANY COLLABORATION WITH
OTHER JURISDICTIONS THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR SOCIAL ACNE
PROGRAMS.
THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES FIRST
THOUGHT TO OUR DRAFT A SOCIAL
EQUITY ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY
WHICH COMMUNITIES WERE MOST
HARDEST HIT BY THE WAR ON DRUGS.
I AS A PART OF THIS SOCIAL
EQUITY ANALYSIS THE RULES
COMMITTEE CAME BACK TO THE CITY
COUNCIL AND PUT FORTH A. PROGRAM
THAT WOULD IDENTIFY ONE THE. OF.
PARTICULAR APPLICANTS WHO WOULD
BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THE
PROGRAM AND THEN BENEFITS THAT
THESE APPLICANTS WOULD RECEIVE
WITHIN OUR LARGER LICENSING
FRAMEWORK.
THE BILL A A WAY OF BACKGROUND
A TO LICENSE AND REGULATE
COMMERCIAL CANNABIS ACTIVITY
WITHIN THE CITY THE MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCIL ESTABLISH A
DEPARTMENT CANNABIS REGULATION.
AND A CANNABIS REGULATION
COMMISSION ON DECEMBER
NINETEENTH TWO THOUSAND
SEVENTEEN THE CITY COUNCIL AND
MAYOR APPROVED A NUMBER OF
CAMPUS RELATED ORDINANCES AFFECT
AWAITING THE CITY'S NEW CANNABIS
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK. NAMELY
IDENTIFYING THE NUMBER OF CAMPUS
BUSINESSES THE CITING OF
CANNABIS BUSINESSES THE PROCESS
FOR LICENSING AND OPERATIONAL
REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE
BUSINESSES.
PAR LOCAL ORDINANCES THERE ARE
THREE PHASES OF LIFE THANK.
THE FIRST BASIS FOR EXISTING
MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES.
THE SECOND FOR EXISTING SUPPLIER
SUPPORTING SOCIAL EQUITY AND THE
THIRD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC WITH
PRIORITY GIVEN TO SOCIAL EQUITY
PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.
AS A LICENSING UPDATE PARLOR
ORDINANCE BETWEEN JANUARY THIRD
TWENTY EIGHTEEN AND MARK FOURTH
TWENTY EIGHTEEN THEIR PARTNER
CANNABIS REGULATION BEGAN TO
ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR PHASE
ONE OF OUR LICENSING.
TO DATE WE HAVE ONE HUNDRED
FORTY SIX OPERATORS WITH
TEMPORARY APPROVAL.
THE DEPARTMENT PARRIS REGULATION
INTENDS TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH
OF FACE TO OVER THE COURSE OF
THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS. WITHIN
OUR CURRENT SOCIAL EQUITY
PROGRAM.
THE DEPARTMENT OF CANVAS
REGULATION INTENDS TO PROVIDE
OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT.
PRIORITY PROCESSING THE REVIEW
AND ADMINISTRATION OF SOCIAL
EQUITY AGREEMENTS.
LARGELY A DEFINING HOW WE WOULD
SET UP INCUBATORS WITHIN THE
CITY.
BUSINESS LICENSING AND
COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE AND THEN
WE ALSO ALLOW FOR A FEE
DIFFERENT PROGRAM IN AN INDUSTRY
INVESTMENT FUND IF ESTABLISHED.
THOSE ARE THE PARTS OF OUR
PROGRAM THAT RELATE TO OWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES BUT A LARGE PART
OF OUR PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES FOR
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS ASK THE
DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ENGAGING
WITH THE NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDERS
AS A PART OF THE PROCESS OF OUR
IMPLEMENTATION OF A LOCAL
FRAMEWORK. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED IN
STAKEHOLDERS HAVE IDENTIFIED
MANY ISSUES OUT WITH. OUR LOCAL
SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM.
ONLY A FEW.
I.
THE DEPARTMENT'S IDENTIFIED
ISSUES OFF ONE FUNDING WE ARE
STILL COLLABORATIVE WOULD WORK
CITY COUNCIL TO IDENTIFY FUNDING
FOR SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM.
SECONDLY SCALE.
AS THE LARGEST MUNICIPAL AYE
JURISDICTION TO DIVE INTO THE
REGULATION OF COMMERCIAL
CANNABIS ACTIVITY WE UNDERSTAND
THAT WE HAVE TO CREATE A SOCIAL
EQUITY PROGRAM TO SCALE.
I ALSO.
THE DEPARTMENT CANNABIS
REGULATION IS CURRENTLY
DEPARTMENT FOR ON WE REPRESENT A
CITY OF FOUR MILLION ON SO WE WE
RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE LIMITED
CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT OUR LIVES
LOCAL. SOCIAL APTLY PROGRAM.
THEY CALLED US HAVE IDENTIFIED
MANY ISSUES AS WELL. INFORMATION
FUNDING PREDATORY PRACTICES THAT
HAVE BEEN ALLUDED TO ALREADY THE
SUSTAINABILITY. OF SOCIAL EQUITY
OPERATORS NOT JUST ACCESS.
THE IDEA THAT PRIORITIZATION ARE
ADEQUATE CONSIDERATION WILL
CREATE A REGULATORY BOTTLENECK.
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE PROPERTY.
SUPPLIER DIVERSITY AND CONCEPTS
OF LICENSE SUITABILITY.
CURRENTLY THE CITY COUNCIL IS
CONSIDERING AMENDMENTS TO OUR
SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM THREE MORE
INCLUSIVE OF CERTAIN LOCATIONS
THAT WERE DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED. TO ALLOW FOR
BUSINESSES TO.
S. SUSTAIN OFF SITE INCUBATION
SERVICES AND ALSO TO ALLOW
BUSINESSES WHO MIGHT NOTBE ABLE
TO PROVIDE SPACE TO PROVIDE. A
COMPARABLE.
OUR SUPPORT VIA MONETARY.
ARE AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
LASTLY A FEW KEY POINTS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE DEVELOPMENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF CANADA'S
POLICIES ARE COMPLEX AND INVOLVE
CONSIDERATION OF MANY IMPORTANT
MATTERS.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE
LICENSING AND REGULATION OF
COMMERCIAL CANNABIS ACTIVITY. AS
WE IMPLEMENT THIS SHIFT IN
PUBLIC POLICY AND PUBLIC OPINION
TOWARD NEW CANNABIS POLICIES.
IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT
WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND ADDRESS THOSE
COMMUNITIES THAT WERE HARMED BY
PAST POLICIES.
HOWEVER THIS IS NOT ENOUGH.
AS WE DISCUSSED CANNABIS POLICY
REFORM WE MUST ALSO WORK TO
ENSURE THAT THESE HARMS
THEMSELVES DO NOT REFORM.
IT IS IN THIS SPIRIT THAT THE
CITY OF LOS ANGELES HAS SOUGHT
TO APPROACH WOULD HAS BEEN
COINED SOCIAL EQUITY.
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS.
THAT ALL COMMUNITIES DESERVE
EQUITY IN ALL AREAS.
HELP ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
SAFETY AND IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF
LOS.
MANY JURISDICTIONS THROUGHOUT
THE U. S. HAVE SKIPPED THIS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION CONVINCED THAT IT'S
SOMETHING THAT'S TOO COMPLICATED
TO TACKLE. WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY
ESTABLISHMENT FRAMEWORKS THAT
HAVE OFTEN BEEN DESCRIBED AS
BUILDING THE PLANE WHILE FLYING
IT.
LASTLY AYE FELIZ THOUGH IT'S
IMPORTANT TO STATE THE OBVIOUS.
UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW AND UNDER
SIMILAR LAWS WITHIN THE CITY OF
LOS ANGELES. IT IS STILL A CRIME
TO OPERATE OR WORK FOR BUSINESS
WITHOUT A STATE LICENSE AND
LOCAL AUTHORIZATION.
FOR BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES
IN OTHER COMMUNITIES
HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED AND
CRIMINALIZED
BY THEIR CANNABIS ACTIVITY.
HAVING A LICENSE OR WORKING FOR
SOMEONE WHO HAS A LICENSE
MAY BE THE VERY THING THAT KEEPS
THESE PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
AS LOCAL JURISDICTIONS HAVE
CREATED SOCIAL EQUITY ANALYSIS
TO PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK FOR
THEIR PROGRAMS.
I FEEL AS THOUGH IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR THE STATE TO CREATE A
STATEWIDE EQUITY ANALYSIS.
THEY'RE ALSO NEEDS TO BE A
ONGOING IMPACT ANALYSIS AS
CHANGES ARE MADE TO. REGULATIONS
AND LEGISLATION RELATED TO
CANNABIS ACTIVITY.
WE SHOULD BE COLLECTING DATA AND
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION. ON
APPLICANTS
AND HOW APPLICANTS ARE TREATED
WITHIN THIS REGULATORY FRAMEWORK.
THE STATE SHOULD CONSIDER GIVING
PRIORITY IN THE PROCESSING OF
APPLICATIONS PARTICULARLY WHEN
NEW LICENSE TYPES ARE CREATED.
FURTHERMORE LANGUAGE IS
IMPORTANT AYE TIME AND TIME
AGAIN ARE ALMOST AS AN
AFTERTHOUGHT WE WE VERY EASILY
USE THE TERM BLACK MARKET. I AM
OFTEN HEARING THE TERM WHITE
MARKET NOWADAYS AND I THINK THAT
THAT'S VERY OFFENSIVE TO CERTAIN
COMMUNITIES.
I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE THE
INDUSTRY TO OWN THIS ISSUE.
ARE THERE ALSO SHOULD BE JOB
PROGRAMS COMPLETELY UNRELATED TO
CANNABIS ACTIVITY CREATING
COMMUNITIES THAT WERE HARMED
BECAUSE FOR MANY COMMUNITY
MEMBERS. ARE THEIR PARTICIPATION
IN CANNABIS ACTIVITY WAS BECAUSE
THEY WERE DENIED ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES IN OTHER SPACES.
BUT WHAT WE NEED MOST OF ALL IS
LEADERSHIP ON THESE ON THESE
ISSUES AND MANY MORE MOVING
FORWARD THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
BURGER THANK YOU VERY MUCH
RESPECTED QUESTIONS.
THAT ARE REQUIRED SO JUST HEARING SUMMIT AND.
LOOKING AT LOS ANGELES WHICH IS
THE LARGEST MARKET IN THE STATE.
ON COUPLE ITEMS WILL LOOK IN THE
AYE. AYE STATEWIDE LEVEL I THINK
THAT AT THE BUREAU HAS ONLY
ISSUED NINE HUNDRED NINETEEN
HUNDRED AND TWENTY SEVEN
TEMPORARY LICENSES.
TWELVE HUNDRED OF THOSE HAVE
BEEN DENIED MOST OF THEM HAD
BEEN.
REQUESTED A IN COUNTIES THAT
CURRENTLY HAVE BILLIONS FOR
EXAMPLE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT LOS ANGELES.
WHICH HAS.
I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW MANY
UNLICENSED CURRENTLY IN YOUR FOR
FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING IT
WORKING IT HARD RIGHT.
HOW IS IT THAT WE GET OUR HANDS
AROUND THIS?
ONE JUST BEING ABLE TO BRING
FOLKS INTO THE NEW REGULATED
MARKET.
BUT THEN AT THE SAME TIME THOUGH
FOCUSING ON THE ISSUE OF EQUITY
BECAUSE IT IS ABSOLUTELY
IMPORTANT. ARE THAT THOSE
BUSINESS OWNERS ARE REFLECTIVE
OF THE COMMITTEES OF THEIR
SERVING.
BUT I THINK IT'S. A HERE IN THE
ONSET. BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF
THE WILD WEST RIGHT BECAUSE
THERE'S JUST SO MUCH TO DO AND
THERE'S.
IT'LL A FIRE HOSE AT THE MOMENT
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE
WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON EQUITY BUT
THEN.
WE'RE BARELY ABLE TO EVEN
TRANSITION FOLKS
OUT OF THE UNREGULATED MARKET IN
INTO THIS NEW LEGAL MARKET TO
TALK ABOUT THAT.
IT'S A HUGE TASK UP NOT ONLY FOR
THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES BUT
FIRST FOR MANY JURISDICTION
RIGHT AYE I COMMUNICATE WITH
MANY OTHER A LOCAL JURISDICTIONS
AS A STRUGGLE THROUGH THIS
PROCESS PROCESS AND ARE
CONSIDERING REGULATIONS. AND
AREN'T SURE ABOUT QUITE WHERE TO
GO OFF FIRST AND FOREMOST I
THINK THAT.
THERE CAN BE INTENTIONAL
EFFORTS TO OUR ALLOW LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS AND THE STATE
PARTICULARLY ON THE STATE
LICENSING AND REGULATORY
AGENCIES TO INTENTIONALLY COME
TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO
SOLVE SOME OF THESE ISSUES. ARE
BECAUSE FOR MANY LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS IS GOING TO BE
JURISDICTION FICTION SPECIFIC.
ARE SO ANY EFFORT THAT CAN BE
BOLSTERED OUGHT TO. CREATE
PATHWAYS AND COMMUNICATIONS ARE
BETWEENGOVERNMENT I THINK IT'S
GONNA BE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
BUT YOU'RE YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT WERE FOR THE CITY OF LOS
ANGELES WE HAVE ONE HUNDRED
FORTY SIX BUSINESSES THAT HAVE.
TEMPORARY APPROVAL AT THIS POINT
BUT I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO
FIND THAT WE HAD TWENTY FIVE
HUNDRED.
I'M LICENSE BUSINESSES AND PAST
YEARS WHEN THE CITY OF LOS
ANGELES HAS CONSIDERED THE SIZE
OF THEIR ILLICIT MARKET ODD
THOSE NUMBERS RANGED IN THE HIGH
HUNDREDS. WE'VE OFTEN ONLY BEEN
TALKING ABOUT RETAIL ACTIVITY
AND AS WE START TO AYE DIVE
DEEPER INTO OPERATORS THAT HAVE
BEEN HELD BEHIND THE SHADOWS I
THINK THAT WILL START TO SEE
CULTIVATORS MANUFACTURERS. AYE
DISTRIBUTORS EXCITER AND SO THIS
IS A A HUGE EFFORT I THINK THAT
PART OF THE CHALLENGE ON
PARTICULARLY THE CHALLENGE FOR
THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES WAS THAT
WE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE HAD A
MANDATE THAT WE HAD TO STAND A
PROGRAM UP. OUGHT WITHIN A
CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME ARE THAT
WAS SET BY THE STATE.
SO FOR EXAMPLE FOR THE CITY OF
LOS ANGELES BECAUSE WE HAD.
PROHIBITED CANNABIS ACTIVITY OUR
AND OUR BUSINESSES WERE GIVEN
LIMITED IMMUNITY ARE.
THE DEPARTMENT CANNABIS
REGULATION QUICKLY HAD TO
CONVERT BUSINESSES AND GIVE THEM
SOME TYPE OF AUTHORIZATION. US
THAT THEY WEREN'T PENALIZED
I THIS IS A A CONVERSATION AND
AN ANSWER THAT COULD TAKE OFF
FOR OUR SLOW ALL POLLS THERE BUT
I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW UP
AND ENSURE SPECIFIC INFORMATION
I I WOULD LOVE THAT IN A AND I.
NOT AT ALL TURN THAT PICK ON LOS
ANGELES AT ALL BECAUSE IT IS
BEEN IT'S A CHALLENGE THAT WE
SEE THROUGHOUT THE STATE ONLY
RESEMBLING THAT HAPPENS JUST
BECAUSE.
OF YOUR SIZE IT'S JUST. IT IS TO
BE A BIG MARKET RIGHT AYE TO BE
ABLE TO CONVERT. MY OTHER ITEM
AYE POSSIBLY MOLASSES.
.
YOU TALK ABOUT THAT MAYBE SOME
STATEWIDE STANDARDS.
THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE RIGHT
RATHER THAN GOING JURISDICTION
BY JURISDICTION.
I'M
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WAR.
AND A MAYBE ANECDOTAL AT THE
MOMENT AYE YOUR LICENSE.
HOW REFLECTIVE ARE THOSE WHO ARE
COMING IN FOR A LICENSE?
OF THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH
THEY'RE OPERATING IN WITHIN LA.
WOULD YOU SAY.
BY ANY AND ARE YOU TRACKING THAT
AT ALL IT'D BE INTERESTED ALSO
FROM THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT
THE DEPARTMENT CAN THOSE
REGULATION THE CITY OF LOS
ANGELES HAS NOT LICENSED OR
GIVEN ANY TYPE OF AUTHORIZATION
TO ANY NEW BUSINESSES.
SO ALL OF THE BUSINESSES IN
THEIR OWN RIGHT PRE EXISTING
GREW UP THESE ARE ARE LARGELY
FOLKS WHO ARE OF THE THE LOS
ANGELES COMMUNITY PART OF THE.
AYE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS OF
THESE BUSINESSES WITH THAT THEY
HAD TO BE IN EXISTENCE SINCE TWO
THOUSAND AND SEVEN. THE OTHER
BUSINESSES WHO HAVE EXISTED FOR
AT LEAST TEN YEARS HAVE BEEN
PAYING TAXES FOR AT LEAST TEN
YEARS. UNDER OUR FRIENDLY
TIGHTENING WITHIN THE FOR A
CORRECT.
