Episode 125: Karma Koala Podcast 332: The DeAngelo Chronicles Part 7: The West is The Best

To paraphrase the Lizard KingThe west is the bestThe west is the bestGet here and we’ll do the restThe blue bus is calling usThe blue bus is calling usDriver, where you taking us?It’s time for Steve to move from DC and embrace California’s somewhat more accepting. (if slow) understanding of the future of medical cannabis.Although, as always, the politicians were a little behind the 8 ball. “This is not medicine, this is a Cheech and Chong show.” General Barry McCaffrey (US Drug Czar)We discuss1996 California Proposition 215The birth of HarborsideHarborside Health Center was founded in Oakland, California, in 2006 by cannabis activists and industry veterans Steve DeAngelo and Dress Wedding (along with Steve’s brother, Andrew DeAngelo)Founding and Early InnovationFirst Licenses: Harborside was granted one of the first six medical cannabis licenses issued in the United States. Industry Standards: It became the first dispensary in the country to require rigorous product testing for purity, potency, and pesticide-free quality, setting a gold standard for the modern legal market. Holistic Model: Operating originally as a non-profit, Harborside focused heavily on patient care, offering free holistic health services, counseling, and education for seniors, veterans, and families. At its peak, it was widely considered the largest and most influential cannabis dispensary in the world. Media Spotlight: The dispensary gained global fame as the central subject of the Discovery Channel reality television series Weed Wars in 2011. Steve also talks about run ins with the IRS as various agencies all pounded on the door for their pound of flesh Also see https://www.clm.com/code-%C2%A7280e-planning-observations-harborside-case-hinges-on-definition-of-consists-of/https://www.taxnotes.com/research/federal/court-documents/court-opinions-and-orders/ninth-circuit-affirms-tax-court-on-dispensarys-inventory-costs/52h0chttps://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R46709https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-332-the-deangelo-chronicles-part-7-the-west-is-the-best/