Cannabis & the midterm elections + meet info
ELECTIONS MATTER
At the Sunday, November 6 in-person and virtual zoom MAPP meeting in Joshua Tree, we are going to take a last-minute look at the 2022 midterms.
With inflation, abortion and democracy rightfully receiving the lion’s share of everyone’s attention, cannabis hasn’t gotten the attention it has in the past even though legalization initiatives are on the ballots in five states - Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota. These are fairly conservative states – only Maryland is a Democratic state. If all five vote to legalize, it will bring the total number of states that provide for recreational use to 24.
It will be very interesting to see how “liberal” these states will be when it comes to legalizing cannabis. Having these cannabis measures on the ballot will no doubt bring out a lot more younger voters. Young voters are more likely to vote Democratic so if the races are close, these votes can make a difference.
At the Sunday, May 6 meeting, you will be presented with a knowledgeable and nuanced look at what this election portends for California and the nation. On the state level we will use CaNORML’s cannabis election guide and examine the election’s up and down the state and discuss how they will affect the legal availability of cannabis.
On the national level in addition to discussing the legalization ballot initiatives, we will take a look at some of the more interesting races where the fate of cannabis on the federal level will be decided by just who wins these races.
We will also discuss the 6,500+ pardons issued by President Biden for all people convicted of possession of cannabis in violation of federal law and what it portends for future cannabis law reform on the federal level.
For those who attend in person, there will be a delightful assortment of cookies served with milk plus the chance to win some fabulous door prizes.
The in-person MAPP meeting on Sunday, Nov. 6 begins at 6:30 p.m. - note the change - the meeting is being held on Sunday rather then Saturday. It will be held at the legendary Beatnik Lounge, 61597 Twentynine Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree CA 92277.
If you can’t make the meeting in person, you can join the meeting at the following Zoom weblink: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81398162876
Want to help us out a little. To make a donation CLICK HERE..
Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project
2 Big Steps, 1 Small Step & I'm Running!!!
BIG STEP 1 - IT WILL PROTECT YOUR JOB - EVENTUALLY
Assembly Bill 2188, which bars employers from testing hair, blood, urine or other bodily fluids for cannabis metabolites, was signed by Governor Newsom on September 18. But don't go celebrating just yet as there are some caveats that have not been widely reported. Number one is the law doesn't go into effect until Jan. 1, 2024 meaning you can still be tested and fired for OVER ONE MORE YEAR! Number 2 is that although it will protect employees from discrimination in hiring, firing or setting conditions of employment based on cannabis use off the job and away from the work place, it specifically exempts employees in the building and construction trades or positions requiring a federal background investigation or clearance. That's a lot of jobs that off-duty cannabis use can impact so we still have a ways to go.
What was so absurd is that it took California so long to pass this legislation. Six other states have already enacted employment non-discrimination legislation so California was certainly behind the 8-ball on this one. it was not for lack of trying. In 2008, the California legislature passed cannabis legislation protecting employees from termination for off-duty use of medicinal cannabis but it was vetoed by then Governor Schwarzenegger who wrote that "Employment protection was not a goal of the initiative as passed by voters in 1996." This was utter nonsense as the intent of Prop. 215 was to treat marijuana like any other legal pharmaceutical drug.
Although legislation to protect cannabis consumers from discrimination on the job was introduced in almost every succeeding legislative session, opposition from businesses, chambers of commerce, police and building trade unions and employers along with fears of pissing off the feds, stymied the bills from getting anywhere. Pressure to pass this legislation had been building for several years coming from a wide variety of constituencies including the California Democratic Party which passed a resolution in 2019 introduced by the Brownie Mary Democrats.calling on Democratic legislators to pass a bill protecting workers from employment termination for off-duty cannabis use. Needless to say, the bone tossed to the Building and Trade associations helped subdue their very considerable and vocal opposition.
The cannabis employment non-discrimination bill was among a series of cannabis-related bills passed by the 2022 legislature that expanded the legal market, addressed harms from past cannabis bans and furthers the implementation of Prop. 64. To see all the bills passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor, CLICK HERE.
