tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437688200491675121.post2655046189597006974..comments2024-03-28T20:54:46.309-07:00Comments on Up Close, with Peter Sage: Marijuana industryUp Close: Road to the White Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03590477200706751934noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437688200491675121.post-13852147399692290562017-09-30T12:53:46.837-07:002017-09-30T12:53:46.837-07:00Both are good analogies. The ancillary services a...Both are good analogies. The ancillary services are doing well (think Levi's), the back yard 'Mom and Pop' operations will be driven out. Most dispensaries won't buy from medical grows. The County is hostile to small grows on Rural Residential land while encouraging the large scale recreational grows.<br />The ship has already sailed ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1437688200491675121.post-22233563389843443712017-09-29T09:50:06.399-07:002017-09-29T09:50:06.399-07:00I offer two historical perspectives.
1) The Whisk...I offer two historical perspectives.<br /><br />1) The Whiskey Rebellion - Where the production of distilled alcohol was regulated and heavily taxed. Folks who distilled spirits from leftover produce (fruit and grain) made alcohol. We're familiar with this product as moonshine, a clear, high-proof, quality uncertain liquid. In order to collet taxes the government created an agency referred to as "revenuers" (The forerunner of the ATF). They effectively drove the folks that produced moonshine underground and removed a major source of income from farmers, who had historically made the product for their use and sale to locals. It did not eliminate the availabity of distilled spirits but is greatly benefited the large distilleries.<br /><br />2) The California Gold Rush - Where the discovery of gold at Sutters Mill set off a stampede of fortune hunters rushing to California to strike it rush. A historical look back at this time saw the productive claims bought out or seized by big money interest and mining companies. Very few prospectors made any money from their efforts. Those that did were the shopkeepers and transportation companies that catered to the prospectors needs; and, of course the big mining companies and big moneyed backers.<br /><br />I realize these examples only slightly touch on the problems facing marijuana growers. That is: Distilled spirits were commonly consumed in the US and the gold rush example is narrowly applicable in that gold was found in very specific locations. In one case the government regulated distilleries to the point where the small producer couldn't compete; and, large companies and monied interests bought the claims and land where the most gold could be readily found. In both cases law enforcement was used to drive out the competition. John Flennikennoreply@blogger.com