IN IN YOUR TRACKING.
WHO'S WHO'S APPLYING WRITE ME
TO TELL YES WORK WERE TRACKING
WHO'S APPLYING AND IN IN TWO IN
IN FULL TRANSPARENCY WE'VE GONE
THROUGH A PRIORITY PROCESS
APPLICATIONS OF THESE BUSINESSES
HAVE YET TO SUBMIT. EVEN A FULL
APPLICATION AND SO THROUGH OUR
FULL APPLICATION PROCESS WE WILL
BE ABLE TO COLLECT MUCH MORE AYE
DATA BUT MOST OF THE PRIORITY
PROCESSING REVIEW THUS FAR HAS
BEEN TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE
OPERATORS ARE THOSE OPERATORS
WHO WERE. UP PREVIOUSLY COMPLY
WITH PASS CANDACE POLICIES AND
OUR STATE HAS POLICIES FOCUS ON
ONE WOMEN AND MINORITY OWNED
BUSINESSES FOR EXAMPLE. IN DO
YOU BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE OF
BENEFIT. ARE ON THE CANNABIS
RELATED SIDE AS WELL. ABSOLUTELY.
AYE IN IN I BELIEVE THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL THE MAYOR WOULD
SUPPORT THIS IS WHILE WE'VE
ALWAYS BEEN INCLUSIVE OF WANTING
TO ALLOW FOR PROGRAM
SPECIFICALLY FOR WOMEN IN
SPECIFICALLY FOR A FOR VETERANS.
NOT I DON'T THINK THAT THESE
CONVERSATIONS NEED TO HAPPEN I
NEED TO BE A PART OF THE THE
SAME PROGRAM I I THINK THAT AS
AS WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION
THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. FOLKS
HAVE COME AND SAID WELL YOU KNOW
WE WANT A PROGRAM FOR VETERANS
AND WE WANT TO PROGRAM FOR LGBT
MEMBERS AND WE WANT TO PROGRAM.
UP FOR WOMEN AND PART OF THE
CONVERSATION IS WHAT WE'RE
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE
INCLUSIVE AND AT THE SAME TIME
ACKNOWLEDGE THE VERY REAL. AND
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS THAT
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES HAVE
HAD AND I THINK THAT IF WE LUMP
ALL OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS INTO
ONE OR DILUTING THAT
CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU SENATE MCGUIRE SENATOR
BRADFORD.
THANK YOU I TOO WANT TO THANK
BOTH SAN FRANCISCO AND LOS
ARGUES FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THIS ISSUE. AND.
SPECTOR I REALLY APPRECIATE
WHAT YOU JUST STATED AS TO THE
NOT. THE LOOT
THE FOCUS SO WHERE WE ARE TODAY
AS IT RELATES TO BLACK AND BRWN.
A COMMUNITIES WHO'VE BEEN
GROSSLY IMPACTED BY THE
CRIMINALIZATION OF CANNABIS OVER
THE LAST FIFTY YEARS HERE AND I
CALIFORNIA NOT CROSSES NATION.
OP AND I COMMEND ALL THE WORK
THAT YOU'RE DOING.
IT'S LAUDABLE BUT I AGAIN MOST
OF WHAT I HEAR IS PRIMARILY
TARGETED TO THOSE FOLKS WHO FOR
WHATEVER REASON HAVE BEEN
PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED AIR OR
ARE LACKING FUNDING BUT. AGAIN I
HOPE I HAVE SOME.
.
STITCHES ARE MIND OR WATCHING
TODAY WHO HAVE APPROACH MY
OFFICE SINCE LAST YEAR. WHO ARE
NOT?
BLOCKING FUNDING.
WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN CONVICTED OF
A CRIME AND THEY STILL CAN'T
ACCESS ENTRY INTO THIS MARKET
AND MANY TIMES WHEN THEY GO TO
CONFERENCES THEY HEAR ABOUT
THESE?
VERTICAL COOPS THAT ARE ALREADY
LOOK LIKE A CLOSE UNIVERSE WERE
FROM SEED TO SAIL AND THEY'VE
ALREADY GOTTEN HER PARTNERS AND
IF THERE'S STILL SAM WAHAD Y.
GETTING INTO THIS BUSINESS. AND
AGAIN THEY'RE NOT LACKING FUNDS
THEY'RE NOT LACKING BUSINESS
EXPERIENCE. CASE EMPLOYABLE I A
A GOOD HOUR GAP PERSON I
RECOMMEND IT TO THE CITIZENS
ADVISORY BOARD WE'RE TOLD IT
WILL YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE IN
THIS INDUSTRY. BUT THEY'VE RUN A
SUCCESSFUL LAW PRACTICE IN THE
BUSINESS FOR THE LAST TWENTY
FIVE YEARS IN LOS ANGELES.
SO THEY HAVE THE BUSINESS
DOCUMENT SOUL YES MAYBE IT'S NOT
IN CANNABIS BUT THEY KNOW HOW TO
RUN A BUSINESS AND BE SUCCESSFUL
BUT THEY'RE BEING TOLD THEY HAVE
NO EXPERIENCE. IN SEEMS LIKE THE
ONLY FOLKS WHO ARE DEEMED TO
HAVE EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE FOLKS
WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE OF BUSINESS
FOR THE LAST TWENTY YEARS BE T
THROUGH THE MASK MEDICAL
DISPENSARY ARE.
THE GROW INDUSTRY SELF AGAIN HOW
ARE WE.
BUT WHAT OTHER THEN IT IMP BY A.
SCHISM IS STOPPING US FROM AGAIN
ATTRACTING THOSE PEOPLE OF COLOR
WHO HAVE THE MEANS TO HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO ENTER THIS MARKET
AND STILL CAN'T FIND PENETRATION.
ARE MAKE PENETRATION.
SO I I I THINK THAT THIS IS A.
A A A COMPLEX QUESTION
BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT FOR
FOR THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES
DISCIPLINE AND SHIRTS THAT THE
CASE WITH MANY OTHER
JURISDICTIONS ARE THERE ARE
THERE ARE.
MANY COSTS ASSOCIATED.
WITH WITH ENTERING THIS MARKET
AND IF A PERSON DOESN'T
NECESSARILY NEED THE THE ACCESS
TO TO FUNDING. IT'S LARGELY
WITHIN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES A
A MATTER OF TIME OF THE FOR
FOLKS WOULD HAVE ACCESS WITHIN
OUR CURRENT FRAMEWORK WE HAVE A.
THREE PHASES OF LICENSING AND WE
HAVE ONLY BEGUN OUR FIRST PHASE
AND SO I IMAGINE THAT WHEN THE
SECOND AND THIRD PHASE OPEN
THERE WILL BE PATHWAYS FOR THOSE
INDIVIDUALS OUR PROGRAM DOES
GIVE PRIORITY PROCESSING IN AN
PRIORITY IN. A CERTAIN BENEFITS
TO OUR APPLICANTS TO WORD
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BUT
I THINK THAT PART OF IT AYE
AGAIN IS SOMETHING THAT THE
INDUSTRY ITSELF NEEDS TO OWN I
KNOW THAT THEIR INDUSTRY
REPRESENTATIVES HERE I KNOW THAT
INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES HAVE
CREATED. OUR SPECIFIC TASK FORCE
IN SUB COMMITTEES TO ADDRESS
INCLUSION EXCITER US BUT I THINK
THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED
ARE EXPONENTIALLY IF WE'RE GONNA
DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY.
JUST TO FOLLOW UP THE GOVERNOR
IN HIS PROPOSED BUDGET ON FRIDAY
ALSO SUGGESTED SPINNING FORTY
FIVE.
FOURTEEN MILLION I SHOULD SAY
THE CRATE FOR FIVE TASK FORCE TO
LOOK AT QUORUM CALLED THE BLACK
MARKET AND I DON'T LIKE THAT
TERM EITHER. AND I'M FEARFUL
RIGHT I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT
WITHOUT A DOUBT BECAUSE I CAN
TELL YOU RIGHT NOW LOS ANGELES
WHERE YOU HAVE STREET VENDORS
RIGHT NOW SELLING PLANTS.
OFFER VERMONT.
ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET I'VE HAD
PEOPLE CONTACT MY OFFICE AND LET
ME KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IGHT
NOW BUT THE POINT IS IS THAT I'M
FEARFUL AGAIN THAT THESE TASK
FORCE AGAIN WILL PRIMARILY
TARGET AGAIN. BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE BUT HOW DO WE UTILIZE OUR
IMPLEMENT WHAT THE GOVERNOR
WANTS TO DO BECAUSE THERE IS A.
UNDERGROUND ECONOMY THAT'S GONNA
GROW IF WE DON'T ADDRESS.
A LOT REVIEWS POSSIBLE OKAY
THANK YOU.
I THANK YOU MY RECOMMENDATION
AYE IF POSSIBLE WOULD BE TO TIE
THOSE SPECIFIC NUMBERS.
TO OUR EQUITY ENFORCEMENT.
SO IF THE IF DOLLARS ARE GOING
TO BE USED IF LAW ENFORCEMENT IS
GOING TO BE GRANTED FUNDING. ARE
THE NATION NOT BE GRANTED
FUNDING TO ENFORCE IN THE SAME
WAYS THAT THEY'VE ENFORCED IN
THE PAST.
YOU THINK I WANT ONE QUESTION DE
YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF THE
DEMAND FOR EQUITY APPLICATION SO
FAR.
I CONTAINED HEREIN SAYS GO WE
HAVE CURRENTLY EIGHTY THREE
VERIFIED EQUITY APPLICANTS AND
THIRTY THREE INTERESTED
INCUBATOR SO THERE IS ABSOLUTELY
A DEMAND IN SAN FRANCISCO YOU
THINK. WE HAVE NOT DONE AN
ASSESSMENT OF OF DEMAND AT THIS
POINT WE'RE GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE
QUESTIONS THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR. THE WEALTH OF INFORMATION
THAT
IF YOU'RE TODAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE.
UP TO THE APPELLATE THAT WERE
ACTUALLY THE NEXT PEOPLE ON THE
ON THE AGENDA IF YOU WOULD.
ONLY OF DARLENE FLYNN DIRECTOR
OF OPENS DEPARTMENT RACE
INEQUITIES.
THIS LEAVES BROOKS OPEN CITY
COUNCIL MEMBER. AND GREG MINOR
ASSISTANT TO THE CITY
ADMINISTRATOR INTRO DEVLIN.
SACRAMENTO IF OF CANNABIS.
HELLO.
VERY GOOD SO THAT VERY GOOD
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATED
WHO WILL HAVE A.
AS A MEMBER RISKS.
GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME THANK
YOU FOR.
FOR COMING TODAY MIGHT MAKE IT
ALL YOUR GOOD WORK IN OAKLAND
THANK YOU.
IT'S SENATORS.
AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE
TODAY TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THIS
IMPORTANT ISSUE. I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR TAKING UP THIS ISSUE
BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE
RELYING UPON WHAT YOU DO TO MAKE
SURE WE MAKE AN IMPACT IN OUR
COMMUNITIES MY NAME AGAIN IS
DEATHLY BROOKS I'M IN A CLEAN
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
REPRESENTING DISTRICT SIX.
I AM THE FOUNDER AND I HELPED TO
ESTABLISH THE OAKLAND ECHO OF
THE OAKLAND. CANNABIS EQUITY
PROGRAM.
I'M HERE TODAY WITH GREG MINOR
WHO I AM RUNS HIGH PROGRAM AND
DOES IT WITH A LITTLE HELP DOES
AN EXCELLENT JOB. I WANT TO
REMIND YOU THAT. I EQUITY IS AN
INTENTIONAL.
YOU CAN'T.
INCLUDE EVERYBODY.
YOU CAN'T DO A ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
YOU CAN.
START ALL AT THE SAME TIME
BECAUSE IF YOU START EVERYBODY
AT THE SAME TIME.
IT'S NOT EQUITABLE.
AND SO WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT
AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS
LEGISLATION AND I WANT TO THANK
SENATOR BRADFORD FOR.
HIS LEGISLATION THAT HE PUT
FORWARD BECAUSE IT IS A GOOD
STARTING POINT AND I THINK THAT
WE CAN PUSH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
GET WHAT WE NEED IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. WITH RESPECT TO
EQUITY.
IN OAKLAND WE ESTABLISHED A KEY
CLEAR GOAL.
WITH RESPECT TO EQUITY.
AND AND THAT GOAL HELP GUIDE US
WE TOOK THAT GOAL AND WE COUPLED
IT WITH THE DATA. THAT TALKED
ABOUT WHAT HAD WHAT HAD HAPPENED
IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
SPECIFICALLY THE AFRICAN
AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND THE LIKE
TINA COMMUNITY.
I AM SO THAT DATA IT BECAME IT
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US AS WE
MOVE FORWARD WE'VE HAD
CONVERSATIONS HERE TODAY AND
EVERY SPEAKER THAT HAS COME. HAS
TALKED ABOUT THE WAR ON DRUGS
AND HOW IT ON DEVASTATED
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
SPECIFICALLY THE AFRICAN
AMERICAN COMMUNITY. AND WE
CANNOT.
MOVE FORWARD IN THIS CANNABIS
INDUSTRY WHICH PROVIDES BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS.
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND LEAVE
OUT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE LONG
BEEN LEFT OUT WITH HOPE AND
OPPORTUNITY.
AND SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD WE
HAVE TO CRAFT LIVE THE
LEGISLATION.
THAT.
DOES NOT REESTABLISHED THE
SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT HAS EXISTED
IN THIS INDUSTRY AND WITHIN OUR
GOVERNMENT HEALTH.
THROUGHOUT THIS STATE AND
THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
AND SO IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US
AS WE MOVE FORWARD THAT WE
REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT EQUITY
LOOKS LIKE AND IT HAS TO BE AN
INTENTIONAL CONVERSATION. AND SO
WHILE WE TALK ABOUT WOMEN AND
WOMEN ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
.
THAT'S NOT THE FOCUS OF THIS
CONVERSATION.
WELL WE TALKED ABOUT VETERANS
AND THEY HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS.
JOB FOR THIS COUNTRY THAT IS NOT
THE CONVERSATION.
IF WE ARE TRULY TALKING ABOUT
EQUITY YOU HAVE TO.
IN. NO CONVERSATION
AND THERE IS AN INNOCENT ENTER
SEXUALITY OF RACE.
IN THE CONVERSATION OF EQUITY.
AND SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT
ISSUE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WHEN I
LOOK ADDS BY SENATE BILL TWELVE
NINETY FOUR.
THE DEFINITION OF A STATE EQUITY
APPLICANT IS EXTREMELY BRA.
EXTREMELY BROAD AND SO I'M NOT
CLEAR HOW YOU SATISFY.
RECTIFYING THE ISSUES.
THAT HAVE BEEN RAVISHED ON
AFRICAN AMERICAN AND LATINO
COMMUNITIES WITH THAT DEFINITION.
I'M WITH RESPECT TO THE
COMPOSITION OF THE TASK FORCE.
THAT.
IS GOING TO MAKE THE
RECOMMENDATIONS AS YOU MOVE
FORWARD THE COMPOSITION AS I
LOOK AT IT IS TOO HEAVILY
INDUSTRY INFLUENCED.
AND NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE WHO THE
EQUITY PROGRAM WOULD ACTUALLY
BENEFIT.
AND I OFTENTIMES THEY TO ARE THE
EXPERTS IN HOW BEST TO ESTABLISH
EQUITY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
EQUITY PROGRAM THAT WE
ESTABLISHED IN OAKLAND AND I
LOOK AT. ON THE DISTANT
DISPENSARY.
PERMITS THAT WE ISSUED.
WHEN WE STARTED OUT WE HAD EIGHT
EXISTING. AYE DISPENSARY
OPERATIONS IN OAKLAND ONE OF
THEM.
ONE OF THE EIGHT WAS AFRICAN
AMERICAN ALL THE OTHERS WERE NOT.
WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD AND AB WE
IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW. WE.
AUTHORIZED IN ISSUANCE OF AN
ADDITIONAL EIGHT DISPENSARY
PERMITS.
UNDER OUR EQUITY PROGRAM.
SEVEN OF THE EIGHT WERE ACT
THAT WERE ULTIMATELY ISSUED
WHERE.
.
EXCUSE.
I'M EXAGGERATING SIX SEVENTY
EIGHT OR HOME EQUITY APPLICANTS.
FOR I BELIEVE ARE AFRICAN
AMERICAN.
ONE IS A NATIVE AMERICAN.
AND ONE IS ASIAN AMERICAN.
THAT HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.
IT'S POSSIBLE IT'S DOABLE. I
WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOU ARE INTENTIONAL IN HOW
YOU MOVE FORWARD. THAT YOU DON'T
START ALL AT THE SAME TIME THAT
YOU GIVE SOME PRIORITY TO.
THE JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE
ALREADY ISSUED OUR STATUS EQUITY
PROGRAMS AND THAT.
YOU'VE LOOKED TO RELEASE
SOME MONIES FOR THOSE
JURISDICTIONS SUCH SO THAT.
THE APPLICANTS THAT WE HAVE
SEATED.
OUR SUCCESSFUL I THANK YOU FOR
YOUR THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
MEMBER BIRTH DEATH.