BIG STEP 2 - FREE AT LAST
Whether it is crass scrambling to get young people out to vote or its truly an epiphany of rationality and justice, President Biden's executive orders to remove the albatross of felony possession convictions from around the neck of federal marijuana prisoners is a most welcome and long, long overdue action. Even though
there is no one in federal prison for possessing cannabis, the 6,500 people who were convicted of possession of marijuana under federal law between 1992 and 2001 will have their records expunged and will no longer be considered felons ending their inability to get jobs, ineligibility for a host of government programs, disqualification for many state licenses and I guess should give them grounds to claim the right and begin the process allowing them to obtain guns of all types just like any other red-blooded gun-obsessed American.
In his message announcing these changes Biden recognized that "Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit." He specifically noted that "while white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates. Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It's time that we right these wrongs,"
Biden also requested that the Dept. of Health and Human Services reconsider marijuana's classification as a Schedule I drug by the Controlled Substances Act. Of course I would advise against holding one's breath on that one as it probably will require an act of Congress to do that. What is so sad is that the President shouldn't have to ask for it be done - it should have already happened two years ago when the Democrats took control of Congress. It just shows how dysfunctional they have been these last two years.
Ending cannabis prohibition should have been easy considering they hold a majority in both branches of Congress. Granted the majority they hold is about as slim a majority as possible, but they could have ended federal cannabis prohibition as there are enough Republicans who support it that a truly bipartisan coalition could have been put together to get it done. But they didn't
Even though Biden's move is certainly a big step in the right direction, the federal government can still prosecute residents of any state for possessing, using or selling marijuana, Anyone who ever doubted the importance of ending cannabis prohibition on the state level can see the effect of states legalizing cannabis under state law. Since Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize cannabis in 2012, the number of cannabis arrests by the feds has plummeted from almost 7,000 in 2012 to less then 1,000 in 2021 making federal marijuana arrests less then 6% of people charged for violating federal drug laws. Now that is progress and is especially felt by the 6,500 people convicted for possessing cannabis
under federal laws who will be pardoned.
"Way to go Joe."
Small Step 3 - Foot In The Door
I am running for the Board of Directors of the San Gorgonio Memorial Healthcare District. Now this might not seem to have anything to do with cannabis, but since it involves me of course it does, but before I get to that, let me tell you about this elected office.
There are 85 health care districts in California. Located mainly in rural areas, their primary directive in most instances is the support and operation of a community-based hospital, such as the San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital in Banning near where I live. In addition, health care districts are supposed to be grant-making organizations that support and implement a wide range of other community-based health and wellness facilities and activities.
I am the only person running for this position who is a Registered Nurse and has had actual hands-on experience working in both hospital and community health care positions. RNs are trained to take a holistic view of our patients’ healthcare needs. They are the backbone of not just the hospital, but all of our communities’ healthcare services. An RN will provide that needed holistic view and if elected to the SGMHD I will provide that viewpoint and work to see it implemented.
This is where my knowledge of cannabis and medicine comes in. As I am sure all you know, cannabis provides significant health benefits. These health benefits do not end at the side of a hospital bed, but actually increase. Pain, insomnia and anxiety are symptoms exhibited by many hospital patients and cannabis is one of the most effective, if not the most effective, treatment for these hospital associated ailments. If a patient's doctor believes cannabis will benefit the patient's health and help get them out of the hospital, then the patient should have access to medicinal cannabis in the hospital.
Since almost all hospitals receive significant amounts of money from the feds, Medicare being just one of them, they are not allowed to have cannabis provided to their patients due to federal law. However, there have been multiple bills introduced in Congress that would remove cannabis from the Schedule of Controlled Substances, thereby ending federal cannabis prohibition which means doctors and hospitals could provide cannabis to their patients without breaking federal law and jeopardizing the vast sums of money they get from the feds.
