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Is NY’s ‘Marijuana Delivery Service To The Stars’ Dead?

Sarah Johns
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Is NY’s ‘Marijuana Delivery Service To The Stars’ Dead?

On Valentine’s Day, GQ published a titillating tale of a high-end marijuana delivery service operated by attractive models catering to New York’s celebrity elite. The 5,883-word opus had all the ingredients of a blockbuster movie, including cameo appearances from some of the entertainment world’s biggest names, who allegedly were customers: Jimmy Fallon, Rihanna and Justin Bieber.

Two months after publication of the story, the models-turned-dealers appeared to have vanished. On Tuesday, Politico senior reporter Joe Pompeo buried this blind item in his daily Morning Media column:

GQ STORY KILLS NEW YORK MEDIA WEED HOOKUP? A Morning Media source says that “NYC media folks” have been “talking about how pissed they are at GQ” for its February 14 story, “Queens of the Stoned Age,” about the Green Angels, “a collective of about 30 models turned high-end-weed dealers.” According to our tipster: “The dealers profiled in this story were apparently THE supply chain for media types, and now they’ve gone dark since the story was published.”

Now, that’s a scoop! Journalists in the Big Apple have been denied visits from beautiful models slinging weed. They’ll have to purchase their cannabis — which remains illegal in New York — the same way as the hoi polloi.

Before we go any further, let’s get you up to speed on GQ’s story, written by Suketa Mehta, who was a finalist for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for ‘Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found.’ Using anonymous sources and assumed names, Mehta embedded herself inside the black market operation with the permission of the owner named Honey, a 27-year-old former model who was raised Mormon and was pregnant at the time of the stories publication. (Hollywood couldn’t have created a better protagonist.)

Here are some of the highlights of Mehta’s masterpiece on the Green Angels:

  • Honey, a blue-eyed, 6-foot beauty, grew up  Mormon in Utah and moved to New York to pursue a career in modeling. But she soon discovered that there was more money and fewer hassles in the marijuana business than modeling.
  • At one point, Honey’s delivery business brought in $27,000 per week, or more than $1.4 million a year.
  • The operation had 30 employees.
  • Her business model was simple: The Green Angels sell a fantasy of an attractive, well-educated, presentable young woman who wants to get you high—a slightly more risqué Avon lady.

And then there is this passage from the GQ piece:

A few years ago, Honey says, she began delivering weed, for free, to Rihanna. Her hope is that Rihanna will endorse the Green Angels’ products if legalization ever goes national. “She’s very smart, vicious,” Honey says. “I can see she’s not someone to fuck with.”

Justin Bieber occasionally calls the Green Angels when he’s in town, she says, but he gets charged. So do Jimmy Fallon and various actors and hip-hop artists whose names I don’t recognize. The musicians Peaches and FKA Twigs: both clients. (None of the above confirmed any business relationship with the Green Angels.)

But the Green Angels didn’t just cater to celebrities — Wall Street big-shot, CEOs, and the aforementioned media types also  were regulars … allegedly.

So, what happened to the Green Angels? Has Honey retired? Or, perhaps, merely on maternity leave?

Stay tuned. We can guarantee that you haven’t heard the last of Honey and the Green Angels.

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Bring It Back: A ‘Rick And Morty’ Fan Paid $14K For McDonald’s Szechuan Dipping Sauce

Brendan Bures
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Bring It Back: A ‘Rick And Morty’ Fan Paid $14K For McDonald’s Szechuan Dipping Sauce

Rick and Morty surprised fans on April Fool’s Day by releasing episodes into the wild unannounced. The move was met with rapturous applause and notable for resurrecting a cultural touchstone many perhaps had forgotten: McDonald’s Mulan Szechuan dipping sauce.

In the show, the time-traveling scientist Rick Sanchez reveals that his only motivation is to find that coveted McDonald’s dipping sauce. Until he finds that McNugget sauce, the show would continue indefinitely.

“Nine more seasons until I get that dipping Szechuan sauce, or 97 more years, Morty!” Sanchez screams, foam spilling out of his mouth.

Well it seems that Rick and Morty has some serious cultural influence after all. One superfan reportedly paid $14,700 in an eBay bidding war in a recently discovered packet of the sauce. Here’s how the it was discovered.

Via eBay:

I just bought a really old car, while cleaning it I found a packet of this sauce. After watching the recent episode of Rick and Morty I went online to see if it was worth anything. Turns out it was. Also this comes with a packet of wasabi as well.