GREAT THE TRIGGER TODAY BECAUSE
YOU PERSPECTIVE IN THE HISTORY
YOU HAVE WITH OPEN AND THIS THIS
IS A. VERY HELPFUL THANK YOU
MISTER MEYER THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE AS WELL AND OR TRYING TO
NOW STAY WITHIN THE TIME FRAME
WHICH WE.
WE HAVE TO.
THOSE ARE SESSION STARTS AT
ABOUT TWO O'CLOCK SO WE COULD TO
MISTER MARK THANK YOU.
BELIEVING.
BUT.
YET THE BETTER PERFECT I
COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND GREG MINOR
THE CITY OF OAKLAND OVERSEE THE
CANNABIS BURN THE PROGRAM.
I KNOW WHERE LIMIT ON TIME SO I
JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TWO
LESSONS THAT I THINK THAT.
BENEFITTED THE CITY OF OAKLAND
THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR EQUITY
PROGRAM IN AND MIGHT THAT
BENEFIT THE STATE AS WELL.
THE VERSES IS.
RELATIVELY SIMPLE JUST THE
IMPORTANCE OF ASKING QUESTIONS.
WE WERE ON TRACK WHEN WE LOOKED
AT LEGALIZING THIS THE ENTIRE
SUPPLY CHAIN TO BASICALLY.
EMULATE COLORADO WASHINGTON
PROBABLY REPEAT A LOT OF THE
MISTAKES THAT WERE MADE THERE.
BEFORE COUNCILMEMBER BROOKS AND
OTHERS BEGIN TO ASK QUESTIONS
NO WHO WHO IS IT THAT'S ACTUALLY
GONNA BENEFIT FROM BENEFIT FROM
LEGALIZATION.
AND THEN THE OTHER DAY WHO GETS
THE PERMITS.
AND AND IF IT'S A CERTAIN
POPULATION HOW COME. ARE THERE
CERTAIN BARRIERS WITHIN THE
CANNABIS INDUSTRY THAT ARE
PERHAPS IMPOSED DIRECTLY BY THE
GOVERNMENT OR REINFORCE.
THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY ADDRESS
AND A FORMER COLLEAGUE OF MINE
SURE TO QUOTE.
THAT I THINK APPLIES THAT
ORGANIZATIONS MOVE IN THE
DIRECTIONS OF THE QUESTIONS THEY
ASK
IT'S I THINK IT'S KEY AS WE LOOK
AT. ABOUT LEGALIZING CANNABIS IN
CALIFORNIA TO ASK THESE
QUESTIONS TO AVOID PERPETUATING.
THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS
JURISDICTIONS ARE FRANKLY IN
CALIFORNIA DURING THE TWENTY TO
TWENTY YEARS IN WHICH WE HAD.
MEDICAL CANNABIS BEING LEGAL
ALIVE. WERE WERE OPERATING WITH
A MOVING TRAIN HERE WE'RE NOT
STARTING FROM SCRATCH AND WE
NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT. ON THE
SECOND.
WAS ALLUDED TO BY COUNSELOR
BROOKS.
IT IT SEEMS SIMPLE BUT ACTUALLY
AGREED UPON A GOAL. AND IF
CONDUCTING A DATA BASE ANALYSIS
ON THERE'S LOTS OF VERY
IMPORTANT.
CONSTITUENCIES THAT THAT ARE
GOING TO COME OUT AND ASK FOR
PRIORITY.
NUMBER ONCE WE IN WEEK WE
EXPERIENCE THAT AS WELL AND IS
ALSO VERY TEMPTING I THINK TO
JUMP TO SOLUTIONS.
ON THE AND TO INTRUDE DREADED
FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO SOLVE
THINGS BEFORE ACTUALLY TAKEN A
STEP BAK TO LOOK AT DATA
LOOKING EMPLOYMENT DATA REST
DATA. ON AND AND FIGURE OUT.
OKAY IF THIS WHAT'S OUR GOAL
HERE AND THEN WHAT ARE THE MAJOR
BARRIERS TO ACCOMPLISHING THAT
ONCE WE DID THAT.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FLOWED FROM
THERE AND I THINK YOU CAN BUILD
UPON THE ANALYSES THAT. ARE
WE'VE DONE ASSEMBLY CISCO LOS
ANGELES DONE YOU'RE LIKELY TO
FIND THE SAME MAJOR BEARS ACCESS
TO CAPITAL ASSETS THE REALTY
TECHNICAL COMPLIANCE. AND SOME
OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT I THINK OF
BEING THROWN OUT THERE IN TERMS
OF.
PRIORITIZING THE PERMITTING OF
OF EQUITY APPLICANTS INCENTIVIZE
IN THOSE WITH MORE RESOURCES THE
PARTNER PROVIDE SPACE TO EQUITY
APPLICANTS.
FEE WAIVERS TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE YOU'RE LIKELY TO YOU
MAY END UP THERE BUT I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO AN
ANALYSIS THAT BUT YOU CAN ALSO
BUILD ON WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE.
YOU KNOW AND JUST CLICK
ENCLOSING THE MORE THAT YOU CAN
PROBABLY DUE TO. A ADDRESS THOSE
BARRIERS WILL JUST MAGNIFIED THE
SUCCESS OF OUR OF LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS IS AS MUCH AS WE
TRY TO LOWER BARRIERS ULTIMATELY
THIS IS THE DUAL LICENSING
PROCESS. AND SERVE APPLICANTS
CAN'T COME TO COMPLIANCE WITH
THE STATE.
ALL OF OUR EFFORT MIGHT BE FOR
FOR NOT SO THAT'S WHY BE. AT
IT'S FANTASTIC THAT AND WE'RE
HAVING THIS CONVERSATION HERE
TODAY AND I'M I'M HERE TO ANSWER
YOUR QUESTION ACCURATELY MINOR
APPRECIATE THAT RICHARD EDLUND
IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN
WELCOME.
THINGS ARE.
BUSH BIGGER IDYLLWILD I'M
ATTEMPT TO BE AS THANK YOU AS
THE SINCE THE THINK AS I CAN.
ARM SACRAMENTO STARTED
REGULATING CANVASSED REALLY BIG
BACK IN TWO THOUSAND TEN WE HAD
THIRTY DISPENSARIES IN TWO
THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN WE BEGAN.
ON LOOKING AT THE REGULATION OF
CULTIVATION MANUFACTURING WITH
SENSE ADOPTED.
OF PERMITS FOR.
ALL THE SECTORS OF OF CANNABIS
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CAPS ON THE
NUMBER OF PERMITS THAT WE HAVE.
WITH.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
STOREFRONT DISPENSARIES OF WHICH
WE HAVE THIRTY.
AND AND AND AND HAVE HAD.
.
THAT NUMBER FOR A NUMBER OF
YEARS NOW.
IN NOVEMBER OF TWO THOUSAND
SEVENTEEN THE CITY COUNCIL
ADOPTED IT.
.
THE THE FRAMEWORK FOR OUR AND
CANNABIS OPPORTUNITY
REINVESTMENT.
PROGRAM OR CORPS PROGRAM.
IT AT WE COMPLETED A STUDY OF
OF HOW. A CANNABIS AND THE.
CRIMINALIZATION OF CANNABIS
AFFECTED OUR COMMUNITY.
FROM THAT FLOWED OUR CRITERIA
OF THOSE THAT WERE.
INTENDED BE HELPED BY THE
PROGRAM OUR PROGRAM IN IT IN IN
THAT IN A NUTSHELL IS.
A SO SMALL BURKE BUSINESS
SUPPORT CENTER WERE SOMEONE WHO
IS EITHER IN THE CANNABIS ENSURE
WANTS TO BE IN THE CAN THIS
INDUSTRY. CAN SHOW UP GET HELP
FINISHING THEIR BUSINESS PLAN
I'M GETTING GET HELP WITH
INDUSTRY MENTORS.
THE SERVICES AND BENEFITS I'M
INCLUDE AND ACCESS TO THAT SMALL
BUSINESSES SUPPORT CENTER
PRIORITY PROCESSING OF OUR
LICENSES.
I THEIR FEE WAIVER OR FEED
DEFERRAL.
HOWEVER.
THE MISSING PIECE.
AT LEAST.
THAT I WILL OWN IN OURS IS
ACCESS TO CAPITAL WHICH IS A
SIGNIFICANT BARRIER TO ENTRY.
I'M INTO THIS MARKET EVEN IF YOU
HAVE FREE RENT AND SOMEONE
ELSE'S CULTIVATION OF BUILDING
AND THERE PROVIDING SECURITY.
AND IT'S A THOUSAND SQUARE FEET
YOU'RE STILL LOOKING AT A NEED
FOR CAPITAL OF AROUND TWO
HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SO NOT INSIGNIFICANT.
BUT.
I BELIEVE OUR SMALL BUSINESS
SUPPORT CENTER WILL GO A LONG
WAYS AND HOPEFULLY OF PREPARING
FOLKS IN IN IN IN REALLY HELPING
TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION INTO THE
LEGAL FRAMEWORK. AS WE CONTINUE
TO LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS TO AND
ACCESS TO CAPITAL.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS.
WOULD BE TO CONSIDER STATEWIDE
ANALYSIS OR STUDY ON.
ON THE CRIMINALIZATION OF
CANNABIS AND HOW THAT IS
IPACTED COMMUNITIES IN WHICH
COMMUNITIES HAD IT HAS IMPACTED.
MORE.
.
I WOULD.
IN COULD YOU LOOK AT THE
STACKING OF PERMITS IS TAKING
PLACE.
THE THE SCALE.
.
THAT SOME CULTIVATORS.
MAY BE ABLE TO REACH IS NO
DOUBT GONNA AFFECT THE THE
ABILITY OF SMALLER BUSINESSES TO
REMAIN SUCCESSFUL.
AND SO STACKING THOSE PERMITS IS
POTENTIALLY CAN BE HARMFUL TO
SMALL OPERATORS. ARM AND THEN
LASTLY. WE REALLY NEED TO FIND
AND ACCESS OR A SOLUTION TO THE
ACCESS TO CAPITAL PROBLEMS.
IT IS A IN IN MY OPINION IS NOT
INSIGNIFICANT BARRIER FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
THE SPACE ME VERY GOOD F. AN
OVERSEAS THAT'S A COMMON THEME
WE'RE HEARING TODAY THAT THE
CAPITAL E ISSUE THAT THE
PROBLEM WITH.
GETTING THAT QUESTION HAVE YOU
HAD ANY FEEDBACK IN OPEN ON THE.
EQUITY IN GENERAL PERMIT
PARTNERSHIP AT THE MOMENT.
AND WE HEAR FEEDBACK ALL THE
TIME.
SO IT'S TOUGH TO RESPOND TO THAT
QUESTION GOOD FEEDBACK AT IT AND
MAKE SURE I MEAN.
.
SO ARE THE STILL QUOTE FROM OUR
COLLEAGUE DARLING FUND THE
DIRECTORIES INEQUITIES NIGHT
HERE.
SHE SAID THAT IT'S IT'S PRETTY
RARE TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING I
AM BRAND NEW GET PERFECTLY RIGHT
RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.
SO WE'RE MINDFUL OF THAT AND SO
WE DO GET FEEDBACK WE TRY TO
MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ONE.
TANGIBLE EXAMPLE IS.
OUR PROGRAM ENCOURAGES THIS
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE VERY
DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.
AND THEY DIDN'T REALLY WE DON'T
HAVE A NEUTRAL PLATFORM WE HELD
THE MIXER AT ONE POINT WE
ACTUALLY HAD TO CREATE A WEBSITE
THAT'S ESSENTIALLY PARTNER
MATCHING WEBSITE.
AND IT'S NOT PERFECT BUT IT WAS
ONE WAY OF SORT OFLEVELING THE
PLAYING FIELD IN CHINA. I
RESPOND TO THAT FEEDBACK.
BUT IT'S ENOUGH THERE'S ALL
SORTS OF THINGS TO WORK ON. AND
BE MINDFUL OF AND WE'RE
CONSTANTLY.
AND TRY TO BE RESPONSIVE
GOOD THANK YOU IT IMMIGRANT
ALONE ONCE A SACRAMENTO PROGRAM
GOING TO BE GOING TO FULLY.
FUNCTIONAL YOU HAVE ANY THANK
YOU SO.
MEXICO IN BACK TO COUNCIL WITH
THE RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A FEE
WAIVER. RELEASE OUR REQUEST FOR
FOR FOR PROPOSALS.
HERE IN THE NEXT.
HOPEFULLY WEEK TO TEN DAYS AND
SO.
.
MY MY GOAL IS TO HAVE THAT SMALL
BUSINESS SUPPORT CENTER THAT AND
THAT.
A CONTRACT AWARDED.
SOMETIME IN JUNE.
SO HOPEFULLY VERY QUICKLY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HE HAS A
QUESTION SEEN AND THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR THE
TIME.
WE NOW HAVE OUR FINAL.
PANEL.
.
THESE ARE THE EQUITY ADVOCATES
NON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS WHO
ARE EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES. TO
FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE
LEGALIZE CANNABIS MARKET. LIKE
INVITE THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS
TO COME FORWARD PLEASE SIR.
MOLOKAI COMMON.
PRESIDENT CEO OF THE CALIFORNIA
URBAN PARTNERSHIP.
LADIES AND.
ABILITY.
EFFORT DOUBLE.
CO FOUNDERS AND CO EXECUTIVE
DIRECTORS OF THE VOTING COULD
BETA.
AND.
.
WHAT'S THE HEART WITH.
VERY GOOD THANK YOU.
AND WITH WE CAN STAY WITHIN THAT
FIVE MINUTE TIME FRAME IF WE DO
THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FINISH
ON TIME AND.
I'VE HAD TO HAVE HIS HAVE TO
SESSION COME BACK AND FINISH UP
AFTER SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR.
FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND
PARTICIPATE IN SO.
IF YOU LIKE TO BEGIN THAT THE
GREAT THANK YOU.
AFTERNOON SENATOR.
I SAW HIM APPARENTLY AFTERNOON
SENATOR I AM MLACHI AMEND
PRESIDENT CEO OF THE CALIFORNIA
URBAN PARTNERSHIP.
WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR
HOLDING THIS HEARING ARE OUR
ORGANIZATION.
HAS THE MISSION TO BUILD
ECONOMIC SECURITY AND
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND THE
STATE WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ORGANIZING OVER FORTY.
AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
BUSINESS LEADERS.
AND OTHERS TO PUSH THE CITY OF
SACRAMENTO TO ADOPT AN EQUITY
PROGRAM A LAST YEAR WHICH DID
HAPPEN NOVEMBER TWENTY EIGHTH.
AYE WE HAVE ORGANIZED WITH OUR
PARTNERS.
.
INCLUDING GIVE GREATER.
YOU FORWARD PUBLIC HEALTH
ADVOCATES AROUND STATE OVER
THREE HUNDRED I.
ACTIVISTS ACROSS THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA TO BEGIN TO PAY
CLOSER ATTENTION TO THE STATE'S
IMPLEMENTATION OF EQUITY ISSUES.
JUST IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW
CONTEXTS ARE ABOUT MY
CREDENTIALS AYE EGGMAN FORMER
GOVERNOR'S APPOINTEE TECHNOLOGY
TRADE AND COMMERCE AGENCY.
PAT MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
FOR SEVENTY TWO MILLION DOLLARS
AND BUSINESS SUPPORT SYSTEMS
WHICH CREATED A SEVENTEEN
THOUSAND JOBS.
ARE AND WORK WITH INTER AGENCY
GROUPS THAT FUNNELED HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS IN TAX CREDITS ABSENT
INCENTIVES AND OTHERS SUPPORTS
TO EXISTING AND EMERGING
INDUSTRIES. THE PROBLEM IS WE
DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA BETTIS CANNABIS IS
SPECIFIC FOR EQUITY POPULATIONS
WHO WERE IMPACTED WHO.
HAVE THIS NARRATIVE.
AND I WILL REPEAT THE DATA
AROUND THE HISTORY BUT.
WE KNOW THAT FAMILIES.
WERE DESTROYED AND PEOPLE
COULDN'T AFFORD TO BUY THEIR
HOUSES COULDN'T FOR TO START
STRONG BUSINESSES AND AS A
RESULT THEY WERE GENTRIFIED OUT
OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE JUST
WANTED TO ADD THAT CONTACTS AND
SO THE CHALLENGE O. WITH
MARIJUANA POLICY AND
CALIFORNIA'S THAT NOT ONLY DO WE
NOT HAVE. A PROP SIXTY FOUR
PRESCRIPTION FOR ROLLING OUT
EQUITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
THERE'S NO.
CANNABIS AGAIN THE CANNABIS
SPECIFIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE GOAL BILLS GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT DOES HAVE.
START OF TEN MILLION DOLLARS
THAT WILL GO OUT TOWARDS A
SOCIAL PROGRAMS WHAT THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF A GULP IS
ACTUALLY KIND OF STEPPING OUT OF
ITS ROLE AS AN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ENTITY AND REALLY
FINALLY MORE.
SOCIAL PROGRAM.
FUNDING WHICH IS IT'S ACTUALLY
QUITE PUZZLING.
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE
MOST HELP DON'T HAVE THE STATE'S
OUR INDUSTRY OF FOR BUSINESS
HELP PROVIDING THEM WITH. THE
ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR
ENTREPRENEURS AND THE CANNABIS
SPACE IN CALIFORNIA.
SO JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE DO
NEED POLICY GUIDANCE.