Once federal cannabis prohibition ends, then cannabis advocates would need to pressure hospitals to allow cannabis to be provided to their patients as it is very unlikely hospitals would do this on their own volition. That is where I would come in. As a member of the Board of Directors of the San Gorgonio Memorial Healthcare District, I could put forward the proposition that cannabis be allowed in the hospital. I don’t think it would really cause that much of an uproar – in fact I think it would be accepted, but somebody has to raise the issue first. I, as an RN taking that special holistic perspective so characteristic of nurses, would be the best and most likely the only person on the Board of Directors to make it happen.
Not wanting to be on a fool’s errand, I recognize that the chances of the feds ending cannabis prohibition are slim to non-existent. All the pundits are predicting that Republicans are likely to regain control of the House and if they do, we can kiss ending federal cannabis prohibition off as, although some Republicans support it, the majority do not.
However, if by some minor miracle, Democrats retain control of the House or by a major miracle, the majority of Republicans have an epiphany and support ending federal cannabis prohibition, then I will be in position to make it happen that cannabis will be available in our local hospital. Don’t worry, I am not going to endanger my health by holding my breath waiting for that to happen, but I will be prepared if it does.
Now for the pitch that you knew was coming. Running for political office costs money and I could use a little help in the regard. $$$ are needed for printing flyers, election cards, yard and roadside signs plus advertising in a local community newspaper. My election budget approaches about a thousand dollars and if you would like to throw a few bucks my way to help with winning the election, I would surely appreciate it.
If you can help financially please make a check out to Lanny Swerdlow, RN and send it to PO Box 918, Cabazon CA 92230.
If I win, you will all be invited to my in-person and virtual victory party where cannabis consumption will be allowed and encouraged.
$75/oz no tax & MAPP ice cream social
|
|
|
1st In-Person Meet & Ice Cream Social
By popular demand, MAPP will be holding its first public meeting where real live people will be present on Sunday, August 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the fabled Beatnik Lounge at 61597 29 Palms Hwy in Joshua Tree, CA 92252.
We are going to catch up with all the cannabis legal and medical going-ons that transpired during the pandemic lock-down as well as share stories about how our use of cannabis helped us get through the COVID crisis.
We will celebrate this most wonderful event with an ICE CREAM SOCIAL featuring ice cream sundaes - non-medicated of course. If you would like to bring a desert, some cookies or whatever (non-medicated of course again) to add to the celebration, you are encouraged to do so.
It will be great to see as many of you as possible, but if you can’t make it to the actual meeting, you can join us virtually as we will podcast the meeting via Zoom.
We will have a few door prizes to give away too including our Absolutely Fabulous silicone pipes.
I know this is controversial, but I am an RN and I work at COVID vaccination, testing and treatment sites so I always err on the side of caution. Please understand that many of our members are elderly and other high-risk community members, so we do ask that you wear a mask during the meeting. If you don’t have one, we will provide you with one.
Mark your calendar for Sunday, Aug. 7 at 6:30 p.m. so your short-term memory loss won’t cause you to miss it. All the info, including the Zoom link is printed below.
Meeting date & time: Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting location: Beatnik Lounge, 61597 29 Palms Hwy in Joshua Tree, CA. 92252
Zoom Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82483929897
Join by phone: 669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 824 8392 9897
It Ain’t Over Yet – still work to be done to get cannabis as widely available and acceptable as Budweiser and Coke – so if you have about 60 seconds, here is something you can do.
Adult-use of cannabis has been legal in California for over five years. It is beyond time for lawmakers to protect the right of employees to use marijuana when they are off the job. AB 2188, which would protect the rights of employees so that employers can’t discriminate against workers or job candidates who legally consume marijuana when they are not at work and where there is no indication of impairment, is headed to a vote in the state Senate. Before it can get to the floor though, it needs to pass the Senate Appropriations Committee.
You can help by calling Appropriations Committee Chair State Senator Anthony J. Portantino’s office at (916) 651-4025. Ask him to move AB 2188 out of the suspense file (they will be so impressed you to knew to ask for this) and forward it to the Senate floor to pass the bill and put an end to unfair workplace discrimination against people who use cannabis legally. Don’t forget to say “Thank You.”
