“Until they became conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious… The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power, pure power.” Orwell’s 1984.

Los Angeles is revamping its rules for handing out licenses to cannabis businesses, amid anger and disappointment over the tumultuous rollout of a program meant to address the damage done by criminalizing marijuana.

On June 16, 2020, the Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation sent proposed ordinance amendments to the Los Angeles City Council regarding the licensing process for commercial cannabis businesses.  Many of these changes will be well received by the industry, but some of the DCR’s new recommendations would create additional problems for the cannabis industry in the City, and could have negative side effects exceeding any benefits.  These recommendations are based on our many years of experience representing clients in the cannabis industry and advocating for cannabis policy reform.

It is the Department’s position that immediate and comprehensive amendments are necessary for a more responsible and equitable Licensing and Social Equity Program. The Department of Cannabis Regulation is seeking to improve the administration of the City’s commercial cannabis Licensing and Social Equity Program through a proposed comprehensive reorganization and revision to Article 4, Chapter X of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (Cannabis Procedures Ordinance).

This paper argues that the criminalization of drugs, via the criteria the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] uses to put drugs into different schedules, is illegitimate on scientific and philosophical grounds. The most contemporary developments in the study of drug use and drug addiction, undermine the legitimacy of the FDA scheme (as embodied in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970); these developments suggest that addiction to a drug is a result, not a cause, of the psychological difficulties a person may be experiencing while using the drug(s).

Oh, wow, it is a strange time. It has been all year. Rough is an understatement. Like many, I share the seemingly oil-and-vinegar sentiments of being grateful and being frustrated. I’m grateful that I’m alive, that I’m working at all, and that I can work from home. Yet natural human social inclinations are being unnaturally inhibited.

Current conversations on police use of force and brutality, otherwise known as retaliation measures, have been circulating among many social and political spheres. An essential part of participating in a protest movement is understanding the difference between looting and burglary, as it has been in previous discussions related to civil unrest. Both crimes consist of the same elements, and bear the same potential sentences, but are treated as two completely different crimes. 

On a conference call with governors, Trump used the word “dominate” on how to deal with the civil unrest throughout the country. ( https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-united-states-governors-weak-dominate-protest-civil-unrest/ ) This completely misses the point, lacks leadership, and is dangerous.

Since California legalized recreational marijuana in 2016, the number of users and of cannabis-related businesses has risen – increasing the need for cannabis-savvy lawyers. While marijuana use, sale, and cultivation are legal in California (though still illegal at the federal level), regulations surrounding cannabis businesses are continually being updated and can vary considerably at the county or city level. When it comes to personal cannabis use and cultivation, many of the current laws leave room for interpretation, making a lawyer’s help invaluable if you find yourself facing a charge.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released guidelines for processing federal loans for the hemp industry.

Today, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), in partnership with the Bureau of Cannabis Control, announced $30 million in grant funding through the Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions.

Two inmates at San Pedro’s Terminal Island federal prison have died of coronavirus, with 33 positive cases at the prison as of yesterday. Nationwide, 22 federal inmates have died od coronavirus. All federal inmates displaying signs of COVID-19 are being placed in isolation.

On April 6, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed an executive order allowing “medically vulnerable” incarcerated people to be temporarily released on medical furlough for the duration of the state’s disaster proclamation. Furloughs are typically temporary releases from prison, usually for no more than 14 days. Pritzker’s executive order extends the order indefinitely during the pandemic; it is unclear whether people will be expected to return to prison once the pandemic is past.

California and LA County lowered bail to $0 for several offenses to keep people out of jail during the pandemic. But internal emails show prosecutors discussing ways to apply the old bail amount in certain cases.

State-legal hemp businesses will be allowed to access financial relief under the multi-million dollar federal coronavirus stimulus package approved last week.

The City of Los Angeles has completed its audit of Phase 3 Round 1 Storefront Retail Licensing. The city employed a third party to conduct the audit following concerns and accusations the Accela portal was accessed by some before the application period officially opened at 10am on September 3rd in 2019, giving them an unfair advantage in the “first come, first served” process.