WE'RE. HAPPY THAT SENATOR
BRADFORD PA HAS AUTHORED SP
TWELVE NINETY FOUR I THINK
THERE'S THERE'S WE'RE REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THAT THERE'S A
NEED TO LOOK AT THE.
THE HAVE THE DEFINITIONS OF
WHAT EQUITY MEANS.
EQUITY MEANS A WHOLE DIFFERENT
THING. OF DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION OKAY. AND NOW WITH
RESPECT TO SACRAMENTO GUY I
STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH JOE
DEVLIN WHO CAME UP HERE AND SAID
THAT.
THE CITY HAVE COMPLETED A STUDY
AND FROM THAT STUDY FLOWS ARE
ARE ARE ARC OUR CRITERIA THAT WE
HAVE IN THIS CITY OF SACRAMENTO
NOW.
THAT'S NOT TRUE OF THEY MAY BE
WORKING TO TO IMPLEMENT. A UP A
PROGRAM A PUT OUT A STUDY BUT WE
ASK FOR STUDY LAST YEAR.
THE CITY IT VIRTUALLY IGNORED
ES.
HOW WE GOT TOGETHER AND PLAYED
NICE I AND OF COURSE WE GOT THE
EQUITY PROGRAM? BUT THEN FAST
FORWARD TO NOW.
WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH
THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO.
TO HAVE SOME SORT OF HUMAN AND
COMMUNITY CENTER DESIGN INTO
WHAT KINDS OF DATA WILL THE CITY
BE LOOKING FOR. THAT WILL INFORM
WHAT THE CRITERIA ARE IT WILL BE.
OUT WE HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY
IGNORE SEVERE AGAIN IS A PROBLEM
WITH RESPECT TO THE LACK OF OF A
PRESCRIPTION AND PROP SIXTY FOUR
FOR HOW EQUITY SHOULD ROLLOUT IN
THE STATE. YES LOCAL CONTROL IS
VERY IMPORTANT I THINK ALL OF US
SUPPORT LOCAL CONTROL BUT THE
STATE HAS TO ASK A QUESTION. IS
IS IS THAT IT IS IS OUR CITIES
AND COUNTIES ALSO ENTITLED TO.
OUT WHETHER OR NOT EQUITY WILL
BE A REALITY AND THEIR CITY AND
COUNTY WITH RESPECT TO THIS
INDUSTRY.
OKAY SO. YOU KNOW WE'RE IN A
SITUATION NOW WHERE.
IN SACRAMENTO WE HAVE ARE AND
HOW CLOSE WE HAVE. THE.
BOB THE PROBLEM OF JUST A COUPLE
WEEKS AGO. A OUR COALITION BEING
SURPRISED TO SAY THAT THE CITY
NOW HAS THE COMPLETE A STUDY.
AND THE STUDY DOES NOT LOOK AT.
O..
SACRAMENTO SPECIFIC IMPACTS
ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THERE
WAS NO SPECIFIC OUR REACH
TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND
SACRAMENTO TO ASK US HOW WE WERE
IMPACTED. BY A A MARIJUANA
CRIMINALIZATION AND NOW. ARE OUT
WE HAVE.
THIS LIVE THIS THIS LAST MINUTE
CATCH UP JOB TO DO IN TERMS OF.
FIGURING OUT HOW OUGHT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE CITY IS BEING FAIR
AND IT'S GOING TO LISTEN TO US
BEFORE IT ROLLS OUT AND EQUITY
PROGRAM IT'S BEEN A BOTCHED JOB.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND AND.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS
THAT ARE WAY TOO LITTLE DON'T
FINISH THE. MISSION.
GOOD AFTERNOON GOOD AFTERNOON
EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS
INFORMATIONAL SESSION WHERE.
VERY DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO
SHARE OUR WORK IN OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THIS
COMMITTEE. MY NAME'S A BELLY
AFFORDABLE ON ONE OF THE CO
FOUNDERS AND CO EXECUTIVE
DIRECTORS OF THE HOOD INCUBATOR.
TO MY LEFT IS MY.
CHO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT LEAST
MARIN.
THE HOOD INCUBATOR WHERE
NATIONAL NONPROFIT NATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED NONPROFIT WHOSE
MISSION IS TO BUILD ECONOMIC AND
POLITICAL POWER AND PROVIDE
REDRESS FOR BLACK COMMUNITIES
HARM BY THE DRUG WAR.
WE LAUNCHED IN JANUARY.
TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN IN
OAKLAND IN RESPONSE TO MARROW
MARIJUANA LEGALIZED ATION BOTH
IN CALIFORNIA AND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
WE TOOK ISSUE WITH THE FACT THAT
WHILE BLACK COMMUNITIES HAVE
TAKEN ON VOTE VIRTUALLY ALL OF
THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH
CANNABIS PROHIBITION. NOW THAT
CANNABIS IS THE EIGHT BILLION
DOLLAR THRIVING INDUSTRY BLACK
COMMUNITIES ARE SAN NEXT TO NONE
OF THE REWARDS AND BENEFITS THAT
COME WITH MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION.
AND IT'S REALLY UNDERLIES THE
FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN IN THIS
INDUSTRY FOR GENERATIONS SUPPORT
IN OUR FAMILY SEND OUR CHILDREN
TO COLLEGE WHEN OTHER INDUSTRIES
HAVE LEFT OUR COMMUNITIES
MANUFACTURING BEING ONE EXAMPLE.
STILL TO OUR CORE ARE THREE CORE
AREAS OF WORK COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING POLICY ADVOCACY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WHERE
WORKING TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE
ECOSYSTEM OF INDUSTRY ACCESS
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT? THAT
REALLY CENTERS AND BENEFITS
BLACK COMMUNITIES.
ARE AT THE CORE OF IT.
WE ARE PART OF THE TEAM THAT'S
CRAP CONTRACTED BY THE CITY OF
OAKLAND TO SUPPORT THE
IMPLEMENTATION FOR THE TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE ASPECT OF THE OPEN
EQUITY PROGRAM. OUR WORK HAS
ALSO BEEN REFERENCED IN
DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS AROUND
THE COUNTRY INCLUDING LOS
ANGELES THE STATE OF
MASSACHUSETTS THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS. IN THE CITY OF
PHILADELPHIA AS THEY TALK ABOUT
THEIR EQUITY LEGISLATION MOVING
FORWARD.
IN TERMS OF WHO HAVE SERVED AND
WHAT OUR MEMBERSHIP LOOKS LIKE
OVER THE PAST EIGHTEEN MONTHS OF
OUR EXISTENCE WE BOTH THE
MEMBERSHIP OF NEARLY TWO
THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS NATIONWIDE.
SIXTY FIVE PERCENT OF THAT IS IN
CALIFORNIA SEVENTY PERCENT OF
THOSE ARE BLACK NINETY FIVE
PERCENT OF THOSE ARE PERSONS OF
COLOR.
IN THE PAST YEAR WE SO OVER FIVE
HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS TO OUR
PROGRAMS SOME OF WHICH INCLUDE
OUR BUSINESS ACCELERATOR PROGRAM.
WE GRADUATED TEN START UP TO
THAT PROGRAM LAST YEAR MOST OF
THEM BE A MANUFACTURING AND
RETAIL. BUT OUR MEMBERS ALSO
HAVE TESTING WRAPS DISTRIBUTION
COMPANIES TRANSPORT COMPANIES
COMPANIES ACROSS THE SUPPLY
CHAIN.
WE ALSO PILOTED IT
APPRENTICESHIP AND WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN THE CITY
OF OAKLAND LAST YEAR WORKING
WITH JEDI EXTRACTS A LOCAL
MANUFACTURING FIRM RECOGNIZING
THAT THERE WILL BE OVER ONE
MILLION JOBS IN THIS INDUSTRY BY.
THE YEAR TWENTY TWENTY FIVE.
WE HOLD EXPUNGEMENT CLINICS
LEGAL CLINICS HEALTH AND
WELLNESS CLINICS POLICY
BRIEFINGS.
IN EQUITY PROGRAM WORKSHOPS
TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF SOME
OF OUR WORK. THE MAJORITY OF OUR
MEMBERS ARE AGES FORTY TO SIXTY
YEARS OLD AND MY WORK AND WHAT
OUR MEMBERS WE SEE TO FOLLOW.
THE FOLLOWING COMMON THEMES.
MOST OF THEM ARE UNDER SIXTY
THOUSAND ANNUAL INCOME.
MOST OF THEM ARE.
HEAVILY DISCONNECTED FROM THE
EXISTING LEGAL MARIJUANA MARKETS
AS SOME FOLKS TALKED ABOUT
PREVIOUSLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE ARE
THE BAND YOU KNOW UNDER A
MEDICAL.
MARIJUANA FRAMEWORK OPERATING
BUSINESSES ARE FOLKS ARE
DISCONNECTED FROM THOSE NETWORKS.
THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE ACCESS TO
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE VERY
LITTLE ACCESS TO FINANCING AS
OTHER HAS OTHERS HAVE NOTED
BEFORE. AND THEIR OVERALL JUST
BOTH OVERWHELMED BY THE LOCAL I.
STAY APPLICATION PROCESS HE'S.
IN TERMS OF WHERE THEY ARE WITH
THEIR BUSINESS PAGES WE SEE
BASICALLY TO PROFILE WHO
PROFILES OF FOLKS EVEN. EITHER
PEOPLE WHO HAVE ESTABLISHED
BUSINESSES THEIR BRANDS AND THE
NAM PERMITTED OR UNDERGROUND
MARKET. BUT STILL HAVE MAJOR
CHALLENGES BECOMING LEGALLY
PERMITTED.
FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS MAYBE
THEIR MODEL IS NOT LEGAL YET.
FOR EXAMPLE WE HAVE FOLKS
WANTED TO.
INFUSED TOP LOOPS.
THAT'S NOT LEGAL UNDER CURRENT
FRAMEWORKS.
THEY HAVE A LOCATION MAYBE CARE
BE OPERATING IN THEIR HOME BUT
OBVIOUSLY THAT LOCATION IS NOT
UP TO CALL IN A LIKE THE CAPITAL
TO ACTUALLY BRING THOSE PALM
LOCATIONS UP TO COPE. THAT'S ONE
PROFILE A FOCUSED OTHER PROFILE
THESE FOLKS WHO HAVE LOCAL AND
STATE LICENSES.
THANKS TO THE EQUITY PROGRAM YOU
KNOW.
WAVE PERMIT FEES ARM EXPEDITED
PERMITS BUT THEY DON'T HAVE
THEIR ACTUAL BUSINESS YET
BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THE
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OR TO
CAPITAL ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD
FROM JUST HAVING A PERMIT TO
ACTUALLY HAVE AN OPERATIONAL
BUSINESS.
SO AS A RESULT MANY OF THESE
BUSINESSES WILL FAIL FORTY EVEN
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOTS
BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN
GENERATING REVENUES THEY'RE NOT
GONNA BE ABLE TO WILL FOR THEY
DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO AFFORD
THE. TO CONTINUE PAN FREDDY'S
FOR PERMIT FEES IF THEY DON'T
ACTUALLY HAVE A BUSINESS.
AND THEN LASTLY I SAY THAT THE
EQUITY PROGRAM HAS OPENED UP A
MECHANISM WHERE.
THE GENERAL APPLICANTS IN EQUITY
APPLICANTS ARE BROKERING
INCUBATION DEALS BUT WE HAVE
FOUND THAT MOST OF OUR MEMBERS
WERE EQUITY APPLICANTS. THEY
DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED
TO BE EFFECTIVELY NEGOTIATING
FEARED FARE DEALS AND SOME OF
THEM ARE HONESTLY BEING TAKEN
ADVANTAGE ADVANTAGE OF A HAVE
BEEN THERE BUT WE DON'T MOVE
FORWARD.
HAMPER AS A RESULT SO I HAVE A
COUPLE OF JUST ANECDOTES FROM
MEMBERS WE SPOKE INTO.
JUST RECENTLY WE TALKED TO A
MEMBER WHO STATED THAT THE
GENERAL APPLE CAKE THE GENERAL
APPLICANT SHE WAS WORKING WITH
WITH THE INCUBATION BILL. KEPT
TELLING HER THAT IN ORDER FOR
THEM TO. GIVE HEARD OF REAL
ESTATE THEY NEEDED A FIVE FIVE
PERCENT EQUITY STAKE IN HER
BUSINESS.
THAT'S NOT A PARTY TO
LEGISLATION THAT OAKLAND PASSED
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THAT. A
MEMBER OF OURS TOLD US HOW HER
GENERAL APPLE CAN'T OFFER
CURRENT SPACE BUT IT WAS
VIRTUALLY UNINHABITABLE FOR HER
OR HER BUSINESS AND HE JUST KEPT
SAYING ó WE'RE GOING TO CLEAN
IT UP NEXT WEEK WE'LL CLEAN IT
UP NEXT WEEK. IN THE MEANTIME
SHE'S NOT ABLE TO SET UP A
BUSINESS FOR OPERATE OR GENERATE.
REVENUES
SO THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS BUT
OUR EQUITY APPLICANTS AT A
DISADVANTAGE WITHOUT TURN IT TO
A NEEDS TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF
OUR. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STATE
WHY EQUITY IN THIS MARTIN I
WOULD JUST HAVE ABOUT ONE MINUTE
ON THAT IF YOU COULD DO IT
PLEASE.
AND I APOLOGIZED QUICKLY THAT
ARE IT.
SO WE RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY
HAS A OF THE STATE HAS A VOTE
ALONE FUND THE CITY OF OAKLAND
HAS ONE AT THREE MILLION DOLLARS
AND WE RECOMMEND THAT THE STATE.
SCALES THAT PROPORTIONATELY.
HAVE ATECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM THE PEOPLE HAVE TALKED
ABOUT THAT COVERS BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT DEAL STRUCTURE
NEGOTIATION. AND LOCAL AND STATE
PERMIT OF APPLICATION NAVIGATION
PROCESS.
AND THEN LASTLY.
WE REALLY RECOMMEND THAT THERE
BE REGIONAL INCUBATORS THAT ARE
FROM. THAT ARE RUN FLAT A RUN
FOR GIVEN THAT I RUN FROM STATE
PROPERTY. OR.
COUNTY PROPERTY OR SOME TYPE OF
PUBLIC PRIVATE.
.
A COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION
PARTNERSHIPS WITH THESE EQUITY
APPLICANTS AND ACTUALLY HAVE A
PIECE OF REAL ESTATE. TO GROW
THEIR BUSINESS WITH A NOT FACING
THE.
CHALLENGES OF WORKING WITH THE
INCUBATORS THAT ARE TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THEM.
IT ALSO REDLINING ON THE SAY
THAT THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT
REDLINING IS A HUGE ISSUE AND
THAT FACES THAT'S. HURTING
PEOPLE THAT ARTISTS EQUITY
APPLICANTS THAT A BLACK
APPLICANTS THAT ARE APTLY
APPLICANTS THERE HAVE THE
RESOURCES BECAUSE OF RACISM AND
BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES THAT
THROUGH RACES LIKE REDLINING.
THEY ARE ALSO HAVING A HARD TIME
GETTING INTO THE INDUSTRY. VERY
GOOD THANK YOU VENTURE THE
QUESTIONS THAT I HAD FOR YEARS
WELL RIGHT THERE WITH THANKS AND
THEN THEY FOR BRINGING SOME
SUGGESTIONS WHAT WOULD HELP I
APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
AROUND ONE QUICK QUESTION WHAT
DO YOU THINK CAN BE DONE TO
ENCOURAGE MORE CITIES TO ADOPT
HIM EQUITY PROGRAMS IF YOU COULD
BE BRIEF PLEASE LOOK AWAY I
THINK.
I THINK WHAT IS NEEDED IS FOR
THE STATE TO HAVE SOME FRAMEWORK
PERHAPS IS THE OPPORTUNITY AND
SENATE RADFORD'S BILL.
OR ANOTHER BILL.
TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE STATE
UNEQUIVOCALLY SAY.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A A
STATE LICENSE FOR FOR OPERATING
FOR OPERATIONS AND YOUR LOCAL
MUNICIPALITY.
YOU NEED TO HAVE.
.
AT LEAST.
SEVERAL COMPONENTS OF THE
HIGHEST BEST STRONGEST CRITERIA
FROM THE HIGHEST BEST STRONG
GUESS OUR EQUITY PROGRAMS A IN
THE STATE I THINK THAT WOULD GO
A LONG WAY WE'RE GOOD THANK YOU
VERY MUCH THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE TODAY HAS BEEN IN THE TIME.
WITH HIS A. REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT NO.
.
LIKE TO INVITE.
.
SUPER NOVA WOMEN WAS FORMED BY
IN THE.
WOMEN OF COLOR IN TWO THOUSAND
FIFTEEN WITH THE GOAL EMPOWERING
PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
INVOLVING CANNABIS EC ECONOMY.
WE HAVE AMBER CENTER ANDREA
UNSWORTH AND.
.
LEAH.
MY ONLY A WHITE.
VERY GOOD THANK YOU VERY MUCH CO
FOUNDERS AND BOARD MEMBERS SO I
WITH SIX MINUTES IF YOU CAN. DO
IT I CANNOT APPRECIATED THANK
YOU I'M SORRY TO BE RUSSIAN
EVERYONE TODAY BUT WE
SO MUCH OF IT AGAIN.
THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON A
SENATORS.