The seller also adds, “I hope somebody who wants to eat some 20 year old gnarly sauce gets this.. I would prefer not to sell it to a collector.”

With that kind of price, it’s at least a sure bet the buyer really, really wants that sauce. What isn’t a sure bet, however, is if McDonald’s plans to bring back the Szechuan McNugget sauce to stores. The sauce was used in a promotional package for the release of Disney’s Mulan film. With a live-action remake set to come out in 2018, the time could be ripe to bring it all back.

We never say never because, when our customers speak, we listen,” McDonald’s spokeswoman Terri Hickey told the Chicago Sun-Times. She also added, quoting Rick and Morty, “And to paraphrase some of our most enthusiastic fans, our sauce is so good that it would be worth waiting nine seasons or 97 years for.”

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Caitlyn Jenner No Longer Watching Kardashian Reality Show; Brad Pitt Moving Back In With Mommy

Naughty Gossip
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Caitlyn Jenner No Longer Watching Kardashian Reality Show; Brad Pitt Moving Back In With Mommy

Caitlyn Jenner just revealed live on “Good Morning America” that she doesn’t watch the Kardashian reality show much anymore. However, sources tell Naughty Gossip that she never see’s the show anymore.

“Caitlyn hasn’t seen the show in years. She knows it is all fake and doesn’t watch it anymore. It gives her anxiety watching how fake it all is,” sources tell Naughty Gossip. “Caitlyn was on the show for a long time and knows all the tricks. It is now painful for her to watch the family manipulate its viewers. She cannot be part of it anymore. Plus, do not expect to see her back on the show – she will never return to it.”

Brad Pitt Moving Back In With Mommy

Following his ugly breakup with Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt has found another woman’s shoulder to cry on – his mom’s.

“Brad’s mother has moved in with him during this difficult time to make sure he is not alone and that he is taking care of himself,” sources tell Straight Shuter. “She is worried about him. He has lost a lot of weight and she just wants to keep a close eye on him. They are a very close family and Brad doesn’t have a lot of friends. He is happy to have his mom around.”

And something tells us that Mommy is a lot easier to live with than Miss Jolie!

Related Story: Here’s A Timeline That Explains How Beer Went From Brilliant Mistake To Hipsterific

Love the fresh dirt we bring over daily from Naughty Gossip? Let us know in the comments!

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The Best One-Liners From Anthony Bourdain’s ‘Tonight Show’ Food Trend Rant

Jillian Peterson
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The Best One-Liners From Anthony Bourdain’s ‘Tonight Show’ Food Trend Rant

Everyone’s favorite food and culture curmudgeon, Anthony Bourdain, taped a segment for “The Tonight Show” where he rated random food and drink trends. As always, Bourdain brought the laughs, but also sparked some serious soul searching by those who actually enjoy the things on his shit list. What does it say about you if you love all of these fads? Asking for a friend. Here are his best take-downs of 9 current popular foods.

1. Truffle Oil

“It’s about as edible as Astro-Glide and made from the same stuff.”

2. Kobe Beef Sliders

“At the very epicenter of Douchedom is the Kobe slider.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLb9hZjAev5

3. Pastry Mash-Ups

“I don’t eat a lot of pastry, but those Cronuts are damn good.”

4. Juice Bars

“It’s like $19 for a kale shake.”

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5. Brunch

“Brunch is just breakfast with an orange twist and a strawberry fan on it.”

6. Avocado Toast

“I guess it’s good, but I’m not going to get a boner over it.”

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7. Craft Cocktail Bars

“Let’s put it this way: If it takes you longer to make my drink and talk about the drink you’re about to make…then it takes me to drink three of them, there’s something wrong here.”

8. Rare Game Meat

“You probably shouldn’t eat a panda.”

9. Rosé

“Also known as Hamptons juice.”

10. The Verdict

“The worst thing, absolutely, is the Kobe slider…followed closely by truffle oil; both of these things would be glaring, flashing red warning signs that tell you you’re in the wrong place or that something has gone terribly wrong in your life.”

The 5 Most Underrated Comic Book Characters And Teams

Joe Mortimer
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The 5 Most Underrated Comic Book Characters And Teams

The world of comic-dom has an almost endless supply of characters, so many that we tend to forget some. It doesn’t help especially now that technology has shortened our attention spans to unprecedented levels. Sometimes even worse than underusing a character though, is misusing a popular one. So here is my list of Top 5 underused or misused comic book characters:

Heroes

5) Hawkman (DC): Few characters have had as difficult a history as Hawkman. From a publication standpoint alone, the poor guy has seen no fewer than 5 character reboots since his creation in 1940. But whether he’s a reincarnated Egyptian prince turned archaeologist or alien space cop, one thing is certain, the poor guy is underutilized.