Want to help MAPP? Consider joining our 420 Club and make an effortless donation of $4.20 each month or make a one-time donation. Your support would be gratefully appreciated.
Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project
http://www.marijuananews.org/
Pot & God Cause Mass Gun Murders
Fox News Host Laura Ingraham places the blame for the gun violence crisis in America on “what legalization of marijuana has done and is doing to an entire generation of Americans with violent consequences.”
Claiming studies “have explored the connection between regular pot use and an increased risk for serious mental illness and even violent psychotic episodes in some cases,” Ingraham wants to know “Why aren’t people in general not talking more about the pot psychosis violent behavior connection?”
To back up her contention that cannabis is at the root of the mass shootings, Ingraham brought psychiatrist Dr. Norman Miller on her television show. Connecting the dots between mass murders by people carrying AK15s, Dr. Miller expounded if “we are really interested in solving the gun violence problem, I think we’re gonna have to look under the rock and look at the role of drugs, particularly marijuana, in causing the violence, particularly the mass violence.”
Finally the truth be told - it’s not the easy availability of guns, but the easy availability of cannabis that is the cause of mass shootings.
Going one big step further in exposing the true cause for mass gun violence, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stated in an interview with conservative radio host Trey Graham that if he had the opportunity to talk with the parents whose children had been murdered in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde Texas, “I’d have to say, look, there’s always a plan. I believe God always has a plan.”
If Paxton believes God’s plan was for an 18-year-old to kill 19 children and their two teachers in a school classroom, then Texas has shown the way to end this mass gun violence
States should enact laws like the new anti-abortion law in Texas, that would allow a private citizen to sue anyone who facilitated God’s plan to use guns to murder large numbers of people. Like the Texas law, the citizen bringing the lawsuit against anyone facilitating God’s plans for mass gun violence would be entitled to damages in an amount of not less than $10,000 as well as attorney’s fees.
Laura Ingraham and Ken Paxton got it right - guns don't kill people - pot and God kill people.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN MAPP'S 420 CLUB
CLICK HERE TO MAKE A ONE-TIME DONATION
Help Your Business
Help MAPP
For info email
[email protected]
Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project
Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project
http://www.marijuananews.org/
The Height of Absurdity & It's Costing U $$$
In 2021, states took in $3 billion in excise taxes on cannabis compared with about $2.5 billion on alcohol. California generated $832 million in excise taxes, about twice as much as from alcohol sales. According to data provided by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), states in which cannabis is legal generated on average 20% more revenue from retail cannabis sales than they did from alcohol sales.
“[I]t is remarkable that in the span of just a few years, the narrow ‘sin taxes’ that states created to apply to cannabis purchases have managed to surpass the comparable taxes that have long applied to alcohol,” authors of the analysis wrote.
This is absurd especially when considering that alcohol causes around 80,000 deaths a year and no one dies from cannabis. The absurdity continues to grow as alcohol causes broken homes, significant health problems such as pancreatitis, hepatitis, cardiovascular disease and rotten brains and cannabis not only doesn't cause these ailments it can actually prevent them. The absurdity maxes out considering the amount of alcohol consumed far exceeds the amount of cannabis consumed.
The report noted that several other states are considering joining the 11 states that have legalized recreational cannabis. Carl Davis, one of the authors of the ITEP study, said the best way to maximize revenue is to remove barriers to entry for the businesses that cultivate and sell marijuana. “If their priority becomes to maximize revenue, the way you do that is to allow for a large number of retail outlets and allow for delivery and discourage local bans on cannabis shops.”
The rush to impose usurious tax rates on cannabis has led to this bizarre reality where cannabis tax revenue collections, which was legalized only 10 years ago, now outpaces alcohol tax revenues which were legalized 89 years ago. Onerous taxation of cannabis is not good for our communities. We must keep fighting to reduce the usurious taxation of cannabis because if we can get cannabis cheap and widely available, many people will switch from alcohol to cannabis for their consciousness altering substance-of-choice. I don’t have to tell you how much better we would all be if people consumed more pot and less booze.
