Project SAM: anti-marijuana group

ChesusRice

Well-Known Member
SEATTLE (AP) — For the activists who led the effort to legalize recreational marijuana in Washington state last fall, Jamen Shively was one of their biggest fears: an aspiring pot profiteer whose unabashed dreams of building a cannabis empire might attract unwanted attention from the federal government or a backlash that could slow the marijuana reform movement across the country.
With visionary zeal, the 45-year-old former Microsoft manager described his plans to a conference room packed with reporters and supporters last month, saying he was tired of waiting for a green light from the Obama administration, which still hasn't said how it will respond to the legalization of recreational pot in Washington and Colorado. Shively vowed to quickly raise $10 million and eventually build his company, Diego Pellicer, into an international pot powerhouse.
Though he promised a "cautious and measured" expansion, Shively's approach nevertheless contrasted with that of state regulators who want to avoid repeating the national experience with Big Tobacco and Big Alcohol, industries that profited wildly on addiction and abuse. Mark Kleiman, who heads the team hired to be Washington's official marijuana consultant, responded on his blog: "It was inevitable that the legalization of cannabis would attract a certain number of insensate greedheads to the industry."
Shively's ambitions — "We are Big Marijuana," he proclaimed — don't merely raise questions about what marijuana legalization might look like in the long run and whether large corporations will come to dominate. He also risks getting himself indicted.
The Justice Department has said while it doesn't intend to prosecute sick people for using marijuana, it will go after those who try to get rich from commercial sales. It hasn't said yet whether it will sue to block Washington and Colorado from licensing pot growers, processors and stores.
The legalization votes in Washington and Colorado have created a fever for cannabis-related investing, to an extent. Conferences have focused on the parameters for legally investing in "ancillary businesses" — those that supply equipment needed by pot grows, for example — without financing the actual production or distribution of marijuana, which remains illegal under federal law.
Shively isn't skirting the edges of the nascent industry, but diving right in, in a way that few other entrepreneurs are. Some companies that make high-end marijuana-infused products, such as Colorado-based Dixie Elixirs, are planning to make their brands available in other states, but it's not clear anyone else is taking steps to create a pot empire.
"Developing a national brand in an industry in which it is illegal to move the core product across state lines presents some serious logistical challenges," said Betty Aldworth, deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association.
Diego Pellicer's business plan estimates $120,000 of pure profit per month, per recreational pot store. Shively said he plans dozens of stores in Washington and Colorado, earning his company the "Starbucks of Pot" nickname.
At the May 30 news conference, Shively announced Diego's first corporate deal — an arrangement with a Seattle medical marijuana company called the Northwest Patient Resource Center. He said Diego would be starting in the medical marijuana market in Washington and Colorado, and then transitioning some dispensaries to recreational pot stores once the states begin issuing licenses.
Shively said the arrangement was "not in violation of either federal or state law," but it was troubling enough to one of the dispensary company owners that he's walking away from the deal — and the company he helped found — because he fears it puts everyone involved at risk of federal prosecution.
"I'm not an activist. I'm just a businessman," said the part-owner, Thomas Jun, a 42-year-old father of three. "I can't afford to do any federal time."
According to Shively, Diego Pellicer has acquired the option to buy Northwest Patient Resource Center, but does not actually own it. That's what gives Diego Pellicer some protection and allows it to position itself for the time when more states legalize pot and Congress changes federal laws, he said. No marijuana will be moved interstate.
"We don't touch cannabis. We don't have ownership of cannabis," he said. "It's not a perfect insulation or buffer, but it's the best possible mechanism that we can come up with."
Through his lawyer, Douglas Hiatt, Jun provided the AP with internal company documents, including a draft of the $1.6 million agreement dated May 30. The deal directs monthly payments of up to $50,000 from Diego be used to "to further develop and enhance NWPRC's customer locations and to otherwise grow its business as currently conducted." Former federal prosecutors say that could be seen as a conspiracy to violate federal law.
 

kelly4

Well-Known Member
yeah i've done it. You cant sell it though.
Which goes to my point

legal to possess and grow
illegal to sell.

