Economics

Cannabis is in the Town

Published

6 years ago

December 30, 2017

From left to right: Richard Valle, Alameda County Supervisor, District 2, Dr. Asif Maan, Chief of the Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch (MCSB) within California Department of Public Health, Lori Ajax, Chief of Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation, Richard Parrott, Director of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Division, Alameda County District 4 Supervisor Nate Miley serve on a panel discussion at the Alameda County Winter Cannabis Summit 2017. Photo by Carla Thomas.

Cannabis is now in the town. Like it or not the sale and taxation of pot will be legal in California beginning January 1, 2018.

In preparation for the new industry, Alameda County has been actively involved in helping shape the landscape of cannabis cultivation, retail sale, manufacturing, and distribution in California. By hosting a Winter Cannabis Summit at the Alameda County Board of Supervisors Chambers in downtown Oakland, the County wanted to educate the public on a legal, taxed and tightly-regulated system for medical and adult use cannabis.

About 100 stakeholders attended three forums throughout the day. With Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley serving as moderator, attendees heard from Lori Ajax, Chief Bureau of Cannabis Control, Richard Parrott, Director, CalCannabis Cultivation Safety, California Department of Public Health, and Dr. Asif Mann Chief of Office of Manufactured Cannabis Safety, California Department of Public Health who provided an overview slide presentation.

“The cannabis industry is emerging as a major force,” said Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley. “We have a great opportunity for a new source of untapped tax revenue to strengthen our public infrastructure.”

“As we move forward issuing the first state licenses for commercial cannabis activity, the state’s three licensing authorities are grateful for the opportunity to interact with our key local government partners,“ said Ajax. “A tremendous amount of work has gone into this process and we wouldn’ be in the position we are today without the feedback received at events like this summit.”

An afternoon panel discussion featured Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, prevention specialists, and community partners focused on what legalization brings and cannabis education for youth.

The session also included information about how schools and community groups can prevent access to cannabis.

The changes society can expect from the legalization of marijuana was another panel that featured O’Malley along with Susan Fanelli, Assistant Director, California Department of Public Health and attorneys specializing in Cannabis law, Chris Halor and Robert Reich.

Judy Appel, Drug Policy Alliance, Dr. Dale Gieringer State Coordinator California NORMAL, Ralph Cantore, Educator, Jennifer Ellis, Prevention Specialist served in an afternoon session on (CEYAA), Cannabis Education Youth & Adult Awareness.
Elsa Casanova, a Prevention Specialist and Project Manager for Ashland Cherryland Together said that her organization is working closely with Supervisor Nate Miley to develop a campaign targeting youth.

“We focus on environmental strategies to prevent the use of cannabis by youth,” she said.

Casanova also shared that the campaign’s development will be patterned similar to the state campaign called “Let’s Talk About Cannabis.” Youth and educators will also be involved in the process.

Handouts were also provided detailing how to obtain a temporary license application, the breakdown of licensing authorities and frequently asked questions regarding medicinal and adult use cannabis cultivation licensing.

The handouts also explained that the rules and regulations for commercial cannabis activity include the cultivation, possession, manufacture, distribution, processing, storing, laboratory testing, packaging, labeling, transportation delivery, or sale of cannabis and cannabis products.

However, this does not include personal use cultivation that is done at a private residence in accordance with health and safety code sections 1136 2.1 and 1136 2.2, or by a patient or primary caregiver pursuant to health and safety code section 11362.77.

For more information, visit CalCannabis.cdfa.ca.gov

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

6 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

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Business

Black Business Summit Focuses on Equity, Access and Data

The California African American Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual “State of the California African American Economy Summit,” with the aim of bolstering Black economic influence through education and fellowship. Held Jan. 24 to Jan. 25 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, the convention brought together some of the most influential Black business leaders, policy makers and economic thinkers in the state. The discussions focused on a wide range of economic topics pertinent to California’s African American business community, including policy, government contracts, and equity, and more.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

Toks Omishakin, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CALSTA), answers questions from concerned entrepreneurs frustrated with a lack of follow-up from the state. January 24, 2024 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, Lost Angeles, Calif. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

By Solomon O. Smith, California Black Media

The California African American Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual “State of the California African American Economy Summit,” with the aim of bolstering Black economic influence through education and fellowship.

Held Jan. 24 to Jan. 25 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, the convention brought together some of the most influential Black business leaders, policy makers and economic thinkers in the state. The discussions focused on a wide range of economic topics pertinent to California’s African American business community, including policy, government contracts, and equity, and more.

Toks Omishakin, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CALSTA) was a guest at the event. He told attendees about his department’s efforts to increase access for Black business owners.

“One thing I’m taking away from this for sure is we’re going to have to do a better job of connecting through your chambers of all these opportunities of billions of dollars that are coming down the pike. I’m honestly disappointed that people don’t know, so we’ll do better,” said Omishakin.

Lueathel Seawood, the president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of San Joaquin County, expressed frustration with obtaining federal contracts for small businesses, and completing the process. She observed that once a small business was certified as DBE, a Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, there was little help getting to the next step.

Omishakin admitted there is more work to be done to help them complete the process and include them in upcoming projects. However, the high-speed rail system expansion by the California High-Speed Rail Authority has set a goal of 30% participation from small businesses — only 10 percent is set aside for DBE.

The importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in economics was reinforced during the “State of the California Economy” talk led by author and economist Julianne Malveaux, and Anthony Asadullah Samad, Executive Director of the Mervyn Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute (MDAAPEI) at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Assaults on DEI disproportionately affect women of color and Black women, according to Malveaux. When asked what role the loss of DEI might serve in economics, she suggested a more sinister purpose.

“The genesis of all this is anti-blackness. So, your question about how this fits into the economy is economic exclusion, that essentially has been promoted as public policy,” said Malveaux.

The most anticipated speaker at the event was Janice Bryant Howroyd known affectionately to her peers as “JBH.” She is one of the first Black women to run and own a multi-billion-dollar company. Her company ActOne Group, is one of the largest, and most recognized, hiring, staffing and human resources firms in the world. She is the author of “Acting Up” and has a profile on Forbes.

Chairman of the board of directors of the California African American Chamber of Commerce, Timothy Alan Simon, a lawyer and the first Black Appointments Secretary in the Office of the Governor of California, moderated. They discussed the state of Black entrepreneurship in the country and Howroyd gave advice to other business owners.

“We look to inspire and educate,” said Howroyd. “Inspiration is great but when I’ve got people’s attention, I want to teach them something.”