The only silver lining in this excessive tax revenue amount is that state legislators are far less likely to genuflect before the Evangelical social agenda and, unlike abortion and LGBT civil rights, are not going to re-instate cannabis prohibition and kill this new and significant golden goose revenue stream. Perhaps if abortions and LGBT civil rights were taxed at as high a rate as cannabis, maybe those state legislators who are falling all over themselves to overturn them, would be voting to protect them.
LIVE EVENT: Sheriff & DA Candidates Take On Cannabis for Riverside County
Can the Riverside Co. Sheriff's and DA's Offices have rational cannabis policies? Two Candidates Think They Can!
Even though Riverside County has made significant strides towards mainstreaming cannabis for both personnel and business uses with its very realistic policy on personal cultivation for medical users and implementation of an ordinance for commercial businesses, there are still substantial complaints on the actions of law enforcement particularly the heavy handed approach of the Sheriff’s office.
With a nod to a more enlightened approach, you are invited to join in a special MAPP ZOOM meeting and podcast on Sunday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m. where you can meet, hear and question two candidates who are opposing the June re-election of the current DA and Sheriff.
Michael Lujan is a former Captain in the Riverside County Sheriff’s office who retired after serving Riverside County residents for 31 years. He is opposing current Sheriff Chad Bianco who is embroiled in controversy over his refusal to enforce state and county mask mandates and, as reported by the Press Enterprise, “was a dues-paying member of the Oath Keepers” a far-right organization that played a major role in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. His implementation of "Marijuana Mondays" which were escalated to include "Weed Wednesdays" resulted in a heavy-handed approach to legacy commercial cannabis cultivators in the Anza Valley area of Riverside County who had been cultivating cannabis for a decade or more but were denied the ability to legally cultivate when Riverside County refused to include them in its commercial cannabis cultivation ordinance even though they are in an area zoned for rural agriculture.
The Honorable Burke Strunsky, a judge for the Riverside County Superior Court is opposing current DA Michael Hestrin. Although more low-key and less demonstrative then Bianco, Hestrin has generally worked in tandem with Bianco and has done little, as Riverside County's chief law enforcement officer, to aid in the implementation of Prop. 64 which was approved by Riverside County voters in 2016.
Joining us on this special meeting/podcast is Edison Gomez-Krause, founder of the High County Grower’s Association which advocates for the legacy cannabis cultivators in the Anza Valley region. Edison will present the history of cannabis cultivation in the region and detail the on-going problems, travails and fruitless efforts of cultivators to bring their area into compliance and the refusal of the Sheriff’s and DA’s offices to work with them.
Captain Lujan and Judge Strunsky offer striking and compelling alternatives in many areas and not just in cannabis law enforcement to the current Sheriff and DA in Riverside County. You are cordially invited to attend a most enlightening virtual zoom meeting on Sunday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m. with Captain Lujan and Judge Strunsky. This is your chance to meet, hear and ask questions of both candidates. Zoom MAPP meeting info below:
Zoom MAPP meeting featuring Riverside County DA Candidate Burke Strunsky and Sheriff Candidate Michael Lujan
Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 7:30 PM PDT
Join Zoom Meeting at
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81519905234
Meeting ID: 815 1990 5234
Join by phone
669-900-9128
Police Strike Back at Police
Police Getting Police to Rethink Legalization & Drug Laws
Zoom MAPP meet Sunday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Police have always been the biggest enemy to cannabis legalization and drug law reform. Fortunately there is a growing number of police who want to change that. I would like to invite you to a meeting tonight, Sunday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. - MAPP's virtual ZOOM meeting where you can meet and hear Diane Goldstein, Executive Director Law Enforcement Action Partnership who will explore and explain the changing dynamics in how police enforce cannabis laws in the age of creeping legalization as well as how to change police attitudes to drug law reform.
Diane Goldstein, a 21-year veteran of law enforcement, served as the first female lieutenant for the Redondo Beach CA police department. She is the Executive Director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, a group of criminal justice professionals that work advancing justice and public safety solutions. Goldstein is a guest columnist for many media organizations, and is recognized as an expert on criminal justice and drug policy.