Gets the money out of weed which in effect keeps the goverment and the cops and criminals out as well
plus it is much easier to get legalized that way.
Uruguay!!!
 

El Tiberon

Active Member
Obama could reschedule pot on his authority alone.
I have heard this said many times. Where can I find where your president has this power given to him? I think the controlled substances act is made by your congress no? If this is so does the president does have the power to say this is no longer good and can end a law from his order alone? This would imply tyranny from the office of the president. I thought the US has checks and balances to power in their government?

I think you are wrong.
 

Pepe le skunk

Well-Known Member
Actually the dea and the fda are the ones who can reschedule cannabis, not the president or congress from the research I have done. Heck even if you would want to study it you need approval from the dea, fda and the group headed by that women. Cannot think of the name but it is about drinking and drug abuse government agency.
 

El Tiberon

Active Member
I have heard of this agency. I think it is NIVA or something similar no?

I just find it. The name is NIDA but I do not know if this is who can make anything legal. They seem to be only an agency of bureaucrats.

It would be good for me to know even if for the reason to know that I understand more about US politics and the powers given than someone who is a citizen.
 

kelly4

Well-Known Member
I have heard of this agency. I think it is NIVA or something similar no?

I just find it. The name is NIDA but I do not know if this is who can make anything legal. They seem to be only an agency of bureaucrats.

It would be good for me to know even if for the reason to know that I understand more about US politics and the powers given than someone who is a citizen.
Since you are from down there, give us your view on Uruguay.
 

El Tiberon

Active Member
Uruguay has a good program in place. The state regulates the growing and sales. Individuals are allowed limited growing of plants. Licenses are to be required. Collective gardens are encouraged and also limited in numbers of members and plant numbers. Under this program the price of mota will be less than what is charged on the street. It will certainly undercut the illegal trafficking. I know nothing of testing that the government will do to protect people from poisons that might be used in the process to grow. I am sure they have something in place but I know nothing of it that is certain in this moment.
 

El Tiberon

Active Member
Colombia had a very good chance in 2012 of making mota and coca legal for the country. The bill passed the first vote of the congress but failed on the second. It would have allowed mota and coca to be grown by individuals but all trafficking and processing of the plants would have been illegal. The words of your abogado will cause more countries in the Americas to legalize in these next years. I think there will be many nations will do this before the US will do such a thing. There is very small freedom in the US and controlling the population is the goal of the politicians and the police there.
 

kelly4

Well-Known Member
Colombia had a very good chance in 2012 of making mota and coca legal for the country. The bill passed the first vote of the congress but failed on the second. It would have allowed mota and coca to be grown by individuals but all trafficking and processing of the plants would have been illegal. The words of your abogado will cause more countries in the Americas to legalize in these next years. I think there will be many nations will do this before the US will do such a thing. There is very small freedom in the US and controlling the population is the goal of the politicians and the police there.
Cool...you want me dead.


FUCK YOU!!!
 

Harrekin

Well-Known Member
Go fuck yourself gringo. You are responsible for the deaths of 1 million Colombianos. IF you do not understand why the Latin people hate you then you are blind and ignorant.
Kelly personally killed 1 million Columbians?

Jesus, he's like 1/6th of Hitler!
 

Harrekin

Well-Known Member
I understand conservative spin on words. Is this all you have to offer? I will toss you some coins the next time I see your country.
I bet you don't even know where my country is on the map, it's not your fault you're a dumb-fuck tho, it's the South American education system.

Poor little angry narcotico...
 

El Tiberon

Active Member
I bet you don't even know where my country is on the map, it's not your fault you're a dumb-fuck tho, it's the South American education system.

Poor little angry narcotico...
I know your country very well. My daughter will go to college there and I will buy a house for us there because of this. There will never be a day you can do this.
 

abandonconflict

Well-Known Member
Actually the dea and the fda are the ones who can reschedule cannabis, not the president or congress from the research I have done. Heck even if you would want to study it you need approval from the dea, fda and the group headed by that women. Cannot think of the name but it is about drinking and drug abuse government agency.
Nope.

The executive branch has the authority to reschedule. Obama doesn't need anyone's permission to end the marijuana crackdown.
 
Top