A MY NAME IS AMBER CENTER AND
THE CO FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF SUPERNOVA WOMEN. I'M
ALSO THE CEO OF LEISURE LIFE
WHICH IS AN INFUSED PRODUCTS
COMPANY. A AND THE BAY AREA.
ALONGSIDE ME.
ARE MY SUPERNOVA CO FOUNDERS LEE
AWAITS SHE IS A SECRETARY AND
BOARD MEMBER AS WELL AS ANDREA
UNSWORTH WHO IS A TREASURE AND
BOARD. MEMBER OF SUPERNOVA. A
SUPERNOVA WOMEN IS AN
ORGANIZATION THAT WAS FORMED IN
NOVEMBER OF TWENTY FIFTEEN.
OF WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION OF
WOMEN THAT WORKS TO. EMPOWER
PEOPLE OF COLOR ARM IN THE
CANNABIS INDUSTRY TO BECOME SELF
SUFFICIENT SHAREHOLDERS
AND WE DO THAT THROUGH EDUCATION.
WE DO THAT THROUGH ADVOCACY
EFFORTS AND WE ALSO DO THAT
THROUGH AYE NETWORKING.
TODAY I COME TO YOU AS AN EQUITY
ADVOCATE. A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
A UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
VETERAN. A LUPUS PATIENT
ADVOCATE AND A WOMAN OF COLOR.
I'M FROM A SMALL TOWN OUTSIDE OF
CHICAGO.
BERMAN AREA THAT HAS BEEN AND IS
CURRENTLY DISPROPORTIONATELY
AFFECTED AND IMPACTED BY THE WAR
ON DRUGS.
I LEFT THAT AREA AND CAME TO
CALIFORNIA FOUR YEARS AGO. TO
GAIN ACCESS TOMEDICAL CANNABIS.
AND ALSO TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
CANNABIS INDUSTRY. I DO NOT
QUALIFY FOR SOCIAL EQUITY
CANNABIS PROGRAMS.
THE BAY AREA. THE BARRIERS
ENTERING THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY
IN CALIFORNIA ARE HIGH AND SEEM
OUT OF REACH FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES LIKE MINE.
THERE'S NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND ACCESS TO
BANKING IS SCARCE.
THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IS
DIFFICULT THERE ARE VERY FEW
SPACES AVAILABLE THAT ARE LESS
THAN FIVE THOUSAND SQUARE FEET.
THE REGULATORY HURDLES ARE HIGH
WITH EXPENSIVE TESTING FEET FEES
FEW TAX BREAKS SOPHISTICATED
HIGH COSTS.
SECURITY REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER
COMPLIANCE CHALLENGES.
THESE REGULATORY CHALLENGES HAVE
PAVE THE WAY FOR BIG BUSINESS IN
CALIFORNIA IN CANNABIS ALLOWING
THESE COMPANIES TO DOMINATE IT
WANTS SMALL CRAFT INDUSTRY.
THIS IS ALSO OPEN THE DOOR TO
THE FOR THE EQUITY PROGRAM.
TO BE.
A.
I.
OPEN TO PREDATORY PRACTICES BY
BIG BUSINESS ALLOWING THEM TO
FIND LOOPHOLES.
UP PAYOFFS AND THAT PROVIDE
MINIMAL RESOURCES TO EQUITY
GROUPS THAT NEED IT MOST.
THESE RELATIONSHIPS LACK THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND MENTOR
SHIP NEEDED THE HELP EQUITY
PROGRAMS THRIVE.
A AND SUCCEED AND SURVIVE
INCUBATION IS NOT ENOUGH
SHIPPING CONTAINERS AN
INCUBATION IS NOT ENOUGH.
AS A CO FOUNDER OF SUPERNOVAE
I'VE CONSISTENTLY ADVOCATED ON
BEHALF OF EQUITY PROGRAMS AND
APPLICANTS
MY EXPERIENCE IN THE CANNABIS
INDUSTRY HAS PROVIDED ME WITH
KNOWLEDGE AND A UNIQUE SKILL SET.
PACIFIC TO THIS INDUSTRY THAT
I'VE USED TO HELP AND MENTOR
OTHERS.
ALLOW SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE MINE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY. AND IN
EQUITY PROGRAMS WITHOUT
INTERFERENCE FROM BIG BUSINESS.
EQUITY BUSINESSES ARE SMALL
BUSINESSES AND WILL NOT SURVIVE
IN THE CURRENT CALIFORNIA
REGULATORY CLIMATE.
THANK YOU.
SO.
HER.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE
TODAY AGAIN MY NAME IS LEAH
WHITE SO I AM A FILIPINO JEWISH
AMERICAN ARTISTS AN ENTREPRENEUR
AN ACTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBER.
A AS AN ARTIST I'M KNOWN IN MY
COMMUNITY AS NEAR PARKS.
I SYMPHONY TODAY AS A CO FOUNDER
OF SUPERNOVA MEN AND AS A SISTER
OF VERIFIED EQUITY APPLE CAN'T
AND I SAT WHOSE ACTUALLY ALSO MY
BUSINESS PARTNER.
IN TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN WHEN I
ROLLED OUT MY BROTHERS THAT.
I CANNABIS BUSINESS CALLED
MIRAGE MODESTO HE WAS
INCARCERATED IN REIKERS ISLAND
SURROUNDED BY VIOLENCE FROM
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND OTHER
INMATES.
IN TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN I ALSO
RAN A CAMPAIGN AGAINST PROP
SIXTY FOUR BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE
OF HIGH STYLE TO SMALL BUSINESS
IT WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY SHUT MY
BROTHER MYSELF OUT.
BOTTOM WHEN HE GOT APPROVED.
WITHOUT OPENS REVOLUTION EQUITY
ORDINANCE WE WOULD HAVE HAD NO
HOPE AND WITHOUT ITS SS ADOPTION
INEQUITY PROBLEM BY THE PROGRAM.
WE WOULD HAVE HAD NO TANGIBLE
PATHWAY.
WE'VE BEEN WE WOULD HAVE BEEN
COMPLETELY REGULATED OUT OF
CALIFORNIA LEGALIZATION.
I AM BLESSED IN MY TO HOW MY
BROTHER BACK HOME NOW. AND HE
HAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
REDEMPTION.
CURRENTLY OUR LOCAL PROGRAM IN
SF ONLY HAS PRIORITY PERMITTING.
I'M IN REQUIRES IT. AND ORDERS
THEIR REQUIRES US TO HOLD BOTH
MEDICAL AND DAHLE USE LICENSE.
IN ORDER TO OPERATE THIS
INCREASES OUR CAPITAL
EXPENDITURE FOR OPERATION IN
DOUBLES THE LICENSING BUDGET AND
INCREASES THE TIME.
IN A REAL STATE SPACE THAT WE
WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR WITHOUT
BEING ABLE TO MAKE ANY MONEY OFF
OF THE LOCATION.
AS A CONVERSATION OF ALSO WE
LIKE TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN
COALITION WITH COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS LOCAL AND STATE
LEGISLATORS.
AND REGULATORS TO IDENTIFY
SMALL BUSINESS FUNDS.
POSSIBLY A MODEL SIMILAR TO THE
PROGRAM THAT CALTRAIN THAT
CALTRANS HAS IMPOSSIBLE AND
POSSIBLE ACCESS TO CITY COUNTY.
OR STATE OWNED FACILITY IS.
THE CAR ABOUT THE LACK OF
AFFORDABLE REAL STATE AND
RESOURCES FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT
AND EDUCATION LIKE A ROBUST THAT.
CANNABIS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
AT CITY COLLEGES.
I PERSONALLY AM A PRODUCT OF
COMMITTEE BASED PROGRAMS.
AND CITY SUPPORTED PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT HAVING RECEIVED
TRAINING FROM THE FROM SS
DEPARTMENT CHILDREN YOUTH AND
THEIR FAMILIES WHEN I USED TO
WORK. AS THE EMPOWERMENT AND
PUBLIC SAFETY COORDINATOR
ROBERTA HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD
CENTER.
FACILITATING JUVENILE DIVERSION
PROGRAMS
BUT THOSE PROGRAMS HAVE LONG
BEEN DEFINED IN DISAPPEAR.
CANNABIS PROHIBITION AND ITS
RIPPLE EFFECTS HAS CAUSE HARM
TRAUMA.
LIMITED ACCESS TO STUDENT LOANS
BANK LOANS AND JOBS ALL OF WHICH
HAVE CREATED STRAIN. AND PAIN ON
ON THE STABILITY OF FAMILIES
WHICH ARE THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF
SOCIETY.
THE LOCAL EQUITY PROGRAMS IN
STATE SUPPORT CAN REALLY AID IN
THE HEALING AND RESTORING
JUSTICE TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU.
HI GOOD AFTERNOON CENTERS THANK
YOU FOR HAVING US. MY NAME IS
ANDREA UNSWORTH. BORN AND RAISED
IN CALIFORNIA I'M A GRADUATE OF
UCLA AND USC WITH AN MBA FROM
THE LATTER. PERFORMER BOND
ANALYSTS FROM MOODY'S AND
TRANSITION INTO CANNABIS
INDUSTRY AROUND TWO THOUSAND
THIRTEEN.
A FORMER OPERATOR OF AN EAST BAY
CANNABIS DELIVERY SERVICE CALLED
STASHED TWIST WITH ICE WHICH I
STARTED WITH MY FATHER A U. S.
MARINE VETERAN.
AS ALSO AND. RANDY ORGANIZATION
IN THE BAY AREA WOMEN GROW AND
ALSO A CO FOUNDER OF SUPERNOVA
WOMEN.
LASTLY I'M A MOTHER OF A FIVE
AND SIX YEAR OLD.
WE AGREED THAT THE STAKES ARE
HIGH INDEED. LOCAL EQUITY
PROGRAMS TO DATE HAVE BEEN
INSUFFICIENT WITHOUT UNIFORM
THRESHOLD FOR FUNDING OVERSIGHT
AND LASTLY ACCOUNTABILITY.
THERE ARE KNOWN FACTS WHICH
WE'VE HEARD REPEATEDLY THE ALL
CAMPUS BUSINESSES HAVE LIMITED
LIMITED OR NO ACCESS TO START UP
CAPITAL OR BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT WHAT IS LESS OF A KNOWN FACT
IS THE TYPE OF INDUSTRY IN WHICH
THEY ARE COMPETING.
IN THE LAST MONTH ALONE IN THE
CITY OF OAKLAND FOR COMPANIES
HAVE REYES FIFTY FOUR MILLION
DOLLARS AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRIMARILY FROM CANADA.
MEANWHILE LOOKING AT A CITY LIKE
OAKLAND WHERE WE HAVE THE THREE
MILLION DOLLAR POOL FOR WHAT IS
NOW SIX HUNDRED EQUITY
APPLICANTS.
DOING QUICK MATH WERE TALKING
ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER
BUSINESS.
INSUFFICIENT TO COMPETE.
SO WE ASK THAT THEIR STATEWIDE
MINIMUMS FOR THIS FUNDING THAT'S
BASED ON REAL NUMBER A PROPOSED
EQUITY APPLICANTS AND AS A
REQUIREMENT FOR THOSE LOCALITIES
RECEIVES STATE FUNDING.
WE LOOK AT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
STATEWIDE TECHNICAL PROGRAM WITH
MINIMUM THAT LOCAL JURISDICTIONS
MUST MEET.
STARTING MY CONSULTING BUSINESS
BUT THIS PAST YEAR I THOUGHT I
WOULD BE HELPING MOST OF MY
CLIENTS GET THROUGH THE
APPLICATION PROCESS. IT TURNS
OUT THAT I'M HELPING THEM WRITE
BUSINESS PLANS ESTABLISH THEIR
TEAM CREATE TERM SHEETS SHEETS
RIGHT CAP TABLES DEVELOP PITCH
BOOKS FIND REAL ESTATE. EXPLAIN
TO THEM THE IMPORTANCE OF IT OF
FILING FOR TRADEMARK AND LOOK
LOCAL PROTECTION AND GOING
THROUGH REAL ESTATE NEGOTIATIONS
WITH LANDLORDS.
BEFORE WE EVEN GET TO THE
APPLICATION.
LASTLY THERE'S ALMOST NO PLACE
FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND EVEN LESS
FOR EQUITY ON BUSINESSES.
I READ A LOT OF HEADLINES THIS
WEEKEND THAT SAID POT TAX
REVENUES ARE LESS THAN EXPECTED.
WELL WHY IS THAT IT'S NOT
BECAUSE THE RATE IS NOT HIGH
ENOUGH WE'RE LOOKING AT CITIES
WITH TEN TO FIFTEEN PERCENT TAX
RATES ON TOP OF A FIFTEEN
PERCENT EXCISE TAX ON TOP OF A
NINE POINT TWO FIVE PERCENT
SALES TAX. SO IT ISN'T THAT THE
RATES ARE HIGH ENOUGH THE
PROBLEM IS THAT THERE ARE NO
SMALL BUSINESSES ANYMORE. THE
PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN
GIVEN THE TOOLS OR THE
ACCESSIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO
COMPETE.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE
FOCUSED ON PRIORITY PERMITTING
QUICK FAST AND EFFICIENT BUT WE
HAVEN'T BILL BUSINESSES THAT CAN
STAY LONG ENOUGH TO GET A
RENEWAL APPLICANT APPLICATION IN
TWENTY NINETEEN.
SO WE ASK THAT WITH THE STATE
LOOK AT ITS OWN FISCAL MORE MORE
RESPONSIBILITY TO STOP AND
CONTROL SOME OF THE WOULD HAVE
SENT TO BECOME MONOPOLIES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
IS THESE HUGE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
WAS USUALLY FIRST MOVER
ADVANTAGE HAVE ACTUALLY BECOME
MONOPOLIES SPREADING THROUGHOUT
THE CITY.
WE WILL LOOK FOR A MONOPOLY TAX
TO FUND THIS EQUITY FUND. WE
WOULD LOOK AT LOOK AT OPTING
INTO GRANDFATHERING IN OF
EXISTING DISPENSARIES THAT MEET
IN EQUITY TAX COMMITMENT.
A SIMILAR TO.
OF LOS ANGELES REPOSE.
AND WE WILL ALSO LOOK FOR THE
CONSIDERATION OF CHARTERED
SEEING BAIT FOR NON BASIC BANK
SERVICES LIKE BUSINESS LOANS.
I'VE YET TO SEE ANY
CONVERSATIONS OF ANY LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS WITH BANKS AS TO
ONCE THESE APPLICANTS RECEIVE
THEIR CHECK WHERE THEY ARE
SUPPOSED TO DEPOSIT.
BECAUSE THIS TO DATE WE'VE HAD
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR
STRUGGLES WITH THE BASICS OF
EVEN THE PAUSING CHECKS BUT LET
ALONE HAVE NOT EVEN BEGUN THE
DISCUSSIONS OF LOANING MONEY.
FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES
LASTLY I WOULD JUST SAY THE
EXPUNGEMENT EQUITY ARE TOOLS FOR
RED RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND THIS
IS ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.
AND THEN THAT WE ASK THAT THEY
LOCAL LEADERS. FILLED WITH
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS BUT THE
LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY
MUST LIE WITH THE STATE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME HERE
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND AND.
THAT'S REALLY THE.
HE WERE SUPERNOVA WOMEN CAME
FROM THE TITLE SO THANK YOU FOR
FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND YOU
PROVIDED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
INFORMATION AND THANK YOU I
APPRECIATE THAT.
THE SUGGESTIONS IS VERY GOOD.
BOB I UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO GO
VOTE IN A COMMITTEE SO SENATOR
WILK I'M GOING TO TURN THEM
GAVEL OVER TO YOU.
AND.
WE HAVE ONE MORE WHERE PEOPLE
LIVE ONE MORE WHEN WHEN MORE. OF
GREAT PRESENTERS IN THAT.
.
SORRY FOR THIS INTERRUPTION.
THIS.
RIGHT.
ALRIGHT SO OUR FINAL PANEL. IS
GONNA BE. AND I'M CONSENTING SO
I PLEDGES INVENTS A FIVE BUTCHER
ANYBODY'S NAME.
JAZZY GRAY WALL IS HERE.
FOR U. S. AS CW SWETHA CALL.
SURE WHETHER CALDERON AND NOW I
SEE THAT IT'S
PHONETICALLY SPELLED BACKWARDS
IS REPRESENTING THE COMPANY
CANNABIS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.
AND WE HAVE.
HAS A CALL AYE ALLEN THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA GROWERS ASSOCIATION.
AND MEN DE SERVE US NOBODY A
REPRESENT OF THE CALIFORNIA
GROWERS ASSOCIATION SOCIAL
JUSTICE COMMITTEE.
SO FIVE MINUTES FOR EACH SPEAKER.
ACCORDING TO THE NOTES HERE SO.
NO FIVE MINUTES EACH SPEAKER.
NOW SINCE FIVE MINUTES EACH
SPEAKER.
COMMISSIONER YEAH.
GOING UP.
ON.
I CAN THE FIRST GROUP GOOD
AFTERNOON MY NAME IS JESSE GRAY
ALL AND I'M A POLICY RESEARCHER
IN LEGISLATIVE AIDE FOR UNITED
FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS
WESTERN STATES COUNT.
SO U. S. HE W. HAS PLAYED AN
INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT
OF MEDICINAL AND RECREATIONAL
CANNABIS LEGISLATION AND
POLICIES. AND WAS THE FIRST
UNION TO COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF
PROPOSITION SIXTY FOUR.