Cover Art Courtesy of DC

Call me old fashioned but I like watching a dude with bird wings beat up bad guys with medieval weapons. The New52 certainly helped by giving Hawky his own 22-issue series. Rebirth sought to remedy this by immediately killing the character off. In the miniseries (co-starring Adam Strange) in the Death of Hawkman, Hawkman went and died on us (shock and awe!); I think it is a positive step for the character though as it can set up a return and we can see more of our winged hero.

4) Metamorpho (DC): This tragic hero hasn’t had a really good run since Justice League Europe way back in 1989. He’s got cool powers (shapeshifting, bodily transmutation, etc.) and he’s ugly as sin which should make him a frontrunner for a good team book of outcasts. I’m not saying reboot the Outsiders, but I think Rebirth could benefit from creating a new team of misfits and tossing Metamorpho in the mix.

3) Ares (Marvel): Originally a sparsely used Thor/Hercules villain, Ares became a hit hero after his 2006 self-titled miniseries. After that he was a big part of the main Marvel U, being a part of Tony Stark’s Mighty Avengers and later Norman Osborn’s Dark Avengers. He was selected as an Avenger because Tony saw him as a hero that was part Thor and part Wolverine; in other words a total badass.

After being killed by the Sentry during the Siege event, we haven’t seen much of him. Recently he’s been resurrected by the Maestro in Contest of Champions, so hoping we’ll soon see more of the God of War soon.

2) Hercules (Marvel): Staying on the topic of the Greek Pantheon, let’s talk about Hercules. Not so much underused currently, but in my opinion he is being misused. I miss my old Herc. The womanizing, alcoholic hero with the heart of gold. He’s kept his gilded heart, but lost all of his fun aspects since Marvel’s All-New, All-Different phase.

Cover Art Courtesy of DC

Hipstercles now sports a manbun and has sworn off the devil’s brew, and though it’s made for an interesting character arc (and given me pause to look into my own lacking character) it’s also succeeded in making the character less fun. I’m nothing like the misogynistic and alcoholic Hercules, but that doesn’t make his stories less funny, especially when he’s called out for being an oaf. I guess I just want “muh hercules” back.

1) Martian Manhunter (DC): This is a character treated like the #1 B-List celebrity of DC. Manhunter has a really cool origin and versatile powers and is in all of DC’s animated features (in regards to the Justice League) so that everyone knows about his existence. He’s just used sparingly in the comics. His last solo title was a miniseries during the DCYou, and, like most of the DCYou, it was really something. But seriously, there’s a lot you can do with that character especially with the Rebirth event, so make it happen DC.

Teams

While they’re not technically characters I wanted to throw in three teams that aren’t seeing a lot of love lately from publishers. With so many “team” books selling well and so many “team” movies coming out, it’s a real shame.

3) The New Gods (DC): With Rebirth in full swing and Darkseid’s daughter on the run with her infant father in tow, now is the time to give the world a peek into “what’s doin” in the Fourth World. We haven’t seen them since they fought with the Green Lanterns in 2014. It could serve to add a little cosmic variety to DC’s lineup.

Cover Art Courtesy of Marvel

2) Ultraforce (Malibu/Marvel): In a world where nostalgia is selling like hotcakes, where is my dang Ultraforce reboot? As a fan of the terrible 1995 animated series, I would love to see Marvel recreate this team and do something really cool with them. A miniseries in the same vein as Squadron Supreme from the 80’s would be great! At least feature them in a parallel universe of a Fantastic Four book.

1) Fantastic Four (Marvel): Speaking of the Fantastic Four, it’s time for Marvel to bring their first family back. April 29 marks two years that have passed us by without a Fantastic Four book. This makes for a perfect opportunity to bring our heroes back together! Ben has been hanging out with the Guardians of the Galaxy and Johnny with the Inhumans while Reed, Sue, and the kids have been off camera building universes. I think enough time has passed to unite the 4 and force Jonathan Hickman to write it (at gunpoint, if necessary).

