For someone looking to extort marijuana vendors vying for prime business opportunities, becoming a mayor in Massachusetts could be the thing to do.
Absolute power over the local marijuana market, prosecutors now allege, presented itself as a possible cash cow to Jasiel Correia II, who was the youngest person to win the mayorship in the city of Fall River s history.
Correia is charged with 24 federal crimes that include alleged extortion of more than $600,000 from marijuana vendors seeking to set up shop in Fall River between 2016 and 2018 a pay-to-play scheme.
Correia alone possessed the power to issue non-opposition letters and sign host community agreements based upon locally established processes for granting approval to marijuana companies, as state law allows. Non-opposition letters pave the way for a marijuana business to locate in a particular town or city, while host community agreements are required between the business and municipality prior to state licensi
For someone looking to extort marijuana vendors vying for prime business opportunities, becoming a mayor in Massachusetts could be the thing to do.
Absolute power over the local marijuana market, prosecutors now allege, presented itself as a possible cash cow to Jasiel Correia II, who was the youngest person to win the mayorship in the city of Fall River s history.
Correia is charged with 24 federal crimes that include alleged extortion of more than $600,000 from marijuana vendors seeking to set up shop in Fall River between 2016 and 2018 a pay-to-play scheme.
Correia alone possessed the power to issue non-opposition letters and sign host community agreements based upon locally established processes for granting approval to marijuana companies, as state law allows. Non-opposition letters pave the way for a marijuana business to locate in a particular town or city, while host community agreements are required between the business and municipality prior to state licensi
Marijuana store sues Haverhill, saying steep âimpactâ fees are not justified
The long-awaited legal challenge could upend the controversial local approval process.
By Dan Adams Globe Staff,Updated April 7, 2021, 3:58 p.m.
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Stem founder Caroline Pineau stands inside her unfinished Haverhill marijuana store in 2019.Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff
Haverhill marijuana store Stem has sued its host city over âcommunity impactâ fees imposed on local cannabis companies, arguing officials have failed to explain how the steep payments are related to any negative effects caused by the presence of pot shops.
If Stem is successful, the case would upend the controversial local approval process for marijuana companies in Massachusetts. That process, which involves the businesses making payments to cities and towns, is the subject of an ongoing federal investigation, and has long been derided by the industry as little more than a legal shakedown.
After an outcry from advocates including the Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association (MassCBA), the Commonwealth Dispensary Association announced that it will withdraw its lawsuit seeking to void new Cannabis Control Commission delivery regulations. The Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association (MassCBA), an organization of Massachusetts cannabis-related businesses including cultivators, manufacturers, dispensaries, microbusinesses and ancillary businesses that serve the cannabis industry, released the following statement in response:
“As a cannabis business association committed to building an industry that is inclusive, diverse and creates business ownership opportunities for all, particularly Black and Latino entrepreneurs and those who have been harmed by the failed war on drugs, we are pleased that this ill-intentioned lawsuit is being dropped,” said MassCBA President and CEO David O’Brien. “We applaud the focused, tenacious and downright effective work of advoca