SACRAMENTO- Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) introduced a bill Thursday to designate the California Highway Patrol as the lead state law enforcement agency for investigating black market cannabis activity as legal sales are slated to begin next year.
“California is about to embark on the biggest experiment in cannabis policy in our nation’s history. Whether the federal government will take action against our state remains a major question,” Lackey stated in a news release. “If we want to avoid intervention from the federal government, we need to do everything we can to crack down on illegal activity and prevent cannabis from being exported out of state. Without a central point for coordinating action statewide, accomplishing this will be a huge challenge.”
While the state agencies issuing cannabis business licenses do have some enforcement authority, California has designated no state law enforcement agency for shutting down illegal operators.
“Failing to combat the black market will undercut the cannabis operators who go through the expense and difficulty of becoming legal businesses,” Lackey added. “Furthermore, it undermines public safety through continued criminal activity. Enforcing the rules of our new legal system must be a top priority.”
Lackey’s bill, Assembly Bill 1733, will be considered by the State Legislature early next year.
The state will begin accepting applications for marijuana licenses on Jan. 1, 2018.
[Information via news release from the office of Assemblyman Tom Lackey.]
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BobM says
What to you expect from an ex-California Highway Patrol officer?
Tom move to Idaho!
F _ _ k AV says
Geezus, these people just cannot get it through their thick, Nazi Stahlhelm topped heads that they lost the War on Drugs. YOU LOST. Go lick your wounds.
frank eugene says
I’m all for this bill, 1733, if will help stop the illegal transportation of truck and trunk loads of black market pot crossing our state boarders…I believe the CHP is the best choice to enforce the legal transportation of large amounts pot within Calif. and across Calif. boarders…frank eugene
JENNY SANDERSON says
WHATS IS A BOARDER?
Mike White says
Boarder is a pirate when he’s coming onto your ship.
Border is the boundary between two countries. Illegal aliens cross the border to bring in drugs, commit crimes, drunk drive, and get government benefits. Does that answer your question?
jimmy p says
Even though weed is legal now there are still some A-holes who just won’t let it go, well screw them, we will smoke our weed and have fun, and if some don’t like it well too bad.
Tim Scott says
Oh, they’re happy enough with legalization. This is just about eliminating competition for the ragweed that Wrecks and his cohorts are planning to grow. Lackey is just a lackey.
DavidG says
Lackey you bloated POS liberal. I met this turd 16 years ago…what a POS…a complete waste of money. Shameful big spending POS posing as a conservative. This bill goes nowhere.
Tim Scott says
That’s our Wrecks. As soon as his cronies get in the pot business, his Lackeys start protecting their investment from “unfair black market competition.”
Former Republican says
The first pot permits issued in Lancaster were to Rex’s cronies. All dyed in the wool Republicans. They suck up to the Lancaster churches for votes then tell them to take a hike when they petition them not to do the pot grows.
Then you’ve got the Republicans like Crist, Hofbower, and Bishop at AVTA signing a letter of support to raise the gas tax. They send hit mailers to commuters touting their ‘Conservative’ credentials and then stick it to them with higher gas bills.
What a joke.
Misquote AKA PoliticalMalpractice says
Anyone got a cookie?