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Title: Prison Town Selling Its Jails to Grow Cannabis to Save their Economy — And It’s Working
Source:
Activist Post
URL Source: http://www.activistpost.com/2016/02 ... r-economy-and-its-working.html
Published: Feb 21, 2016
Author: Justin Gardner
Post Date: 2016-02-22 10:23:30 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 3814
Comments: 21
A tiny California desert town is making a drastic change to reverse its downward spiral and embrace an enlightened future. For 24 years, Adelanto tried unsuccessfully to sustain its economy through prisons, but now it will be hosting a very different kind of business—cannabis cultivation. The town became only the second city in California to permit commercial cultivation of medical cannabis, after a year of heated debate in the City Council. The persistence of John “Bug” Woodard, Jr. paid off in a 4-1 vote on Nov. 23 to allow cultivation. “I had nothing to lose,” said Woodard. “The city could not get in any worse shape than it was. It was broke.” Brooke Edwards Staggs of The Orange County Register describes Adelanto’s declining prison economy and the land rush that is now taking place after their decision to go to pot. Its first prison was built in 1991, as the city braced itself for the closure of nearby George Air Force Base. That didn’t stop Adelanto’s long slide into high unemployment and depressed property values. More than a third of the city’s nearly 33,000 residents now live below the poverty line. So it kept welcoming more prisons, banking on the promise of jobs and steady revenue in the form of an annual bed tax. The town sold one of its four prisons to a private firm in 2010 for $28 million, and that cash is about to run out. Solar energy developers also had an interest in Adelanto, but only four projects have been constructed, producing a handful of jobs. Now, a new kind of developer is flocking to the town. Ky-Mani Marley, one of Bob Marley’s sons, has already signed on to license a strain of cannabis that will be grown there, according to Freddy Sayegh, the attorney on the project. Tommy Chong has also shown interest. So has B-Real of Cypress Hill fame, plus other high-profile musicians and professional athletes whose names are being kept under wraps. One commercial real estate firm says they went from one call a week to five calls a day about purchasing land in Adelanto. Real estate prices have skyrocketed as “investors, cultivators, doctors, architects and record executives” fly across the country to see about getting in on the budding industry. Twenty-seven companies have been permitted to set up grow operations in Adelanto, with two more pending. The first crop is expected to be produced by summer, and when it reaches full capacity, the town will be producing about 50,000 pounds of cannabis six times a year for the medical industry. Since California approved medical cannabis use in 1996, it has finally gotten around to creating a licensing program for cannabis businesses under the Medical Marijuana Regulations and Safety Act. The state is expected to legalize recreational use this November, which will greatly increase demand for legitimate operations. The trend of cities allowing commercial-scale cannabis cultivation is a relief for those concerned about the environmental impact of illegal grow operations. Last year we reported how many growers are carelessly polluting aquatic ecosystems with rat poison and other toxic chemicals, while drying up already stressed streams. As more towns and cities in California permit large-scale cannabis cultivation, demand will shift to these responsible growers, which should begin to reduce the pressure on the state’s fragile aquatic ecosystems. Adelanto, which means “progress” in Spanish, will indeed prove to be a model of progress as it transitions from a depressing economy of prisons to one that actually helps human and environmental health. Not only will cannabis businesses be producing exclusive strains for distribution, but Adelanto will also serve as a hub of medical research for ailments such as pediatric epilepsy, brain tumors, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Cannabis is showing great promise in all of these areas. As a bonus, the medical cannabis research company Ecologies Laboratories will be pushing out a merchant of death. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, which makes the Predator drone, will have to give up its storage facility in Adelanto as the landlord has decided to lease it to Ecologies Laboratories instead. Adelanto joins another California city, Desert Hot Springs, to become a new kind of western pioneer. It will save its economy by making millions in tax revenue and securing hundreds of jobs, and, more importantly, is embracing a future where cannabis will prove to be a medical wonder. Justin Gardner writes for TheFreeThoughtProject.com 
“Tomorrow, they’ll be on the correct side of history and be recognized as a city that actually embraced safety and embraced something that heals people,” said Randall Longwith, an attorney representing investors.
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#1. To: Deckard (#0)
Ruh Roe. There will be some here pissed off about this. Si vis pacem, para bellum Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. There are no Carthaginian terrorists. President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people. --Clint Eastwood A friend will help you move ,But a good friend will help you move a body..
First I've heard of it. I've been led to believe that pot growers are the most responsible people around and we need more of them.
Whereas the Predator drone made lives miserable for foreign Muslims, these pot companies will make lives miserable for Americans at home. Much better.
