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Growing pains: Legalized weed might be paved with pitfalls

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“There is a lot of debate about whether marijuana is actually a harmful drug and whether it does act as a gateway to more “hard” drugs like cocaine, heroin, and more.”

—from “Is Marijuana a Gateway Drug?” Posted Jul 24, 2018 by Adi Jaffe, Ph.D. in Psychology Today

The above quote is part of the debate in progress for ages with closure likely not forthcoming. For practical purposes, we are at a stalemate of sorts with weed being shifted away from its association with crack, heroin and all the attendant narcotics consumed in dens of iniquity. After decades of transitioning public opinion and the slow progression of the justice system, the consumption of this substance from the Cannabis sativa plant is almost (but not quite) on a plateau with its closest recreational neighbors alcohol and tobacco.

According to the National Org

anization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or “NORML (https://norml.org/),” perhaps 100 million Americans have sampled it, usually via smoking the dried grayish green flowers and leaves it produces. Formerly associated with Bohemian subculture and marginalized society, bud, ganja, grass, pot, or weed is decidedly mainstream.

Monetary gain is huge

There is no more sure motivation for acceptance within the collective psyche then monetary gain. In perhaps the most telling sign of mainstream acceptance, cannabis-based companies are now eligible to be publicy traded. In other words, you can buy stock for Aurora Cannabis, Canopy Growth Corp, or Constellation Brands, Inc. (a Fortune 500 company that markets alcoholic beverages), companies that have been endorsed by U.S. News & World Report as sound investments.

Also in the corporate arena, pharmacy giant CVS is selling CBD (Cannabidiol oil extracted from cannabis plants for health and wellness applications) products (in the form of creams, sprays, roll-ons, lotions and salves) in Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland and Tennessee, with its close competitor Walgreens sure to follow. Scores of other start-ups are  likely to go public, and be underwritten for their initial public offering (IPO) to raise capital in their quest for the almighty dollar.

Another omen of mass acceptance is the fact that Barney’s, the luxury department store out of New York, has opened its own boutique “head shop” on the fifth floor of its Beverly Hills location titled appropriately enough “The High End,” selling a variety of ashtrays, hookahs (water pipes) rolling papers and cosmetic items for the well heeled “canabisseur.”

Echoes of an era

“…marijuana continues to be a Scheduled I drug and the DEA’s mission is to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the U.S.”

—Official statement from the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Examples of Schedule I drugs (from the DEA website) are: heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), ecstasy, Quaaludes, and peyote.

At this point it bears remembering that marijuana is still illegal under federal law, and as such continues the stigma (in some circles) the plant has within the American psyche.

For years those in favor of legalization have argued that outlawing the drug merely provides a windfall for underworld elements to generate revenue and gain power. To substantiate this they point to the Prohibition Era (1920-1933) of the United States. This well- meaning attempt to cure societal ills associated with alcohol consumption enabled nefarious elements within the ranks of organized crime to grow, and stimulated the spread of violence (a trend replicated in the current “War on Drugs”). Unbridled carnage, and perhaps the realization that this law was unenforceable led to the ratification of the 21st Amendment, which effectively ended Prohibition in 1933.

To be sure, loosening of legal restrictions on fermented spirits curtailed the rampant blood letting of the Roaring Twenties, but criminal constituents merely transitioned their energies into other, disreputable methods of commerce.

Prohibition also spawned the expansion of the United States Border Patrol. Government personnel had previously guarded America’s boundaries. The influx of liquor (along with the fear of Mexican as well as illegal Asian laborers, aka “The Yellow Peril”) prompted the formation of the Border Patrol in 1924. The similarities between these early 20th century political maneuverings bear an eerie resemblance to our contemporary debacle of immigration, the War on Drugs, and a closed border.

Quality control

Back in the 1970s and 80s as an offshoot of Nixon’s “War on Drugs” the American government subsidized its Mexican neighbors to eradicate their marijuana and opium fields with a herbicide (manufactured by the oil company Chevron) called Paraquat. Its impact on the cannabis crop was inconclusive, but the cash-strapped farmers shipped the tainted weed north anyway, where the hapless potheads imbibed the contaminated product.