UFCW AS HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF
REPRESENTING CANNABIS WORKERS
SINCE TWO THOUSAND AND TEN AND
CONTINUES TO ORGANIZE WORKERS
FROM SEA TO SAIL AND THE
CANNABIS INDUSTRY.
FROM THE START OF ORGANIZING
CAMPAIGN CANNABIS RECORDS RISING
WE HAVE FELT STRONGLY ABOUT
ENSURING EQUITY AND INCLUSION
AND THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY.
SUPPORTING SOCIAL EQUITY AT THE
STATE LEVEL LOOKS QUITE
DIFFERENT THAN MANY OF THE
CONVERSATIONS OCCURRING AT THE
CITY LEVEL. HOWEVER THE STATE
DOES NOT SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES
AT ITS DISPOSAL TO SUPPORT
ENTREPRENEURS WORKERS AND
COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY THE WAR
ON DRUGS.
WHICH IS THE INTENTION FOCUS OF
SOCIAL EQUITY.
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
SHOULD BE PRIORITIZE AND ALL
ASPECTS OF SOCIAL EQUITY WORK
GIVEN THEIR REGION AFFECTED
AREAS.
YOU SEE W. LOOKS AT SOCIAL ACT
REACT EQUITY EFFORTS AND FOR
OVER ARCHING BUCKETS.
SUPPORTING BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.
SUPPORTING WORKERS
SUPPORTING BROADER COMMUNITY
REINVESTMENT AND HALTING FUTURE
CRIMINALIZATION AND PRIORITIZING
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE BRADFORD IT BRADFORD IN HIS
OFFICE ARE DOING THREE SB TWELVE
NINETY FOUR. AND SUPPORT SOCIAL
TO SUPPORT SOCIAL EQUITY WORK IN
THESE FOUR BUCKETS.
TO BE RESPECTFUL OF TIME I WILL
FOCUS ON TWO BUCKETS THE FIRST
IS SPPORTING BUSINESS OWNERSHIP
IN AFFECTED COMMUNITIES. THEY'RE
PROVIDING ACCESS TO REDUCED
INTEREST IN INTEREST FREE LOANS
AND GRANTS.
PROVIDING REDUCED OR WAIVED
LICENSING FEES.
PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
TO STATE AND LOCAL EQUITY
APPLICANTS AND ASSISTANCE IN
SECURING BUSINESS LOCATIONS. AND
ALLOWING FOR SHARING OF COMMON
SPACES BY LICENSEES.
TO ELABORATE MORE ON THE
IMPORTANCE AT THIS POINT WE'RE
NOTICING AT THE AT THE GROUND
LEVEL.
THAT RETAIL SPACE IN AREAS ON
FOR CANNABIS BUSINESSES ARE
SKYROCKETING IN PRICE AND IS
BECOMING A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER
FOR WHO WOULD BE EQUITY
APPLICANTS TO STUDY CANNABIS
BUSINESS.
THE SECOND BUCKET I WOULD LIKE
TO FOCUS ON AS SUPPORTING
WORKERS IN AFFECTED COMMUNITIES.
THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT LINK
AFFECTED COMMUNITIES TO TRAINING
APPRENTICESHIP AND PLACEMENT IN
THE INDUSTRY.
FINDING THE DIVISION OF LABOR
STANDARDS ENFORCEMENT AND
CALISTO TO PROTECT WORKERS.
OUR RESOURCE COMMUNITY COLLEGES
TO CREATE TRAINING AND
APPRENTICESHIP CURRICULA
SPECIFIC TO THE CANNABIS
INDUSTRY. AND A SANTA RISING
HIRING FROM AFFECTED COMMUNITIES
AND TRANSITIONAL WORKERS.
INCLUDING POST RELEASE SERVICES
SUCH AS JOB PLACEMENT AND
WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO ENSURE
THE WORKERS SUCCESS.
THE OTHER TWO BUCKETS I WON'T GO
INTO OUR.
BROADER COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT
IN AFFECTED COMMUNITIES AND
HALTING FUTURE CRIMINALIZATION
AND PRIORITIZING RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE.
IT'S THROUGH THE LENS OF THESE
PEOPLE THESE FOUR BRACKETS THAT
UFCW BELIEVES THAT THE STATE
MUST ENGAGE THE CANNABIS
INDUSTRY SOONER RATHER THAN
LATER. TO ENSURE THAT THE
CALIFORNIA'S CANNABIS INDUSTRY
IS EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE.
ESPECIALLY SO THOSE WHO RAVAGED
BY THE WARREN DRUGS ARE ABLE TO
PARTAKE IN THE CANNABIS
INDUSTRIES SUCCESS THANK YOU.
GOING NEXT GO AHEAD HI EVERYONE
MY NAME ASSURE THE CALL I'M THE
CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER CANALS
LABS WHERE CANNABIS TESTING LABS
BASED IN ORANGE COUNTY. I'M ALSO
ON OF THE BOARD OF THAT
CALIFORNIA CANNABIS INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION AND.
I'M A CHAIR OF THE DIVERSITY
AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE AND AS
SOME OF OF YOU KNOW WHAT THE
SPEAKERS BEFORE MENTIONED
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IS
DIFFERENT. FOR SOCIAL EQUITY
PROGRAMS AND WE'RE VERY AWARE OF
THE IMPACT OF.
THIS ON VARIOUS BUSINESSES
THEY'VE BEEN SEVERAL HIGH GROWTH
INDUSTRIES IN THE PAST SUCH AS
THE TECH TECH. MARKET IN THE
STOCK MARKET THAT HAVE SEEN VC
FUNDING AND WE'RE STARTING TO
SEE OF A SIMILAR MODEL COME TO
THE KIND OF THIS INDUSTRY SO I
THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT
WE DON'T REPEAT.
THE SAME MISTAKES THAT HAVE BEEN
MADE BY SOME OF THESE OTHER
INDUSTRIES THESE INDUSTRIES HAVE
BEEN NOTORIOUS FOR BEING
EXCLUSIONARY TOWARDS MINORITIES
AND WOMEN UP AND. I THINK WE'RE
STARTING TO SEE A VERY SIMILAR
TREND HERE AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN.
MENTIONING IS THAT WE SEE.
FUNDING IS NOT AVAILABLE IN
THIS INDUSTRY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE
BEEN IMPACTED BY THE WAR ON
DRUGS.
AND ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS WE%
HAVE IS TO INCENTIVIZE THIS IN
SOME WAY RIGHT WE HAVE TO FIND
SOME WAY OF INCENTIVIZING IT BY
SOME KIND OF TAX BREAK BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT. THE OF THESE BIG
EQUIPPED EQUITY INVESTMENT FUNDS
RESPOND TO AND WE DO NEED TO
FIND WAYS OF INCORPORATING THAT
INTO THE BIGGER PICTURE AS WELL.
WE DO HAVE AN A RESPONSIBILITY
TO BUILD THIS INDUSTRY IN SUCH A
WAY IN A BETTER WAY THAN SOME OF
THESE PREVIOUS INDUSTRIES
BECAUSE WE ARE AWARE OF A LOT OF
THESE ISSUES.
AND.
WE TRY TO ADVOCATE THIS THROUGH
INFORMATION THERE DOES SEEM TO
BE A LACK OF INFORMATION OVERALL.
LACK OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION
LACK OF ACCESS TO RESOURCES SO
THERE THERE IS AN INFORMATION
GAP THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED. AND
THERE'S ALSO A MENTORSHIP GAP
THAT THESE TO BE FILLED THERE
ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN
HELPING. AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
INTERESTED IN GETTING THE HELP
BUT HOW DO WE CONNECT THE TWO
AND SO IF THERE ARE. WAYS IN
WHICH YOU CAN TRY AND CONNECT
THESE TWO ORGANIZATIONS WORKING
ON THIS THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON THIS
BUT SOMETHING N THE STATE LEVEL
THAT CAN HELP. INCENTIVIZE THIS
I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
I'M WE HAVE MENTIONED THAT THERE
IS A THRIVING INDUSTRY BUT RIGHT
NOW WE ARE OF THREE QUARTERS OF
THE WAY IN THE REASON THAT WE
BRING UP. THIS THE TAX REVENUE
IS BECAUSE SO FAR WE'VE
GENERATED THIRTY FOUR MILLION IN
TAX REVENUE WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A
REALLY LARGE AMOUNT. BUT WE'RE
ACTUALLY WAY SHORT OF THE
HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE MILLION
THAT WAS PROJECTED AND THE
REASON FOR THAT IS THAT WE HAVE
A THRIVING ILLEGAL MARKET. AND
THE BURDEN OF ALL THE TAXIING
AND THE.
LOCAL AUTHORIZATION IS ACTUALLY
HAVING ITS TOLL ON BUSINESSES
RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE THE PERMITS.
IF WE HAVE A THRIVING REGULATED
WELL REGULATED INDUSTRY THAT IS
LEGAL THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO SUPPORT. THE SOCIAL
EQUITY PROGRAMS AND SO I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND
THAT THE REASONS BEHIND THIS THE
UNDERLYING REASON FOR THIS IS
THAT THE LOCAL AUTHORIZATION
PIECE. HAS BEEN.
VERY VERY MINIMAL WE WERE
EXPECTING TO SEE A LOT MORE.
LOOK AUTHORIZATION LOCAL
ORDINANCES FOR CANNABIS AND WE
HAVEN'T SEEN THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE HERE HAVE SUGGESTED THAT
WE SHOULD HAVE SOCIAL EQUITY
PROGRAMS. AT THE LOCAL STATE
LEVEL AT A LOOK LOCAL CITY LEVEL
WHICH IS A GREAT IDEA BUT THAT
HOUSED ORIGIN EIGHT IN THESE
LOCAL.
CITIES HAVING CANNABIS
ORDINANCES IN THE FIRST PLACE
THE VERY FEW THAT ARE WILLING A
LOT OF THEM ARE HAVING THIS WE
CAN WATCH SORT OF APROACH.
RIGHT NOW THERE ARE ONLY THREE
THOUSAND.
LICENSES IN GENERAL THAT HAVE
BEEN GIVEN OUT WHICH IS WAY
SHORT OF WHAT WE HAD ANTICIPATED
AT THIS POINT IN TIME LESS THAN
THIRTY PERCENT OF ALL OF THE
LOCAL.
COUNTIES HAVE COME ON BOARD
WITH SOME KIND A CITY ORDINANCE
AND ON TOP OF THAT THEY HAVE
VERY SEVERE LIMITATIONS. ON EACH
OF THOSE
SO I THINK THERE ARE WAYS IN
WHICH THE STATE CAN INCENTIVIZE
CITIES.
TWO MAY BE.
.
INCORPORATE SOME OF THESE
CADMUS ORDER ORDINANCE ADOPT
SOME OF THEM MAYBE HAVE MODEL
ORDINANCES.
MAYBE SOME OF THE DISTRIBUTION
OF THE KIND OF ICE CANNABIS
EXCISE TAX CAN BE BASED ON THE
NUMBER OF.
PERMITS THAT THE CITY CAN HAS
ACTUALLY AUTHORIZED THEIR WAYS
THAT WE CAN WORK AROUND THIS BUT
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
INCENTIVIZE IS BECAUSE A
THRIVING INDUSTRY THAT IS WELL
REGULATED WILL SUPPORT. SOCIAL
EQUITY PROGRAMS AND IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT THEY SUPPORTED
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE
EVERYONE WHO AFFORD TO THAT
POINT.
YOU FELLOW.
MISTER CHAIR SENATORS.
MY NAME IS HAS A GUY ON A
REPRESENT CALIFORNIA GROWERS
ASSOCIATION AYE THANKS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TO I SPEAK TODAY.
I'M I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU A
QUICK RUN THROUGH OF MY
EXPERIENCE THAT MISINFORMATION
LED TO A FAILED POLICY.
THAT THAT POLICY LET'S
PREJUDICE AND ULTIMATELY TO
DISCRIMINATION THOSE PREJUDICES
AND DISCRIMINATIONS ARE ARE
ROOTED IN PUBLIC POLICY IN MANY
DIFFERENT PLACES. I'M WE HAVE TO
BE VERY IMPORTANT NOT TO LET
MISINFORMATION SHAPE THE
MARKETPLACE GOING FORWARD AND SO
YOU KNOW IN IN THE RUSH TO MAKE
MILLIONS IN THE VENTURE CAPITAL
GREEN RUSH MADNESS THAT WE'RE
SEEING WE HAVE LOTS OF
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE VERY MUCH
BEING LEFT BEHIND. I'M I WAS
SEVEN THE FIRST TIME AT A PARENT
ARRESTED ON CANNABIS CHARGES MY
LITTLE BROTHERS FIRST WORD WAS
HELICOPTER NOT BECAUSE WE WERE
RICH BUT BECAUSE THE NATIONAL
GUARD DEPLOYED HELICOPTERS IN
THE SUMMER OF NINETEEN NINETY
ONE IN NINETEEN NINETY TWO. TO
MY COUNTY WHICH HAS AN ARREST
RATE FOR CANNABIS TWO POINT FIVE
TIMES THE STATE AVERAGE MY
CENSUS TRACT THAT FOUR POINT
SEVEN TIMES THE STATE AVERAGE I
WAS TWENTY WHEN I WAS FIRST
ARRESTED. ON YOU KNOW THEY THEY
THE CHALLENGES THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE PERVASIVE AND
AND THIS INJUSTICE IS IS IS VERY
MUCH. A PHENOMENON THAT WE NEED
TO COMBAT.
THERE ARE TWO TIERS OF OF
FAIRNESS EQUITY AT ITS CORE IS
ABOUT FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE IN
THEIR TO TEARS FROM OUR
PERSPECTIVE. THE FIRST IS
DEALING WITH THE FOLKS WHO ARE
DIRECTLY IMPACTED I SP TWELVE
NINETY FOUR IS IN OUR OPINION A
WHAT IT'S A LOT OF IT STARTING
POINT IS WORTH. AND CELEBRATING
IN TERMS OF THE WAY THAT IT
DEFINES THAT AND AND INCLUDES
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AND
IMPACTED. SECONDLY THOUGH THIS
INJUSTICE CONTINUES TODAY
FEDERAL POLICY HAS NOT BEEN
REFORMED THERE ARE SEVERAL
POPULATIONS THAT ARE STILL
STRUGGLING WITH THOSE DOUBLE
STANDARDS THAT ARE DRIVEN BY
THIS DISCRIMINATORY POLICY. SOME
OF THEM HAVE BEEN MENTIONED
TODAY I'M BUT I I WOULD LIKE TO
JUST MENTION THAT
CATASTROPHICALLY ILL PATIENTS
AND PATIENTS ON A FIXED INCOME
ARE GETTING LEFT BEHIND IN THE
RUSH TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY. SO
ARE. THE CHILDREN OF
INCARCERATED A PREVIOUSLY
INCARCERATED PEOPLE'S AYE THEY
COULD BE BETTER INCLUDED SO OUR
VETERANS THE VETERANS AFFAIRS
ADMINISTRATION STILL
DISCRIMINATES AGAINST THEM INTO
HAVE ACCESS TO CANNABIS THAT
NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I'M THE LAST
POPULATION THATWE'VE IDENTIFIED
OUR TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS HEARING
CALIFORNIA ONE MY FAVORITE PARTS
OF MY JOB IS I MEAN I REMEMBER
MY FIRST TIME TESTIFYING I'M AND
EVERY TIME I GET TO BRING A
MEMBER WHO HAS NEVER BEEN IN A.
SENATE HEARING BEFORE SUPER
EXCITING SOME AND THE SOCIETY
BOARD MEMBER AND CHAIR OF OUR
SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE IS
GOING TO SPEAK BRIEFLY AS WELL
THANK YOU THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN
IN SENATORS WHEN IT IS MONDAY SO
SNOWED IN THE SHED. CAREFUL FOR
JUSTICE COMMITTEE.
AND OUR COMMITTEE IS.
COMMITTED TO DISCUSS IN EQUITY
PROGRAMS COMPASSIONATE USE AND
TRAVEL CANNABIS IN CALIFORNIA
ONS WERE DEVELOPING OUR FORMULA
RECOMMENDATIONS TO OUR BOARD AND.
AFTER REVIEWING THIS LANGUAGE
LIKE TO PRESENT SOME OF THOSE TO
YOU THE EQUITY SHOULD BE DEFINED
BY THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY FIRST.
TO THOROUGHLY AND ACCURATELY
REPRESENT THE DISPARITY IN EACH
MUNICIPALITY.
SIMILAR IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE
OF PROPOSITION FIFTY FOURTH
THERE CAN OFTEN THE CANNABIS
MARKET REGULATIONS.
THEY START THERE AND THEN THEY
CAN. LICENSEES CAN OFTEN AT THE
STATE LEVEL.
FOR MINUTE MUNICIPALITIES WHO
ADOPTED REGULATIONS.