There are so many characters that I would love to see appear more, but maybe using them sparingly might be a good thing. We don’t want a situation like the Borg in Star Trek Voyager, and it’s just like they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

The Fresh Toast Marijuana Legislative Roundup: April 24

Alec Engber
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The Fresh Toast Marijuana Legislative Roundup: April 24

There were some major statewide victories last week for those fighting for the reform of cannabis laws — including West Virginia becoming the 29th state to pass a medical marijuana program. Find out in our weekly marijuana legislative roundup.

Iowa 

Early Saturday morning, Iowa legislators passed a last-minute bill loosening the state’s restrictive medical marijuana law. Currently, epilepsy patients are permitted to possess and consume cannabis oil. However, growing the plant and selling the oil remain illegal, leaving patients with no lawful means of obtaining it. The new legislation would allow the plant to be grown, processed, and distributed in oil form by a limited number of state-licensed businesses. If signed by the governor, House File 524 would also expand the list of approved diagnoses to include cancer, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, and other severe or terminal conditions.

Vermont 

By a 21-9 vote, the Vermont Senate on Saturday passed a measure to legalize marijuana in the state. Under the legislation, adults 21 and older would be allowed to possess up to one ounce of cannabis, as well as grow two plants and four seedlings for personal use. The state would also license marijuana growers, distributors, and research laboratories. To become law, the bill would have to be passed by the House and signed by the governor before the 2017 legislative session ends in early May. A similar bill died in the House last year following Senate passage.

 California 

On Tuesday, the California Assembly Public Safety Committee voted 5-2 to clear legislation designed to protect its future recreational marijuana industry from federal law enforcement. AB 1578 would prohibit the use of state resources by state and local police to “investigate, detain, detect, report, or arrest a person for marijuana activity that is authorized by law in the State of California and transferring an individual to federal law enforcement authorities for purposes of marijuana enforcement, unless directed to do so by a court order.” The law faces several more procedural hurdles before an Assembly vote can be called.

 West Virginia

On Wednesday, Governor Jim Justice signed legislation making West Virginia the 29th state to allow patients with certain, serious health conditions to acquire and consume medical cannabis. The final bill is far more restrictive than its original Senate version, which offered doctors some freedom to recommend marijuana for patients with conditions other than those specifically enumerated in the legislation, and also allowed patients to consume cannabis in flower form. Under the new law, patients will be able to purchase marijuana in the form of tinctures, extracts, and other products from state-licensed dispensaries.

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Why Is California Deporting People For Using Marijuana?

Sam Jones
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Why Is California Deporting People For Using Marijuana?

Recreational and medical marijuana is legal in California, but it’s still a Schedule 1 drug in the eyes of federal law. Under certain circumstances, according to cannabis culture blog the Californian, this means that immigrants are at a higher risk of being deported because of marijuana use:

Immigrant rights activists and attorneys are reminding immigrants of potential consequences at a time when President Donald Trump is ramping up deportation efforts. The White House has said that any immigrant living in the U.S. illegally who has been charged or convicted of any crime, or even suspected of committing a crime, is now an enforcement priority. Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, declined to say how the agency deals with immigrants accused or convicted of marijuana crimes in states where it’s legal. Instead, she reiterated the Department of Homeland Security’s focus on targeting all “removable aliens” who have committed crimes, beginning with those who have been convicted of a criminal offense.

More undocumented immigrants live in California than anywhere else in the US, according to the Orange County Register.

The Californian notes that the Immigrant Legal Resource Center has responded to recent uptick in deportations with a flier that outlines advice for individuals, including:

  • Don’t use marijuana until you are a U.S. citizen. Don’t work in a marijuana shop.
  • If you have a real medical need and there is no good substitute for medical marijuana, get legal counsel.
  • Never leave the house carrying marijuana, a medical marijuana card, paraphernalia (like a pipe), or accessories like marijuana T-shirts or stickers. Don’t have photos or text about you and marijuana on your phone, Facebook, or anywhere else.
  • Most important, never admit to any immigration or border official that you ever have used or possessed marijuana, unless you have expert legal advice that this is OK.

California lawmakers are outspokenly against President Trump’s immigration raids, and at the same time, many are outspokenly supportive of the marijuana industry in their state.

