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U.S. NEWS Saturday 22 June 2019

APNewsBreak: California regulators

launches anti-illegal pot campaign

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mari-
juana shoppers are going
to be getting a message
from California regulators:
Go legal.
Aiming to slow illegal pot
sales that are undercutting
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania William Mc- the nation's largest licensed
Swain, center, speaks with members of the media at a news market, California is kick-
conference at the U.S. Custom House in Philadelphia, Friday, ing off a public information
June 21, 2019. campaign — Get #weed-
Associated Press wise — that encourages
Cocaine haul from consumers to verify that
their purchases are tested
and legal.
ship grows, arrests Ads will be hitting social This undated artist rendering provided by the Bureau of Can-
nabis Control shows a proposed billboard urging consumers to
media sites and billboards
purchase cannabis from only licensed retailers.
promoting a state website
Associated Press
now stand at 6 where shoppers can quick-
ly check if a shop is licensed continued to thrive, in part quickly licensing businesses
— CApotcheck.com. because consumers can that want to enter the legal
The advertising campaign avoid steep tax rates by economy.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Fed- leave with enough cocaine makes a simple argument: buying in unlicensed dis- The state is spending an ini-
eral authorities have upped to destroy millions of lives tial $1.7 million on the cam-
the amount of cocaine without getting caught. You don't know what pensaries.
But there's a trade-off for paign and hopes to "get it
they seized from a ship at You thought you were you're getting if you buy il- saving a buck. Illegal prod- in front of as many eyeballs
the Philadelphia port to clever. You were wrong," legal products.
One ad says, "What's in ucts have not met strict as possible," Traverso said.
more than 35,000 pounds, said U.S. Attorney William
or 15,876 kilograms, mak- McSwain, whose office is your weed shouldn't be state testing standards and The state has been under
a mystery. Shop licensed could be tainted by mold, pressure by the legal indus-
ing it the largest cocaine handling the prosecutions. pesticides, heavy metals — try to do more to stop illegal
haul in the history of U.S. "You underestimated the cannabis retailers only." sales. By some estimates,
The new push in the fight even human waste.
Customs, authorities said city, you underestimated Los Angeles has hundreds
Friday. our law enforcement ca- against illegal cannabis "Do you know what's hid- of illegal shops and cultiva-
ing in your counterfeit ed-
They put the street value pabilities, and you under- sales will be formally an-
of the drugs at $1.1 billion. estimated our commitment nounced Friday at a Los ibles?" one ad asks. "Shop tion sites.
Angeles forum featuring licensed cannabis retailers No one is predicting the
Laid end to end, the bricks to decimate the evil and campaign will bring illicit
of cocaine would stretch immoral drug trade." industry leaders, regulators only."
Agency spokesman Alex sales to a halt, but it's be-
about 2 ½ miles, or just over Agents on Friday were and elected officials. Traverso said the ads are ing seen as another step
3 kilometers, said Casey still inspecting containers The campaign "will di-
rectly impact consumer part of a three-pronged to aid legal businesses as
Durst, director of field op- aboard the MSC Gayane,
erations in the U.S. Customs a cargo ship owned by safety by clarifying that campaign to eventually the state transitions from
only cannabis purchased corral illegal sales — the what was once a largely il-
and Border Protection Balti- Swiss firm MSC Mediterra-
more field office. nean Shipping Co. which from licensed retailers has others are enforcement, legal economy into a mul-
tibillion-dollar,
regulated
including shutting down il-
The investigation has now was sailing under a Liberian met the state's safety stan-
resulted in the arrests of flag. MSC is a Swiss-based dards," Bureau of Cannabis legal shops and farms, and marketplace.q
six crew members, all of shipping company, one of Control Chief Lori Ajax said CAR RENTAL 5616944
whom are due for fed- the world's largest shipping in a statement.
eral court hearings Mon- lines in terms of containers, The ads are also intended Address: Paramira #30 (Oranjestad) - Email: yessrentalcar@gmail.com - Website: www.yessrentalcar.com
day. They have all been McSwain said. A message to telegraph a warning We Rent:
charged with conspiracy seeking comment from the to illicit shops and under- Cars- Vans - SUV
to possess cocaine aboard shipping line on the latest ground growers: Get li-
a ship, and each has been charges wasn't returned Fri- censed to operate in the
appointed a federal public day.McSwain said his office legal market, or shut down.
defender. is considering all available California kicked off broad
"You thought you could options, including the pos- legal sales Jan. 1, 2018.
breeze to our port and sible forfeiture of the ship.q But the illegal market has