Articles

  • 6 days ago | sfgate.com | Lester Black

    Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office says the state has essentially eradicated hemp-derived THC products from alcohol sellers after it instituted an emergency ban in September. In a Thursday news release, Newsom announced that state officers have found almost 100% of businesses visited by inspectors were in compliance. Newsom issued the immediate ban on hemp-derived THC last year, saying the widespread sales pose a public health risk.

  • 1 week ago | sfgate.com | Lester Black

    Despite early public promises, social equity operators were forced to wait in line for years to open their doors, while billion-dollar corporations like MedMen were selling cannabis from the first month of legalization. Even after that, Los Angeles has mismanaged grant money meant for people like Shockley to get their businesses off the ground.

  • 1 week ago | pressdemocrat.com | Lester Black

    California's beleaguered pot industry was given another piece of bad news Thursday afternoon: The state cannabis tax rate will increase from 15% to 19% on July 1, the highest allowed by state law. The 26% change, devised by Gov. Gavin Newsom, is ironically being made precisely because the state's legal industry is floundering while the illicit market thrives.

  • 1 week ago | sfgate.com | Lester Black

    The Round Valley Indian Tribes and three individual plaintiffs are suing for unspecified monetary damages and a court injunction stopping the sheriff’s department from conducting illegal raids on their land. The lawsuit’s named co-defendants include Humboldt County, its sheriff, and the commissioner of the California Highway Patrol. “If he likes you, he cuts you slack,” Marston told Law360.

  • 1 week ago | lucianne.com | Lester Black

    Original ArticlePosted By: NorthernDog, 5/2/2025 2:07:15 PMCalifornia's beleaguered pot industry was given another piece of bad news Thursday afternoon: The state cannabis tax rate will increase from 15% to 19% on July 1, the highest allowed by state law. The 26% change, devised by Gov. Gavin Newsom, is ironically being made precisely because the state's legal industry is floundering while the illicit market thrives.

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Lester Black
Lester Black @leddder
9 May 25

Trump nominee said she 'learned virtually nothing' about public health at Stanford https://t.co/jQqCLoEFlp via @SFGate

Lester Black
Lester Black @leddder
8 May 25

Newsom says his controversial hemp THC ban is 99.7% effective, but won't say what comes next when the ban ends this year. https://t.co/DgUbEaWm55 via @SFGate

Lester Black
Lester Black @leddder
7 May 25

RT @jfberke: “It has destroyed our community members that have gone for this,” Keith said.