The feds are looking at the Community Host Agreements
From our friends at the Commonwealth magazine CodCast, US Attorney Andrew Lelling has assembled a grand jury to look into the (HCA's) Community Host Agreements. There have been no charges yet stemming from the investigation which started after the feds arrested Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia.
Let us all pray that our Mayor and administration are not involved with this probe, but in light of the fact that at least one marijuana company that I read about has given money to the City, I wonder if it's being scrutinized now. There is good reason to believe other officials (not Framingham) are in the sights of the feds investigations.
On a similar note, because of the Legislature's repealing the 2016 ballot question in 2017 replacing it with their own version regarding the legalization of marijuana set the stage for what we now know as legalized extortion from deep pocket investors who have bought their way in. Eliminating the Mom & Pop smaller companies who are not heavily financed. The big players have used their considerable finances to bribe and game the system for what few coveted licenses there are.
A bill at the State House will give authority to the Cannabis Control Commission the right to regulate these HCA's. Of coarse DeLeo claims to know nothing about it and he and Karen Spilka agreed to keep the House and Senate out of the mix. I'm very disappointing in Karen's position but not surprised over DeLeo's lack of interest.
All these years later we still are not realizing the full benefits of the cannabis industry here in the Ham.
posted by Jim Pillsbury @ 12:36 PM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
about time.
I worry about this. WIthout making money citys and towns are not going to allow these shops to open.
These host agreements were designed to give communities the incentive to allow shops to open, and that is fair. However, those first shops that opened in the state allowed the communities to bribe themselves in with more money for the city. This is wrong on so many levels, but particularly on the income inequality issues. This prevents the mom and pop shops from having any chance of competing, one of the things the Cannabis Commission is on the record as opposing. So why did it take the Feds and U S Attorney to actually look into this?
I think it was the Fall River Mayor that got the ball rolling on the issue. He was just so flagrant and oblivious to the optics of his actions.
On the Hill today, the legislators are looking at giving the Cannabis Control Commission the ability to regulate the HCA's. DeLeo is claiming he's not herd a word about it.
yesterday on the Hill, the House passed a piece of legislation, over the objections of the MMA (Mass Municipal Association) republicans, to allow the cannabis control commission to have oversight over host agreements. In a 121 to 33 vote now heads to the Senate. I'm not sure if our republican Governor who is in bed with the MMA would support it or veto it, but highly unlikely he could win that battle.
This new legislation would not allow municipalities to charge more than the 3%. It also says any monetary payments, in-kind contributions and charitable contributions count toward the 3% cap.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home