AND THE STATE SHOULD REQUIRE
THAT EQUITY NOT ONLY BE SELF
DEFINED BUT IN EQUITY PROGRAM BE
REQUIRED TO REPROACH IS
APPEALING EITHER THEY DEVELOP
THEIR OWN PROGRAM AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL. OR THEY OFTEN TO STATE
RUN PROGRAM WE ARE ALSO
SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE
CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN
CANNABIS ASSOCIATION OF LIKE TO
INVITE CHAIRWOMAN BRACELET TO
PLEASE STAND. ON SHE IS THE
CHAIRWOMAN OF THOSE WHO TO
WHITES WHO PIE YOU TRY THE
VENTING CALIFORNIA THE CHAIR
WOMAN IS ADVOCATING FOR TRIBAL
SOVEREIGNTY TO BE RECOGNIZED BY
THE STATE GOVERNMENT.
HER RESERVATION HOUSES THE FIRST
INDIGENOUS OWNED AND OPERATED
DISPENSARY IN CALIFORNIA AND HER
TRIBE HAS ESTABLISHED. CANNABIS
REGULATORY COMMISSIONERS AND IS
LOOKING TO HAVE THEIR CANNABIS
LICENSES INTERFACE WITH
CALIFORNIA CANNABIS MARKETPLACE
I'M IT IS EQUITABLE FOR THE
STATE TO ADOPT LANGUAGE SHOULD
CHIEF THE FOLLOWING. LOCAL
MUNICIPALITY EXPORT EQUITY
DEFINITION AS A REQUIREMENT TO
ALLOW STATE EQUITY DEFINITION TO
REFLECT THE TRUE DEMOGRAPHICS
AND DISPARITIES WHICH EXIST TO
THE CRIMINALIZATION OF CANNABIS
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR. FOR
BEING IS FREE FOR SURE BUT SO
FAR SO IN INCISIVE AND.
INCLUSIVE BEEN IN HERE
DISCUSSION OF ALL THE ISSUES ANY
QUESTIONS OF. YES SENATOR HAVE
GOT A COUPLE.
FOR FOR DOCTOR CALL.
MENTIONED.
PROJECTED REVENUES NOT WHAT WE
EXPECTED TO BE IN FACT FAR FAR
SHORT. OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THOSE.
CHALLENGES DO AS WE NOT ENOUGH
LICENSEES.
BUT A SECONDARY QUESTION IN SO
HOW CAN WE FIX THAT AND THEN THE
SECOND QUESTION IS IS THE OTHER
PROBLEM. THAT TAX
STRUCTURES TOO HIGH SO WE
CONTINUE TO HAVE A BLACK MARKET
SO RIGHT KNOW IT IT IT CARD
PARTY BOTH RIGHT.
MOST CITIES ARE SORT OF LEFT ON
THEIR OWN TO ADOPT ORDINANCES A
LOT OF THEM DON'T KNOW HOW TO
DRAFT THEM THEY DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES. AND. TO BE FRANK SOME
OF THE CITIES ARE MAYBE NOT AS
EDUCATED AS WHAT WE'VE SEEN AT
THE STATE LEVEL.
AND.
IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE TO TRY
AND. EDUCATE THEM ON HOW THE
INDUSTRY LOOKS AND THE KIND OF
POLICIES TO ADOPT IN WHICH TO
MAKE IT.
EQUITABLE THE ISSUE WITH THE
TAXES OF DEFTLY BAKE A LOT OF
THE LOCAL CITIES ARE ADOPTING
TAXES ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO TEN
PERCENT WHICH THEY'RE TAXING AT
EVERY POINT OF.
SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT RETAIL YOU
LOOK AT DISTRIBUTION YOU LOOKING
AT TESTING AND THEN FINALLY ON
THE RE ON THE PRODUCT SO NOW YOU
HAVE SOMETHING THAT CAN. OF
COMPOUND UP TO ALMOST THIRTY
PERCENT AND THEN YOU HAVE TO
ACCEPT TAX ON TOP OF THAT STILL
STACKED ON TOP OF THAT. IN
ESSENCE YOU'RE LOOKING AT LEGAL
PRODUCT IS ABOUT DOUBLE THE COST
OF ILLEGAL PRODUCT AND IT'S
REALLY DRIVING BUSINESS DOWN A
LOT OF THE LEGAL. BUSINESSES
THAT WE'VE SEEN ARE ACTUALLY
SUFFERING RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE
LEAD OFF
PEOPLE THEY'RE NOT DOING THE
GREATEST AND SO.
THE CC I IS ACTUALLY SUPPORTING
SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IN
LEGISLATION ABOUT ENFORCEMENT
BUT BEFORE WE GET TO ENFORCEMENT
I THINK IT'S A DANGEROUS SORT OF
SLIPPERY SLOPE RIGHT LIKE. HOW
ABOUT WE ENCOURAGE?
ADOPTION AND I'D ENCOURAGE
ADOPTION OF THESE ORDINANCES I'M
A LOT OF CITIES ARE SORT OF IN
THIS JUST WAIT AND WATCH THEY-WHATTHEY KNOW THAT THEIR
REVENUE WILL COME BUT THEY WANT
TO SEE WHAT THE NEIGHBORING
CITIES ARE DOING AND IF. IT'S
AFFECTING THEY WANT TO SEE WHAT
DATE ON DOES IT AFFECT CRIME YOU
KNOW DOES IT AFFECT.
HOUSE PRICES. ALL THIS KIND OF
THING THE OTHER THING THAT
THEY'RE WAITING TO SEE AND.
TRUTH BE TOLD IT DOESN'T SEEM TO
AFFECT THAT SO FAR BUT.
THEY'RE STILL VERY SLOW IN
MAKING THOSE ADOPTIONS YEAH OF
FOLLOW UP SO DROWNED MONITORED
ELECTRONICALLY I WANT TO ALSO
MENTION THAT THE CURRENT TAX
STRUCTURE IS REGRESSIVE. I'M
THAT THE BUSINESS IS THERE ARE
SOME BUSINESSES WHO CAN AFFORD
THE CURRENT RATE AYE YOUR SENATE
MOVED IN ASSEMBLY BILL IN TWENTY
SIXTEEN ALL THE WAY TO
APPROPRIATIONS IT WAS ULTIMATELY
SHALL PRIOR TO THE PASSAGE OF.
AYE PROP SIXTY FOUR WHICH WOULD
IMPOSE THAT BEARD TAX RATE WHICH
WOULD ACTUALLY ALLOWED FOR ANY
COTTAGE SMALL AND MID SIZE
BUSINESSES TO COMPETE ITIS
REVENUE POSITIVE ACCORDING TO
THE ALEJO AND AND I THINK
THERE'S A LOT THERE YEAH BICU.
SO SORT OF FOLLOW UP.
BECAUSE WE GOT A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE HERE THAT REPRESENTS
CANNABIS IS VARIOUS CANNABIS
ASSOCIATIONS HAVE YOU BEEN
WORKING WITH THE BILLY
CALIFORNIA CITIES. TO COME UP
WITH MA WITH MODEL ORDINANCES
THAT THEY COULD IMPLEMENT IF
THEY SO CHOSE.
SO CHOSE TO I'M EIGHT YOU KNOW
MY MY THINKING ON TAX REFORM DID
START AT THE LEAGUE OF CITIES
ANNUAL MEETING LAST YEAR THEY
HAD A PANEL ON THE FINANCES
REGULATED CANNABIS I'M WE DO
HAVE A TAX PLATFORM WE FALL
TOGETHER AYE WORKING CLOSELY
WITH THEM I. WE ALSO BELIEVE
THEY WERE IN SUPPORT OF THOSE
TAX BILLS THAT YOU GUYS
CONSIDERED AN TWENTY SIXTEEN SO
THERE WAS A CONSENSUS OPTION AT
THAT POINT.
WE'D THE CCA DOES HAVE.
WE HAVE WORKED ON A MODEL
ORDINANCE UNFORTUNATE WE DON'T
TALK THAT MUCH BUT TAX STRUCTURE
BECAUSE A LOT OF. TAX TAXATION
HAS TO BE IS USUALLY BASED ON
VOTING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL SO ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE SORT
TRYING TO ADVOCATE FOR AS MAY BE
CAPS ON THE LOCAL CITY TAXES.
AND I THINK A TIERED SYSTEM
WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL AS WELL
THANK YOU THAT'S.
OKAY I GOT ANOTHER QUESTION THIS
FROM A SCREEN WHILE. I DON'T
HAVE A CARD ON ME I I DON'T WANT
TO GIVE YOU MY CONTACT
INFORMATION BECAUSE I'D LIKE IS
EATING YOU CAN SHARE YOUR WHOLE
OUR. PRESENTATION AND THE
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STEPS VERY
INTERESTING TO ME HAVING SPENT
SIX YEARS ON A COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND I FEEL
LIKE THEY'RE IN THE PERFECT.
PLACE BECAUSE THEY'RE EVERYWHERE
IN THE STATE TO JACKSON PERFORM
THAT.
SO I'M I'M A MISSION THAT IN
ADDITION.
ANY OTHER ENTITIES THAT WE
SHOULD BE LOOKING AT.
IT
CAN YOU COLLEGES OBVIOUSLY LABOR
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WHAT WHAT
WHAT WHAT YOUR WHAT YOUR
THOUGHTS ON.
YEAH I WOULD LOVE TO CONNECT AND
TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT SO WE'RE
CURRENTLY WORKING ON AN
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.
INTO GET TO MORE OF A PHARMACY
TECHNICIAN BUT IN THE CANNABIS
INDUSTRY AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO
PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
THERE'S AN ONLINE COMMUNICATIVE
COMING UP TO BUT WE'RE LOOKING
IN THE COMMUNICATIVE SPACE CUT
TO GET THAT STARTED. GLUM
SPEAKING.
SAID WE COULD JUNE AT THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE C. E. O.
CONFERENCE SO THAT BE A GOOD
PLACE.
THAT I COULD START SO.
IT WOULD BE GREAT THAT YOU KNOW
PRIOR TO THAT THAT BE GREAT.
WONDERFUL IT'S CONNECT AND GIVE.
VERY GOOD THANK YOU OTHER
QUESTIONS
SEEING NONE THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR. YOUR PARTICIPATION AND
INSIGHTS INTO THIS. IMPORTANT
TOPIC.
NOW WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC
COMMENTS.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
THOSE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK
AT THE MICROPHONE IF YOU'D LIKE.
WE'RE GOING TO LIMITED TO.
LESS THAN ONE MINUTE I'M SORRY.
YOU'RE RIGHT I COULD HAVE YES
VERY THING.
I AM THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE
BENTON PAIUTE TRIBE LOCATED
FIFTY MILES EAST OF MAMMOTH
LAKES.
WE'RE OUT IN A REMOTE AREA.
AND.
I HEARD A LOT OF TALK HERE
ABOUT.
.
EQUITY.
BUT THE TRIBES WE HAVE NO
EQUITY.
WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA YET WE ARE LOCKED OUT
OF THE MARKETPLACE AND OUT OF
THE INDUSTRY AND WE HAVE NEVER
BEEN IN PROP SIXTY FOUR. THERE'S
NO LANGUAGE FOR TRIBES AND WHEN
THE EMERGENCY REGULATIONS CAME
OUT.
IT HAD A LITTLE SMALL PARAGRAPH
THAT ADDRESS THE TRIBES THAT IF
THE TRIBES. WANNA ENTER INTO THE
LEGAL MARKET OF FOR CANNABIS WE
HAVE TO WAIVE OUR SOVEREIGN
IMMUNITY AND GIVE UP CIVIL
JURISDICTION.
YOU KNOW HOW EQUAL IS THAT YOU
KNOW WHERE TRIED WORK SOVEREIGN
NATIONS WERE TRIED WE SUPPORT
OUR GOVERNMENT SEND OUR LOW ARE
PEOPLE. AND YOU KNOW WE WOULD
LIKE TO BE ABLE TO ENTER INTO
THIS MARKET. ALSO YOU KNOW AND
WORK WITH OUR LOCAL COUNTIES YOU
KNOW WE PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT AND
HOUSING YOU KNOW NOT ONLY ON OUR
RESERVATION. VERY MUCH I
APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU.
HELLO MY NAME IS RAVEN DECADE
I'M COFOUNDER OF COMMUNITY
GARDENS RE ARE CANNABIS DELIVERY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY. A LOCATED
IN OAKLAND CALIFORNIA WE ARE IN
EQUITY TEAM WE WERE THE FIRST
EQUITY TEAM TO BE LICENSED BY
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR
ADULT YOU FULLY VERY. AS WE ARE
CURRENTLY BEING INCUBATED BY
KEEPING AFFECTIONS AND JEDI
EXTRACTS FOR OUR DAILY
REDISTRIBUTION RESPECTIVELY.
I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT WERE
HAVING CONVERSATIONS YOU ARE
HAVING THIS MEETING I DO WISH
THAT THERE WAS MORE EQUITY
BUSINESS OWNER REPRESENTATION.
BEFORE THE PUBLIC COMMENT CAME
ABOUT AND I WISH I HAD FIVE
MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE
THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH
OUR BUSINESS ON A DAY TO DAY
BASIS. ABOUT BEING LIMITED TO
THE ONE MINUTE I'M PAT.
HINDERS ME FOR NOT BUT.
JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT POINT
I GUESS IS JUST REALLY INCLUDING
THESE BUSINESS OWNERS IN THESE
CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE WE ARE YOU
KNOW HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS ON
A DAILY BASIS AND EVERYTHING
THAT WAS MENTIONED I THINK WAS
REALLY IMPORTANT BUT THERE ARE
COMPLAINTS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO.
TALK OR IF YOU COULD LEAD TO
CONTACT INFORMATION WILL BE
HAPPY TO CONTACT YOU AND GET
THAT INFORMATION FROM YOU I
THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE THINK VERY
BACK YOU.
I FRIENDS I'M RAKERS.
ON THE BED CANNABIS CONSULTANT
FOR KP PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.
.
TO THINK WELL THE CALIFORNIA
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL CODE
SIXTEEN WANT TO. WARY EXACT I'M
ALSO A VET. EXAM BAD DEBT
FRIENDS WHO'VE BEEN DICK'S PICKS.
ODDLY DISCHARGED FROM FEES FROM
IN THIS PAL HE STATE AND ALL
THAT SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THOSE
THEY A. STATE CAN LOOK AT THAT
BECAUSE SOME OF THE CITIES HAVE
YOU KNOW THE LAWYERS A LOOK
AHEAD AND HAVEN'T COME UP WITH A.
YOU KNOW REINFORCEMENTS TO A
REAL TO SEASON SO IF IF THE
COMMITTEE CAN LOOK AT THAT
STATUTE AND HAVE THAT. YOU KNOW
I I PRESENTED IN THE STATE WHY.
SECONDLY ON THE EQUITY PROGRAM I
HEARD PRETTY MUCH.
pIT BUT WE NEED TO GET INTO. THE
COMMUNITY.
A I'D WORK WITH TWENTY ONE TO
THIRTY FOUR YEAR OLDS. AND THEY
WANT TO GET INTO THE INDUSTRY
BUT NO ONE IS COMING IN REACHING
OUT TO THEM. SO I WE'RE GOING TO
BARBER SHOPS BICU SHOPS YOU
KNOW COMMUNITY AREAS TO SAY HEY
HERE'S WHAT'S AVAILABLE WE WOULD
HELP SOME. WITH BUSINESS PLANS
AND ALL THAT SO IT BE GOOD IF
THE STATE CAN SETUP SOME SORT OF
PROGRAM THERE TO WE GO WHERE
THEY THAT THAT THE THAT THE
EQUITY CLIENTS ARE. BECAUSE
THEY'RE NOT COMING TO SEE WHOLE.
LOT LIKE OTHER SECONDLY AROUND.
ARE THE TAX ON MEDICAL MY MOM.
GUY HAS TO USE MEDICAL CANNABIS
AND MY BROTHER AND I HAS TO PAY
FOR IT BECAUSE SHE'S ALL FIXED
INCOME. AND GOD KNOWS IF A YOU
KNOW SHE HABIT AND THEN I'M
VALLEJO ANOTHER GERMAN TALK
ABOUT THE CD. VALLEJO GUY HAS
CREATED MONOPOLY THEY ONLY
ALLOWED ELEVEN CANNABIS CLUBS TO
DO FROM SEED TO SAIL SO THEY'RE
SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE
THEIR THANK YOU THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
BUT HE SAID ARE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS BRENDA MURPHY WITH WE'D
MAPS.
I LIKE THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE
HEARING ABOUT DIVERSITY AND
EQUITY DAY THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
A POLICY GOAL WE'D MAPS IS TO
MAKE CALIFORNIA THE STRONGEST
MOST ROBUST CANNABIS MARKET NOT
CALIFORNIA. EARN OF THE WORLD.
AND BUT TO ADD YOUR POINT YOU
ASKED ABOUT MODEL ORDINANCE IS A
FEW MINUTES AGO.
WE MASS POLICY HAS A WHOLE LIST
OF.
MODEL ORDINANCES THAT HAVE BEEN
CREATED FROM OUR WORK THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY. ARE NOT JUST HERE
IN CALIFORNIA BUT COLORADO
OREGON WASHINGTON.
WORKING CURRENTLY IN NEW JERSEY.
.
THE DIVERSE MARKETPLACE AND
DIVERSE BUSINESSES ARE KEY TO
THE BUILDING OF THE MOST ROBUST
CALIFORNIA MARKET WITHOUT IT WE
WON'T HAVE A. PERIOD IN THE
STORY.
BUT TO HIT ON ANOTHER POINT
THAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED IN AND
SAID TWICE FIVE BY SIXTY BY YOUR
INDUSTRY PRESENTERS. BLACK OF
LOCAL LICENSING AND EFFECTIVE
LOCAL LICENSING STRUCTURE.