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Gossip: Amy Schumer Dropped $2,000 Just To Use A Store’s Restroom; Tucker Carlson Admits He Once Beat Up A Gay Guy

Naughty Gossip
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Gossip: Amy Schumer Dropped $2,000 Just To Use A Store’s Restroom; Tucker Carlson Admits He Once Beat Up A Gay Guy

Amy Schumer just shelled out big bucks as a token of appreciation for shopkeeper let her used the store’s bathroom during a morning run. According to Sagine Lazarre, who works at a Mattress Firm in Chicago, the Trainwreck star purchased a $2,000 mattress just for her as thank you gift.

Lazarre said she didn’t think any of it at first when she allowed a female jogger to use the store’s restroom on last week. “She comes out of the bathroom and asks me which one of these (mattresses) is my favorite. I told her … She told me she wanted to buy it for me. And I was was so shocked! And I was was so shocked!” she recalled to WGN.

The clerk explained she had seen Schumer’s work, but she didn’t recognize the actress’ face until she saw Schumer’s name on the credit card.

“After she left, I Googled her name,” she remembered. “The lady that was right there talking to me is Amy Schumer. It was amazing. Unbelievable.”

Lazarre added the new mattress came at a good time as she had just moved into a new home with her daughter.

However, this wasn’t Schumer’s first time making someone’s day! Last year, the comedienne left a $1,000 tip on a $77 bar tab when she went to see Hamilton in New York City. “Lots of love to my fellow bartenders and artists,” she tweeted when word got out about her bill. “I’m grateful to them and the cast and crew for another great night.”

Tucker Carlson Admits He Once Beat Up A Gay Guy Who ‘Bothered’ Him

Carlson later issued the following statement to Media Matters:

Let me be clear about an incident I referred to on MSNBC last night: In the mid-1980s, while I was a high school student, a man physically grabbed me in a men’s room in Washington, DC. I yelled, pulled away from him and ran out of the room. Twenty-five minutes later, a friend of mine and I returned to the men’s room. The man was still there, presumably waiting to do to someone else what he had done to me. My friend and I seized the man and held him until a security guard arrived.

Several bloggers have characterized this is a sort of gay bashing. That’s absurd, and an insult to anybody who has fought back against an unsolicited sexual attack. I wasn’t angry with the man because he was gay. I was angry because he assaulted me.

Love the fresh dirt we bring over daily from Naughty Gossip? Let us know in the comments!

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What’s Preventing Most Investors From Jumping Into The Cannabis Industry

Mike Adams
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What’s Preventing Most Investors From Jumping Into The Cannabis Industry

If not for a few key issues, the cannabis industry would become the investment community’s happiest place, according to a new report from the stock advisors over at Motley Fool.

In 2016, legal marijuana sales hit an all time high of nearly $7 billion. As more states continue to allow legal weed to become part of their world, some of the latest market analysis predict the sale of legal grass could generate somewhere near the $50 billion mark within the next decade. Although these numbers are only estimates, the current data indicates that the legal cannabis trade is growing up to30 percent a year – one of the primary reasons investors are eyeing the industry like a starving hawk.

But there is enough standing in the way of this newfound industry to given investors pause.

One of the biggest concerns right now is that the marijuana market might not survive the Trump administration, specifically the pot-hating leader of the Justice Department, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Although he has yet to confirm his true intentions with respect to legal marijuana, Sessions has given the cannabis community ever reason to suspect that a federal crackdown is on the horizon. He has mentioned at least once since his confirmation that he believes legal weed is connected to an increase in violent activity, as well made comments concerning the herb’s contribution to the national opioid epidemic.

On Friday, a report from NPR’s “All Things Considered” suggested that Sessions might threaten to pull funding if states do not comply with federal marijuana laws. We already know that he has approved a task force to execute a full review of existing policies, including those pertaining to marijuana. At bare minimum, there is belief that Sessions will at least amend the Cole memo set out by the Obama Administration, which allowed legal marijuana to function regardless of its outlaw status with the Feds.

“The lack of a clear line in the sand between federal and state laws, and even legal cannabis laws within some states, can also create issues and lead to business uncertainty. While the sky could be the limit for marijuana stocks, they’ve been largely held back by a number of adverse factors,” Sean Williams wrote in his article for The Fool.

There is also a push in some states to eliminate marijuana cultivation cooperatives, which could prove beneficial for pot stocks, reports the Fool. In Colorado, lawmakers are working to put the kibosh on both the grey and black markets by dismantling those legal operations that allow multiple people to grow weed under the blanket of a single farmer.

“Though a tougher regulatory environment might not seem like a good thing for the industry, it’s actually great news for legal businesses and marijuana stocks” Williams wrote. “By more precisely defining the legality of who can grow recreational pot, Colorado is laying the groundwork for its legal businesses to thrive.