Working from the inside to change the inside, Diane will explain the programs and actions undertaken by LEAP to effect change in drug policy and in police departments across the nation. Diane will also take a look at SB County’s refusal to enact Prop. 64 and the malicious and racist enforcement actions of the SB County Sheriff’s office.
Join us for a most enlightening meeting tonight, Sunday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. Information for zooming on in on your computer or on your phone is below. Looking forward to having you join us.
Lanny
Here is the zoom info for attending the MAPP meeting:
MAPP meeting with Diane Goldstein
March 6, 2022 at 7:30 PM Pacific Time
ZOOM MEETING LINK:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84276506930?pwd=bTYvREhZS3QyeDNkS0RkaVBmZ1pEdz09
Meeting ID: 842 7650 6930 Passcode: 501491
JOIN BY PHONE
669-900-9128
Meeting ID: 842 7650 6930 Passcode: 501491
SB County Sheriff's Attack & MAPP meeting Sat. March 6
PLUS MAPP MEETING INFO
The San Bernadino Sheriff’s office has gone off the deep end of reefer madness with their recent busts of mainly Asian cannabis cultivators and the highway robbery of armored vehicles carrying over $1 million of cash from cannabis dispensaries.
Aided and abetted by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, they refuse to recognize the will of the voters of California AND San Bernardino County who voted in favor of cannabis legalization when they approved Prop. 64 in 2016.
SB County Sheriff’s committed highway robbery three times when they looted Empyreal Logistics armored vehicles in November and December 2021 and January 2022 that were transporting money from cannabis dispensaries. The theft totaled more than $1 million which was then transferred to the FBI so the Justice Division might pursue forfeiture using federal legislation. SB County could receive as much as 80% of the cash from the Justice Division’s “equitable sharing” program. The earnings of state-licensed marijuana suppliers usually are not liable to forfeiture under California legislation hence the reason why SB Sheriff’s turned the money over to the feds and not the state.
Continuing their malicious program to undermine California’s Prop. 64, SB Sheriff’s office undertook a series of raids from Feb. 7 to Feb. 13. Utilizing 16 search warrants for properties in Hesperia, Oro Grande, Twentynine Palms, Wonder Valley, Landers, Adelanto, Helendale, and Lucerne Valley, they arrested 17 people.
Totaling more than the combined racial make-up of everyone else arrested, 10 of the 17 people arrested were Asian. This lopsided number of Asians targeted by SB Sheriff’s officers’ is outrageous. Do Asians really cultivate more marijuana then white, black and Native Americans combined?
This targeting of Asians is no coincidence. Is it anti-Asian bigotry? If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it’s a duck.
For a chest-thumping article on the SB Co. Sheriff’s office despicable actions busting the cannabis cultivators that lists the names of the people arrested and their locations CLICK HERE. For the low-down on the armored vehicle robbery of over $1 million dollars of cannabis cash, CLICK HERE.
San Bernardino County, which spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in a losing lawsuit to over turn Prop. 64 in 2017, continues to do everything it can to deny its citizen the benefits of Prop. 64 even though the majority of voters in SB County voted in favor of Prop. 64. Rather then allow people who have property in areas zoned for agriculture to legally cultivate cannabis, the County arrests them for doing what is allowed in next door Riverside County. Furthermore, the SB BOS turns a blind eye to the Sheriff’s office subverting the will of the people by robbing legitimate dispensaries of their cash using federal law as a runaround state law.
We will be discussing SB County’s refusal to enact Prop. 64 and the malicious and racist enforcement actions of the SB County Sheriff’s office along with taking a look at the role law enforcement continues to play in undermining cannabis legalization at the next virtual zoom MAPP meeting on Sunday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Our featured speaker is Diane Goldstein, a 21-year veteran of law enforcement who served as the first female lieutenant for the Redondo Beach CA police department. She is the Executive Director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, a group of criminal justice professionals that work advancing justice and public safety solutions. Goldstein is a guest columnist for many media organizations, and is recognized as an expert on criminal justice and drug policy.