SKILLING CANADA'S MARKETPLACE
PERIOD.
WITHOUT THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE THE
EQUITY PRO.
THANK YOU VERY GOOD THANK YOU.
HELLO MY NAME IS RICK MCCOLLUM
EQUITY CANDIDATE FROM.
OPEN I JUST WANNA SHARE SO MY
SUCCESS STORIES.
FROM EQUITY PROGRAM.
.
I'D INJECTION JANUARY TWO TWIN
TWENTY EIGHTEEN I WAS ABLE TO
ACTUALLY RECEIVE MY. TEMPORARY.
ACTUALLY GO TO THE ACTUAL LOCAL
AUTHORIZATION TO RECEIVE A
PARTNER IS ASIAN FOR MY
DISTRIBUTION AND TEMPORARY
LICENSE.
THERE AND THEN I HOUSE WENT
FROM THERE WITH THE STATE. AND
ACTUALLY.
WAS ABLE TO.
ACCOMPLISHED THE.
THINK LICENCES THROUGH EVERY
PROGRAM AND I WAS ONE OF THOSE.
THE CECIL CANDIDATES THERE ALSO
APPLIED FOR.
YOU CAN'T. DO THE ACTUAL.
DISPENSARY WHEN THE FORTHCOMING
DISPENSARIES.
OUT OF THE EQUITY PROGRAM IN
OAKLAND ACTUALLY WON THE LOTTERY
THERE.
SO. I THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.
OPEN A PROGRAM IS GIVING YOU
THE BELIEVES GRAY MOUSE SUCCESS
RATE BY BEING ABLE TO OWN AND
OPERATE MY OWN LEGAL CAMPUS
BUSINESS.
I NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE
ECONOMIC WEALTH FOR MYSELF IN
THE COMMUNITY.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THE
CHALLENGES AYE I REALIZE.
IN THIS ACT EQUITY PROGRAM. AND.
.
I WITH THE INCUBATION EQUITY
PROGRAM IS. THAT.
THE INDUSTRY IS. LACKS
COMPREHENSIVE OPERATING OUT
KNOWLEDGE SO FOR INSTANCE OWES
YOU A COUPLE EXAMPLES.
MAYBE ONE OKAY ONE HAD I GIVE
YOU ONE EXAMPLE.
WHEN EXAMPLES IS IS THIS YEAR.
PERSON LIKE MYSELF HAVING TEN
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE LEGAL.
I CANNABIS INDUSTRY.
HAS BEEN ABLE TO NAVIGATE AND BE
ABLE TO LEVERAGE ARE ALL THE
DIFFERENT. AYE CHALLENGES WITH
THE NEW REGULATIONS BUT OTHER
EQUITY CAN IS LIKE MYSELF THE
SPINE ITSELF WITH THIS
OPPORTUNITY. BUT THEY CANNOT
THEY'RE STILL MARGINALIZED.
WHEN THEY REASONS WHY THEY'RE
MARGINALIZES BECAUSE THEY HAVE
NO NO IT BUT THE COMPANY'S
KNOWLEDGE INDUSTRY SO THEY GET
THAT THEY GET THAT THE LICENSE
THEMSELVES AND THEY DON'T KNOW
HOW TO OPERATE. SO.
.
WHEN THEY ALSO WHEN THEY GET THE
LICENSES THEY CANNOT COMPETE
WITH A LOT OF THESE MAJOR BRANDS
AND MANUFACTURERS OUT THERE
OPERATORS.
FOR INSTANCE IN THE REASON WHY
IS BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE MAJOR
BRANDS OPERATORS.
HAVE THE ABILITY TO VERTICALLY
INTEGRATE AND THAT WORK WITH
EQUITY CANNONS LIKE HERSELF. SO
WE DON'T HAVE THAT ECONOMIC
ADVANTAGES TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE
ON THAT LEVEL THOUGH SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT.
BECAUSE I THINK YOU OWE WE WILL
YOU'VE GOT YOUR CONTACT
INFORMATION HERE IF WE CAN GIVE
CONTACT YOU AND GET SOME MORE.
INSIGHT FROM EUROPE BE HELPFUL.
LIKE TO FINISH THAT'S FINE. OKAY
BRIEFLY PLEASE.
SOME SUGGESTIONS.
I WENT THROUGHOUT THERE'S A
NEED FOR A LOCAL ECKLEY HUBS AND
HIRING TEACH LICENSE EQUITY
CANNONS ABOUT THE INDUSTRY.
THAT WILL ENCOMPASS COMPLIANCE
ISSUES LEARN ABOUT CULTIVATING
AND PROCESS IN THE PLANT TO
DISTRIBUTION OF THE CANNABIS TO
THE MANUFACTURE. AND
DISTRIBUTION OF THE PRODUCTS
THAT ACTUAL RETAILER.
ANOTHER THING THAT WILL GIVE
EQUITY.
CANDIDATES.
THAT THE ABILITY TO COMPETE
WITH PROPER OPERATORS IN BRANDS.
IS.
POTENTIALLY PROVIDE ECONOMICALLY
DOES OUR PRODUCT TO THE CONSUMER
AND OPERATOR. SO THIS CAN BE
ACHIEVED BY GIMMICKRY CANS LORD.
TAXES.
GOOD POINT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON OF THAT AS A
GERMAN MAN IS MARK LEVITAN I'M
AN ATTORNEY FOR THE TIMBER CSUS
JONI DRIVE THE PHANTOM PIE YOU
TRY. AND THE BRIDGEPORT INDIAN
COLONY ALL FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED
TRIBES THAT ARE ACTIVE IN THE
KIND OF THE SPACE. I'M ALSO.
ASSISTING WITH THE EFFORTS OF
THE CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN
CANNABIS ASSOCIATION. THAT'S
BEEN WORKING WITHOUT YOUR
COMMITTEE STAFF AND OTHER PEOPLE
ON. ASSEMBLY MEMBER BONTA IS AB
NINE TWENTY FOUR LANGUAGE
TO PROVIDE TRIBES WITH LEGAL
ACCESS TO THE CALIFORNIA
CANNABIS MARKET. OF RIGHT NOW
TRIBES CAN VERTICALLY INTEGRATE
ON THE RESERVATIONS THEY CAN
GROW MANUFACTURE AND SELL
CANNABIS WITHIN THEIR
RESERVATION BOUNDARIES. BUT THEY
ARE NOT ABLE TO LEGALLY
INTERFACE WITH THE CALIFORNIA
CANNABIS MARKET.
DOT OBVIOUSLY IS DINING THE
EFFORTS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
OF TRIBES THAT ARE LOCATED IN
VERY REMOTE POOR AREAS OF THE OF
THE STATE. TO THE EFFORT OF THIS
BILL IS AN EQUITY ISSUE AB NINE
TWENTY FOUR AND CUTSCENE AKA THE
ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS THE EQUITY
EFFORTS THAT YOU'RE FOCUSING ON
TODAY WITH REGARD TO INNER
CITIES.
BUT ASK THAT THAT SAME A SORT
OF CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO THE
RURAL NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO
HAVE ALSO BEEN UNFAIRLY
VICTIMIZED BY CANNABIS
ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS OVER THE
SLUGGISH ELEVEN CAN BE CREATED.
GOOD AFTERNOON SIR MY NAME SAVIO
PONDO I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR
THE TRIBAL CANVAS REGULATORY
AGENCY FOR THE P. NATION OF SAN
ISABELLE. SMALL TRIBE LOCATED
THE SAN DIEGO I'D LIKE TO ECHO
CHAIR WHEN BRATHWAITE IT'S.
UPPER GENE THAT YOU CONSIDER
THE PERSPECTIVE OF TRIBES.
AT SAN ISABELLE WE HAVE TWO
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
REGULATING CANNABIS AS A
GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE SEVEN NON TRIBAL.
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES THAT
PRODUCED ALL FORMS OF CANNABIS
ARE FROM CULTIVATION ALL THE WAY
TO DISTRIBUTION UNFORTUNATELY
PROP SIXTY FOUR. HAS LEFT US OUT
OF THE CALIFORNIA MARKET TO THAT.
THROUGH THE STATE REGULATORY
WE'VE BEEN REGULATING FOR TWO
YEARS.
WITHOUT ANY ISSUES NO ANOMALIES
NO CALLS FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND
IT'S BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL THE
TROUBLE COMMUNITY. FIRED YOU TO
CONSIDER SUPPORTING EIGHTY NINE
TWENTY FOUR.
AS WELL AS.
ENCOURAGING THOSE STATE
REGULATORS TO A. NETWORK WITH
THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE
REGULATORY BUSINESS I SPENT
TWENTY SEVEN YEARS IN STATE
SERVICE WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE.
SO REGULATION WE KNOW VERY VERY
WELL AND WE DON'T QUITE
SUCCESSFULLY THANK YOU THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
MISTER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
GERMAN POWER YOU WONDERFUL THANK
MEMBERS SOME STAFF.
PHONE I'M HERE TO. REPRESENT US
MARK OF A CALIFORNIA NATIVE
AMERICA.
CANNABIS ASSOCIATION.
THE I'M HERE TODAY HOPING TO BE
ABLE TO. ASK CHAIRMAN.
AND THE MEMBERS TO SUPPORT.
BONTA A. B. NINE TWENTY FOUR.
AB LINE TWENTY FOR THE LAST YEAR.
WHICH IS NOW IN YOUR COMMITTEE
MISTER CHAIRMAN.
THOUGH WAS.
A BILL THAT WAS ABOUT THREE
QUARTERS OF A PAGE.
IT BASICALLY GAVE OF THE
GOVERNOR ARE ALL THE ABILITY TO
BUILD A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT
BETWEEN TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AND
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
SINCE THAT TIME WE TOOK THE.
THE CLEAR DIRECTION.
BY.
THE ONLY STAFF BY BUT BUT ALSO
A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS TO CREATE
A MATURE PIECE OF PUBLIC POLICY.
BUT BILL OF THREE QUARTER PAGES
IS NOW ABOUT TWENTY FOUR PAGES
IT MEETS OR EXCEEDS.
TRACK AND TRACE
STRINGENT AND ROBUST REGULATORY
ACTIVITIES.
NOTE THE USE OF ST LICENSEES OR
ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO GO
INTO THE CALIFORNIA MARKET
PLAYERS.
IT IS A VERY. MATURE PIECE OF
PUBLIC POLICY. WE HOPE THAT
YOU'LL CONSIDER IT AND WAS
CHAIRMAN OF HOPE THAT YOU HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO
MEET WITH THE TRIBAL LEADERS. SO
THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO
DIRECTLY.
EXPRESSED TO YOU OF THEIR
INTERESTS AS WELL AS BEING ABLE
TO GO THROUGH THE BILL IN ANY
DETAIL THAT YOU LIKE.
IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT
THIS BILL IS IN FACT. A VERY
VERY MATURE PIECE OF PUBLIC
POLICY IT WAS A GUT AND AMEND.
IT CAME OVER FROM THE FROM THE
ASSEMBLY RELIGIO.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT.
I THINK THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN
A LITTLE PAINTING.
ON THE BILL.
BUT I THINK THAT IF YOU LOOK AT
IT TODAY.
YOU WILL SEE SOMETHING THAT
APPEARS TO HAVE GONE THROUGH
PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE.
RIGOROUS REVIEW.
AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU'LL SEE
SOMETHING THAT IN FACT IS WHERE
THE VICTIMS SERRATIONS SUPPORT.
LOOK FOR THE CONVERSATION THANK
YOU VERY MUCH THANK YOU BUDGET.
HELLO SENATOR GOOD AFTERNOON SIR
MY NAME IS MARGARET BRACKEN'S
AND FOUNDER OF THE ONE HUNDRED
BLACK MEN OF THE SAN FRANCISCO
BAY AREA.
AND I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH
GOVERNOR BROWN IN.
AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GAVIN DO
SAID.
.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS THEIR
CONCERN. ABOUT THE INDUSTRY.
AS FAR AS.
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT
THEY.
GET INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS
AND THAT. THEY ARE PROFITABLE.
JUST LIKE THE BIG CORPORATIONS
I COME FROM THE BIG CORPORATION.
AS WITH PHILLIP MORRIS TOBACCO.
I WAS OF WHIGHAM WALKER THE
LIQUOR INDUSTRY. AS WITH
SOUTHERN WINES AND SPIRITS THIS
WHICH IS THE LARGEST OF CO Y.
THROUGH. A DISTRIBUTOR IN THIS
COUNTRY TODAY.
I KNOW TED SAID CAN'T
THAT SIMPKINS WAS BY BUS WHO NOW
HAS. A YOU KNOW.
THE DISTRIBUTION COME IN A BIG
WAY.
PROBABLY WILL BE THE VEGAS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU
PERSONALLY.
AND TALK TO YOU AT SOME POINT.
AND ISSUE AS WELL.
THIRD LIKE TO HAVE ME CARS
VIENEN SHOULD LOVE IT THE COULD
YOU TO THE SERGEANT WILL BE
HAPPY TO LOOK AT IT IN A RANGE
OF THE THANK YOU ERY MUCH
ANYONE ELSE. CARE TO US BECAUSE
THEY'RE OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
YOU KNOW ONE SENATOR MCGUIRE
WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME
CLOSING COMMENTS.
IT'S A CHAIR TO TRY AGAIN SAY
THANK YOU TO YOURSELF AND YOUR
STAFF UP FOR AT THE LEADERSHIP
AND COORDINATION ON THIS ISSUE.
AND I THINK THAT THE CHALLENGE
THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE IS THAT I
WE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO BUT I
THINK THAT IF WE ARE NOT TALKING
ABOUT THIS BRING THIS OUT IN THE
OPEN. AYE MAKINGSURE THIS
BECOMES FRONT AND CENTER AYE
IT'S NEVER GONNA HAPPEN IN S. IN
ESPECIALLY WITH. OUR AN INDUSTRY
THAT IS THAT NEARLY REGULATED.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE
HEARD IMPACT POSITIVE CHANGE
I DO BELIEVE THAT YOU'VE HEARD A
COMMITMENT HERE TODAY TO BE ABLE
TO ADVANCE THAT POSITIVE CHANGE.
I AND I THINK THAT THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT CHANCE THAT WE'RE
GONNA HAVE. HAS OTHER
REPRESENTED FROM LOS ANGELES HOT
AND I WERE TALKING EARLIER IS
THAT.
THEY JUST
HOW MUCH IS ACTUALLY COMING OUT
US RIGHT NOW. RIGHT I'M JUST
TRYING TO BE A TO GET FOLKS IN
THE LEGALIZED MARKET. I AND I
THINK THEY NEED TO BECOME PART
OF THAT CONVERSATION NOW
OTHERWISE WILL BE PLAYING CATCH
UP IN THE YEARS TO COME.
THOUGHT YOU HAVE UP MY
COMMITMENT I KNOW THE COMMITMENT
OF CHAIR BMP AND AGAIN MISTER
CHAIR THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
PARTNERSHIP. A AM VERY GRATEFUL
TO HER THANK YOU CENTER REQUIRE
IN THE PARTNERSHIP WILL CONTINUE
AND I APPRECIATE THE
CONVERSATION WE HAD TODAY AND
THANK YOU TO THE STAKEHOLDERS.
AND THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE
PANELS BECAUSE THIS SENATOR
MCGUIRE SAYS WHICH WERE AT THE
BEGINNING WE HAVE TO GET IT
RIGHT AND WHERE WE'VE WE'VE I
THINK WHAT WE'VE LEARNED TODAY
ARTS THOSE AREAS WHERE THERE
HAVE BEEN CHALLENGES AND
PROBLEMS THAT WE NOW NEED TO.
KIND OF GET OUR ARMS AROUND AND
SOLVE THOSE QUICKLY SO THAT THEY
DON'T.
KIND OF GROW AND PREVENT THE THE
NORMAL NATURAL EVOLUTION OF UP
WHAT WHAT I THINK IS A GREAT. A
GREAT SYSTEM THAT WE'VE CREATED
BUT WE NEED TO MAKE IT WORK AND
HAS TO WORK IN CALIFORNIA IF
WE'RE GOING TO SUCCEED. AND.
EQUITY PARTICIPATION IS AT THE
FOREFRONT AND WE NEED TO KEEP IT
THAT WAY TO WORK ON THAT AND TO
CONTINUE THAT THAT. THAT THE
DIALOGUE AND UP AND MAKE SURE
THAT THE WHAT IT WHATEVER
OBSTACLES WERE WERE FINDING IN
FRONT OF US TODAY AND I HEARD A
NUMBER OF THEM.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND WE WILL
CONTINUE WITH THAT SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH AGAIN AND THAT THIS
HEARING IS A SENATOR.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING
SENATOR FULLER I'M SORRY.
THANK YOU FOR DOING ALL THE WORK
FOR ALL OF US AND WE'LL ALL
BENEFIT FROM BEING ABLE TO. GO
FOR ALL THE MATERIALS. AND CATCH
UP WITH EVERYTHING THAT WENT ON
TODAY WONDERFUL THANK YOU BASED
YOUR FULLER AND I APPRECIATE
THAT AND WE ALSO WILL MAKE
AVAILABLE.
THE TESTIMONY FROM ALL THE
PARTICIPANTS TODAY AS WELL SO
THANK YOU AGAIN THIS AYE HEARING
IS ADJOURNED