“Since Colorado is such a marijuana pioneer, other states may soon follow its lead,” he added.

A couple of weeks ago, a new medical marijuana fund launched in the Canadian market, where marijuana is expected to be fully legal by 2018, suggesting that investors are hungry to start sinking their money into the cannabis industry. However, while the fund managed to sell over one million shares within the first 24 hours, financial experts were quick to point out that apprehension still exists because the majority of the cash was not coming from big money sources.

Although big time investors are interested, they will almost certainly remain aloof about adding pot stocks to their portfolios until the U.S. government put an end to prohibition once and for all.

“We really need to see a change of heart on Capitol Hill if real progress is to be made within the pot industry and with marijuana stocks as a whole,” Williams concluded.

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California Fights Back As Jeff Sessions Escalates War On Drugs

Drug Policy Alliance
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California Fights Back As Jeff Sessions Escalates War On Drugs

While U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions escalates the war on drugs, drug policy reform surges ahead in California, joining states such as Washington and New York, where similar innovative approaches to some of our greatest challenges, like drug overdose deaths and mass incarceration, are being pioneered.

The Drug Policy Alliance had another successful day in the California state legislature, with two more bills passing through the first house committee, AB 1578 and SB 180. These bills join the agenda with two others bills that passed through their first house committees in preceding weeks.

AB 1578 successfully passed in a 5-2 committee vote, and will now move to the full Assembly. AB 1578, authored by Los Angeles Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, will protect Californians who are operating lawfully under California state laws, by providing that absent a court order, local and state agencies, including regulators and law enforcement, shall not assist in any federal enforcement against state authorized medical cannabis or commercial or noncommercial marijuana activity. DPA’s California State Director Lynne Lyman testified at Tuesday’s Assembly Public Safety Hearing, saying:

“AB 1578 is intended to prevent federal government over-reach in the era of Trump. We do not want the federal government harassing, intimidating or prosecuting people who are operating lawfully under state law.”

Also having its first hearing Tuesday was SB 180 by Senator Holly Mitchell of Los Angeles, passing 5-2 out of Senate Public Safety. Dubbed the RISE Act, (Repeal of Ineffective Sentencing Enhancements Act), Mitchell’s bill would repeal the three-year sentencing enhancements that are tacked onto new convictions for petty drug possession for sale or sale cases. These enhancements are the leading cause of long sentences that create crisis-level overcrowding in county jails.

Enhancement and mandatory minimums are central to the failed drug war that has done nothing to reduce the availability of drugs or to deter illegal drug sales. This enhancement disproportionately impacts the poorest and most marginalized people in our communities — those with substance use, mental health needs, and people of color. By removing this enhancement, SB 180 will remove one of the mechanisms that increase racial disparities within the criminal justice system, and free funds that can be reinvested in community programs that improve the quality of life and reduce crime. SB 180 will next be considered by the full Senate.

For the first time ever in the United States, a state bill to authorize safe consumption services passed a legislative vote. AB 186, authored by Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman of Stockton, co-sponsored by DPA and leading health policy and drug treatment associations, would allow local jurisdictions to permit supervised consumption services and provide legal protections for the programs and participants. Participants use pre-obtained drugs under supervision of medical professionals.

Supervised consumption services prevent overdose deaths, improve public order, and link people to treatment and other services. Around 100 exist around the world, but none yet in the United States. AB 186 goes to the Assembly Public Safety Committee next. San Francisco has recently established a task force to develop a policy recommendation on placement of services in the city. This bill protects local jurisdictions that want to pilot these life-saving programs.

Also on DPA’s winning ticket is AB 208 by Eggman, a bill to provide equal protection to immigrants who seek drug treatment diversion for drug misdemeanors. Under current law, persons accused of possession of a small amount of drugs for personal use must plead guilty in order to access court ordered drug treatment. When they complete the program, their records are cleaned. However, the federal government response to the guilty plea is to deport the defendant or deny re-entry, even for legal residents, combat veterans, and family members of legal residents. Even for those who successfully complete the programs, the guilty plea hangs over their head forever.

This bill would allow the court to refer a person to treatment before a plea is entered, and if the person succeeds they move on with their life, and should they fail the charges are reinstated. It passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee on March 14, and is currently under consideration in the Appropriations Committee.

Lynne Lyman is the California state director of the Drug Policy Alliance.

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