Here is the zoom info for attending the MAPP meeting:
MAPP meeting with Diane Goldstein
March 6, 2022 at 7:30 PM Pacific Time
Zoom Meeting link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84276506930?pwd=bTYvREhZS3QyeDNkS0RkaVBmZ1pEdz09
Meeting ID: 842 7650 6930 Passcode: 501491
JOIN BY PHONE: 669-900-9128
Meeting ID: 842 7650 6930 Passcode: 501491
Want to help MAPP? Consider joining our 420 Club and make an effortless donation of $4.20 each month or make a one-time donation. Your support would be gratefully appreciated.
Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project
San Bernardino Sheriffs Bigoted Highway Robbers
The San Bernadino Sheriff’s office has gone off the deep end of reefer madness with their recent busts of mainly Asian cannabis cultivators and the highway robbery of armored vehicles carrying over $1 million of cash from cannabis dispensaries.
Aided and abetted by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, they refuse to recognize the will of the voters of California AND San Bernardino County who voted in favor of cannabis legalization when they approved Prop. 64 in 2016.
SB County Sheriff’s committed highway robbery three times when they looted Empyreal Logistics armored vehicles in November and December 2021 and January 2022 that were transporting money from cannabis dispensaries. The theft totaled more than $1 million which was then transferred to the FBI so the Justice Division might pursue forfeiture using federal legislation. SB County could receive as much as 80% of the cash from the Justice Division’s “equitable sharing” program. The earnings of state-licensed marijuana suppliers usually are not liable to forfeiture under California legislation hence the reason why SB Sheriff’s turned the money over to the feds and not the state.
Continuing their malicious program to undermine California’s Prop. 64, SB Sheriff’s office undertook a series of raids from Feb. 7 to Feb. 13. Utilizing 16 search warrants for properties in Hesperia, Oro Grande, Twentynine Palms, Wonder Valley, Landers, Adelanto, Helendale, and Lucerne Valley, they arrested 17 people.
Totaling more than the combined racial make-up of everyone else arrested, 10 of the 17 people arrested were Asian. This lopsided number of Asians targeted by SB Sheriff’s officers’ is outrageous. Do Asians really cultivate more marijuana then white, black and Native Americans combined?
This targeting of Asians is no coincidence. Is it anti-Asian bigotry? If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it’s a duck.
For a chest-thumping article on the SB Co. Sheriff’s office despicable actions busting the cannabis cultivators that lists the names of the people arrested and their locations CLICK HERE. For the low-down on the armored vehicle robbery of over $1 million dollars of cannabis cash, CLICK HERE.
San Bernardino County, which spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in a losing lawsuit to over turn Prop. 64 in 2017, continues to do everything it can to deny its citizen the benefits of Prop. 64 even though the majority of voters in SB County voted in favor of Prop. 64. Rather then allow people who have property in areas zoned for agriculture to legally cultivate cannabis, the County arrests them for doing what is allowed in next door Riverside County. Furthermore, the SB BOS turns a blind eye to the Sheriff’s office subverting the will of the people by robbing legitimate dispensaries of their cash using federal law as a runaround state law.
We will be discussing SB County’s refusal to enact Prop. 64 and the malicious and racist enforcement actions of the SB County Sheriff’s office along with taking a look at the role law enforcement continues to play in undermining cannabis legalization at the next virtual zoom MAPP meeting on Sunday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Our featured speaker is Diane Goldstein, a 21-year veteran of law enforcement who served as the first female lieutenant for the Redondo Beach CA police department. She is the Executive Director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, a group of criminal justice professionals that work advancing justice and public safety solutions. Goldstein is a guest columnist for many media organizations, and is recognized as an expert on criminal justice and drug policy.
I will be sending out a newsletter next Sunday with more information on this meeting including the zoom link so you can attend this most enlightening seminar along with any additional information I have received regarding both the highway robbery of the armored vehicles and the arrest of the cannabis cultivators.
Want to help MAPP? Consider joining our 420 Club and make an effortless donation of $4.20 each month or make a one-time donation. Your support would be gratefully appreciated.
Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project
http://www.marijuananews.org/