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Drug War Chronicle, Issue #987 -- 8/24/17
Phillip S. Smith, Editor,psmith@drcnet.org http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/987

A Publication of StoptheDrugWar.org
David Borden, Executive Director,borden@drcnet.org
"Raising Awareness of the Consequences of Drug Prohibition"

Table of Contents:

1. MARIJUANA BECOMES A PLAYER IN CALIFORNIA POLITICS AND IT'S PUTTING ITS MONEY ON GAVIN NEWSOM [FEATURE]
The marijuana industry is maturing as a political player in California, and some of its advocacy methods are downright old-fashioned.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/aug/20/marijuana_becomes_player_califor

2. SESSIONS/TRUMP PULL OFF AN AMAZING FEAT -- MAKING THE DEA LOOK REASONABLE [FEATURE]:
In a sign of our strange times, DEA officials are issuing clarifications, criticisms, even leaks about the hardline and distorted approach of the Trump administration.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/aug/20/hold_hold_feature_sessionstrump

3. THIS WEEK'S CORRUPT COPS STORIES
A dirty Des Moines cop goes down for planting evidence, plus more jail guards gone bad.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/aug/23/weeks_corrupt_cops_stories

4. THE 2017 INTERNATIONAL DRUG POLICY REFORM CONFERENCE, OCTOBER 11-14, ATLANTA The 2017 International Drug Policy Reform Conference is the major biannual gathering of drug policy reformers from around the world.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/aug/24/2017_international_drug_policy_r

5. CHRONICLE AM: GLOBAL NGOS CONCERNED ABOUT FORCED COCA ERADICATION IN COLOMBIA, MORE... (8/18/17)
Global NGOs have written to the Colombian president to express concerns about forced eradication of coca crops, a Nevada judge removes a marijuana sales bottleneck, Massachusetts has a new police force aimed at "extremists and drug traffickers," and more.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/aug/18/chronicle_am_global_ngos_concern

6. CHRONICLE AM: FIRST INDIA MEDMJ RESEARCH GROW LICENSE, FILIPINO DRUG WAR SLAMMED, MORE... (8/21/17)
Philippines bishops and citizen demonstrators alike take aim at Duterte's lethal drug war, the US Civil Rights Commission takes aim at the Trump administration's embrace of federal civil asset forfeiture, and more.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/aug/21/chronicle_am_first_india_medmj_r

7. CHRONICLE AM: AZ FORFEITURE CHALLENGE ADVANCES, PARAGUAY MJ PRODUCTION SURGES, MORE... (8/22/17)
There is a boycott against a Los Angeles marijuana business expo over the presence of Roger Stone, Seattle safe injection site supporters sue to block a NIMBY initiative, a federal judge rules that an Arizona case challenging civil asset forfeiture can
proceed, and more. http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/aug/22/chronicle_am_az_forfeiture_chall

8. CHRONICLE AM: FEDERAL JUDGE SLAMS INDIANAPOLIS PD CAR SEIZURES, MORE... (8/23/17)
It's slow in the dog days of August, but there is a bit of news out there: Indianapolis cops have to revise their vehicle seizure practices, Alaska regulators are seeking public comment on proposed on-site marijuana consumption regulations, and more.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/aug/23/chronicle_am_federal_judge_slams

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1. MARIJUANA BECOMES A PLAYER IN CALIFORNIA POLITICS AND IT'S PUTTING ITS MONEY ON GAVIN NEWSOM [FEATURE]
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2017/aug/20/marijuana_becomes_player_califor

This article was produced in collaboration with AlterNet and first appeared here (http://www.alternet.org/drugs/marijuana-player-california-politics-putting-money-gavin-newsom).

Marijuana is already a multi-billion dollar a year business in California, and with recreational sales to adults coming online next year, it's about to get even bigger. Now, the legal pot industry is beginning to throw its weight around in state office-
level politics, and it's doing it the old-fashioned way: with a checkbook.

Fundraising for the 2018 gubernatorial campaign is already well underway, and according to a recent Los Angeles Times analysis (http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-newsom-cannabis-20170727-story.html) of campaign contributions, Lt. Gov. Gavin
Newsom is running away with the cannabis cash. Pot growers, retailers, and others in the industry have donated more than $300,000, swamping industry contributions to his Democratic competitors, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa ($5,000) and
Treasurer John Chiang ($100).

That means that Newsom has hoovered up around 98% of pot industry contributions in the Democratic race for the nomination so far. There's a reason for that -- actually a couple of reasons.

First, the charismatic former San Francisco mayor has been a key player in the state's path toward full legalization, just as he was an early supporter of gay marriage. One of the first state-level officials to come out for freeing the weed, he has used
his largely ceremonial position as lieutenant governor to champion the cause, creating a blue-ribbon commission and holding public hearings to develop policy to support what would ultimately become Prop 64, the legalization initiative approved by voters
last fall. He's earned some political goodwill from the pot people.

Second, he's actively courting the industry. The Times reports that Newsom has held four industry fundraisers so far, including this one in March, hosted by the Indus Holding Company, maker of such marijuana-infused treats as Toasted fRooster and Crispy
Kraken chocolate bars:

"The fundraising dinner for Gavin Newsom in Salinas was in most ways a typical night for a political candidate. Local business leaders paid up to $5,000 for a chance to talk with the man aiming to be California's next governor over cauliflower bisque,
strip steak and Meyer lemon pudding cake... The hosts... were in the agriculture business... [b]ut they left their signature dish off the menu: candy infused with marijuana."

There is a lot at stake for the marijuana industry. Regulatory and tax policies for the new legalization regime are being developed now. As both wielder of the veto pen over legislation and head of the executive branch that will implement legalization,
whoever the next governor is, he or she will be a critical player making decisions that will help decide who makes a fortune and who doesn't.

And that worries Hezekiah Allen, executive director of the California Growers Association, which represents small growers in Northern California's traditional pot-growing Emerald Triangle. He told the Times the money to Newsom is coming from large
enterprises and wealthy individuals seeking to cut out the ma-and-pa growers who paved the way.

"There are fierce and cutthroat business practices coming," he said. "We're pushing to keep craft growers in business."

The $300,000 raised so far by the pot industry is only a small part of Newsom's $14 million campaign war chest, but it's more than raised by any agricultural sector in the state, and it's a clear sign of pot's increasing political clout. But with
legalization already won -- at least on the state level -- that clout is going to be focused on who benefits and how.

(This article was prepared by StoptheDrugWar.org"s lobbying arm, the Drug Reform Coordination Network, which also pays the cost of maintaining this web site. DRCNet Foundation takes no positions on candidates for public office, in compliance with section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and does not pay for reporting that could be interpreted or misinterpreted as doing so.)



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                                         ___________________

                                          It's time to correct the mistake:
                                        Truth:the Anti-drugwar
<http://www.briancbennett.com>

                                      Cops say legalize drugs--find out
why:
<http://www.leap.cc>

                                       Stoners are people too:
<http://www.cannabisconsumers.org>
                                       ___________________

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      It is by theobromine alone I set my mind in motion."
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