Even after the decriminalization of marijuana, in California, additives are still being added to the mix. These modern-day substances are not meant to discourage consumption, but to enhance the psychoactive effects or to maximize profits. A study commissioned by the Smithsonian Institute found product sold in recreational outlets regularly contained additives and harmful pesticides (shades of Paraquat) as part of the cultivation process (see “Modern Marijuana Is Often Laced With Heavy Metals and Fungus,” March 23, 2015 by Brian Handwerk). Often times unscrupulous retailers will merely “lace” their product with other intoxicants like fentanyl or methamphetamine, or even laundry detergent. Butane gas commonly used in cigarette lighters and aerosol deodorant is also popular.

Affianados seeking a (relatively) safe and natural high should possibly stick to one of the (legal) marijuana dispensaries within the city, which can be found at https://cannabis.lacity.org/resources/authorized-retail-businesses. Alas, scores of unscrupulous retailers continue to ply their trade. These illicit peddlers have the upper hand since they can avoid the stiff licensing fees, and are unencumbered by state and local taxes that can add to their bottom line.

These illegal ventures are especially attractive for armed robberies as they generally have large amounts of cash on hand, and operate without armed guards, safes, and surveillance equipment required by their legitimate competitors. For street level criminals eager to ply their trade, these businesses offer a path of least resistance, since as black market entities they are unlikely to report crimes as they operate outside the law.

The ‘green rush’

“…it’s not enough to simply decriminalize marijuana. We must also repair the damage caused by reinvesting in those communities that have been most harmed by the War on Drugs.”

—Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

With all this in mind, perhaps the only sure thing is the probability of a financial windfall. This monetary largess will likely be unbalanced however, as the racial component manifests itself. People of color who were disproportionally targeted during the War on Drugs, will probably be left out once the economic tide rolls in. No concrete solution to redress the decades of abuse suffered by the community as a whole, but isolated individuals who identify as Black are making the attempt to cash in.

A relative new comer to the Golden State, Clarence Foster was a casual smoker for years until he began to consider it as a financial undertaking. Within the past few years the Baldwin Hills resident has invested in his own company, labeled “Kalifornia Love” (https://thekalifornialove.com/), in a nod to the iconic 1996 hit single by Tupac Shakur, with the “K” denoting his status as a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

“I am excited to enter a multi-trillion dollar industry,” he says, emphasizing his commitment to people, product, and partnership (with the community).

African-Americans cash in

With a contingent of successful African-Americans in key positions, he is establishing a beachhead by purchasing an agricultural tract in the fabled Northern California enclave called the Emerald Triangle of Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity counties, known to be the largest cannabis-producing region in the United States.

This area is historically known as a haven for hippie and counter culture dropouts from society drawn to the region for its isolation and the chance to pursue a lifestyle free from the constraints of the outside world. Along the way, they were able to develop some of the most enjoyable smoke through generations of selective breeding.

This quest for hallucinogenic euphoria has brought with it a fair share of violence associated with the drug trade. Humboldt consistently ranks among the top counties in terms of death by firearms (and homicides specifically) according to the Department of Public Health. Netflix, the media streaming company, has produced a true crime documentary about cannabis related disappearances and murders in the area titled appropriately enough “Murder Mountain.”

Foster insists that he has all his bases covered in terms of security. He is utilizing private funding to bankroll his project, since financial institutions are reluctant to associate with this still sketchy industry. He envisions international marketing potential for hemp and CBD oil derived products. Additionally, he has partnered with The Last Prison Project (https://www.lastprisoner project.org/), a non-profit striving those impacted by the legal system for non-violent offenses.

Foster looks forward to making a contribution in the medicinal and recreational industries.

“I hope to inspire other African Americans to get into this phenomenal industry.”

Learn more about this subject at www.thekalifornia.com

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