At least the Prohibition-era gangsters were smart enough not to brag about their illegal activity. These assholes deserve to have the DEA come down on them like a ton of bricks.
I am sure they will as big pharma don't like this one bit.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight LOL!! " Since California approved medical cannabis use in 1996, it has finally gotten around to creating a licensing program for cannabis businesses under the Medical Marijuana Regulations and Safety Act. " Si vis pacem, para bellum Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. There are no Carthaginian terrorists. President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people. --Clint Eastwood A friend will help you move ,But a good friend will help you move a body..
I was right! " Ruh Roe. There will be some here pissed off about this. " Si vis pacem, para bellum Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. There are no Carthaginian terrorists. President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people. --Clint Eastwood A friend will help you move ,But a good friend will help you move a body..
Best defense for pot, comments 2,3,4 from this guy. Dude is still searching desperately for a CLUE.
DEA Agent Busted for Selling Seized Narcotics – “Commits Suicide” While in Police Custody In a Cop Culture, the Bill of Rights Doesn’t Amount to Much So? It's still against federal law. What if California passed a voter Proposition allowing statewide racial discrimination and segregation, contrary to the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964?
You'd probably move there and live in a White Neighborhood, whitey.
Now investment is being made in a new type of pollution that poisons the mind.
Are there any left?
You could start your own.
Yes. Yes I could. I'll call it ... Levittown.
I enjoyed watching your video. Thanks.
Well, it's not mine, but I'm glad you enjoyed it. You know, I like to compare that old video to present-day blacks who want their own college dorms, their own studies program, their own Hollywood awards ceremonies, their own beauty contests, their own congressional caucus, their own segregated organizations and even their own history month. Of course, whites ended their segregation a long time ago. Blacks, however ...
I see your point. However, be nice, it's Black History Month for another week.
And remember, black lives matter.
What's working? They haven't even planted yet.
Of course, whites ended their segregation a long time ago. Blacks, however ... " Interesting video. And you make some valid points. It would be interesting to see one from the same time period if made in say, Detroit. Then make a new one today, and compare the two. Si vis pacem, para bellum Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. There are no Carthaginian terrorists. President Obama is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people. --Clint Eastwood A friend will help you move ,But a good friend will help you move a body..
" Prison Town Selling Its Jails to Grow Cannabis to Save their Economy — And It’s Working "
#2. To: Deckard (#0)
"Last year we reported how many growers are carelessly polluting aquatic ecosystems with rat poison and other toxic chemicals, while drying up already stressed streams."
#3. To: Deckard (#0)
"As a bonus, the medical cannabis research company Ecologies Laboratories will be pushing out a merchant of death. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, which makes the Predator drone, will have to give up its storage facility in Adelanto as the landlord has decided to lease it to Ecologies Laboratories instead."
#4. To: Stoner (#1)
"Prison Town Selling Its Jails to Grow Cannabis to Save their Economy — And It’s Working"
#5. To: misterwhite (#4)
have the DEA come down on them like a ton of bricks.
#6. To: misterwhite (#4)
" These assholes deserve to have the DEA come down on them like a ton of bricks. "
#7. To: misterwhite (#4)
" These assholes deserve to have the DEA come down on them like a ton of bricks. "
#8. To: misterwhite (#4)
#9. To: misterwhite (#4)
These assholes deserve to have the DEA come down on them like a ton of bricks.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
#10. To: Stoner (#6)
"Since California approved medical cannabis use in 1996"
#11. To: misterwhite (#10)
What if California passed a voter Proposition allowing statewide racial discrimination and segregation, contrary to the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964?
#12. To: Deckard (#0)
Last year we reported how many growers are carelessly polluting aquatic ecosystems with rat poison and other toxic chemicals, while drying up already stressed streams.
#13. To: Fred Mertz (#11)
"You'd probably move there and live in a White Neighborhood"
#14. To: misterwhite (#13)
#15. To: Fred Mertz (#14)
"You could start your own."
#16. To: misterwhite (#15)
#17. To: Fred Mertz (#16)
"I enjoyed watching your video. Thanks."
#18. To: misterwhite (#17)
#19. To: Fred Mertz (#18)
"However, be nice, it's Black History Month for another week."
#20. To: Deckard (#0)
"Prison Town Selling Its Jails to Grow Cannabis to Save their Economy — And It’s Working"
#21. To: misterwhite (#17)
" You know, I like to compare that old video to present-day blacks who want their own college dorms, their own studies program, their own Hollywood awards ceremonies, their own beauty contests, their own congressional caucus, their own segregated organizations and even their own history month.
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