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AN UPDATE FROM STEVE
By Steve DeAngelo, Executive Director 
Harborside Health Center (HHC) was one of the first of hundreds of dispensaries targeted in the federal crackdown on medical cannabis. Unlike many others, we had the determination and the resources to fight back, and we have been doing that--hitting back hard. If our luck holds, and our legal team prevails, we could well become the last dispensary they decide to tangle with.
Our federal troubles started in early 2010, when our banks were pressured to close our accounts and credit card processing service. After that, the IRS audited us, demanding the kind of detailed financial records that are impossible to keep without a bank account. Despite that obstacle, we submitted complete records to the IRS--which they certified as being 100% accurate. But it didn't matter; IRS handed us a $2.5 million tax bill, denying all our deductions on the grounds we're a DTO--Drug Trafficking Organization. Then, as if that were not enough, federal agents sneaked up to our front door on a day before we opened this past July, and taped a notice of property seizure, scurrying away before anybody could confront them.
The notice informed our landlords that their property was going to be seized, because it was being used to commit a federal crime. The feds also threatened our landlords with criminal prosecution, unless they worked in "good faith" with the feds to get rid of us. Our terrified landlords, with whom we have had a long and cordial relationship, were forced almost at gunpoint to file eviction proceedings against us. When the City of Oakland heard what was going on, they came to our defense, and filed their own lawsuit to block the federal government's attack on Harborside.
For the past six months, all these different pieces of litigation have been moving through state and federal courts. A few weeks ago, California Superior Court gave us our first victory when it quashed the Oakland eviction suit, ruling that California state courts cannot evict a tenant for selling medical cannabis, provided the tenant is otherwise in compliance with their lease. This groundbreaking precedent puts a spike in the federal campaign of forced evictions, which closed over 600 California dispensaries before Harborside stood up and fought back. It won't do the U.S. attorneys much good to threaten landlords anymore, since the landlords can't evict us anyhow.
On December 20 we had our first historic hearing in federal court, with our supporters overflowing into the hallway, and 13 lawyers representing seven different parties: our two landlords, the landlord's bank, the City of Oakland, ASA, Harborside, and of course the feds themselves. Major legal and constitutional issues of first impression were debated, and the stakes could not have been higher. Unfortunately, but understandably given the amount of material she has to consider, Judge James decided to wait before issuing her ruling, so we don't yet know the outcome of the hearing.
While the legal and procedural posture of the case is complex, the basic dynamic of the hearing was simple; the government did all it could to close HHC without a jury trial, while our (brilliant!) team did all it could to make sure we get our day in court. If Judge James rules in our favor--and I am optimistic that she will--then Harborside will stay open and continue to serve patients until the trial can take place in about a year. I am sure we will win that trial and that victory will be the final end of this litigation, and hopefully the whole long federal nightmare. Of course, they could always attack us again--but at some point you would expect they'll get tired of losing.
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CANNASSEUR CORNER
By Rick Pfrommer, Director of Education
Sun-Grown Redux...
Pineapple Thai, Burmese Cotton Candy, Cherry Cola: 2012 truly was an epic year for sun-grown cannabis. The rains didn't come until late October, allowing growers to let their plants reach peak maturity. Some farmers in Grass Valley had plants in the ground until Thanksgiving. I love those long, equatorial sativas. Thank goodness some growers do, too. California sunshine combined with above-average temperature all summer and fall allowed flowers to fully ripen. I've seen some of the most amazing, sticky, frost-covered colas this year.
This was truly a banner year for outdoor crops; grapes, hops, and our beloved cannabis all had a great season. It's also been a full year since Harborside Health Center began highlighting the magnificence of outdoor cannabis by rebranding it as sun-grown (SG). The industry and press followed suit. During the past year, our percentage of SG sales grew from a mere 5% to over 20% of our total. We've also seen the advent of top-shelf sun-grown, where we pick only the best, highest-testing flowers and put them in custom, SG-labeled jars. In the future, look for HHC to release limited-edition half-ounce and full-ounce jars that are nitro-flushed and sealed. Imagine pulling out "vintage" 2013 flowers in 2020! Unopened, these jars will last for years.
Preservation was the last thing on people's minds at this year's Emerald Cup, the world's largest outdoor cannabis competition held annually in Northern California in December. Over 200 entries graced a six-foot display case. It was quite an inspiring sight. Activist Tim Blake started the cup in 2003. For the last decade it's held court at the Area 101 community space in Mendocino. This year it moved to the Mateel Community Center in Humboldt County. The move has both psychic and spiritual implications. As anyone familiar with this region knows, there's more than a little bit of rivalry between the two. Thank goodness for lab testing and professional judges!
This competition brings in cultivators from all over the Emerald Triangle and beyond. One of the top 10 finishers was from Butte County. That grower extolled the virtues of high-altitude sunshine. The Cup is a great chance for normally reclusive growers to come out of the woodwork--or more correctly, the woods--and share their handiwork with each other. Tall tales are swapped; many joints, pipes and bongs are smoked; music and food are enjoyed, and a good time is had by all. It's also a great opportunity for dispensary professionals to meet and greet producers of top-quality sun-grown, and access this medicine for their patients.
Seeing only sun-grown at the Emerald Cup, it's strange to then drive back to the city. Passing through the woods, then into farm country, and finally over the bridge and back to the gritty, urban sprawl of the East Bay, you finally arrive in a place where almost all of the cannabis is non-organic indoor. The expansion of our SG choices this year has been wondrous. On any given day at Harborside, we have upwards of six different strains. We've been treated to phenomenal flowers this year. Hopefully the trend towards sun-grown continues, and even increases, as the seasons pass.
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Please note:
Both Harborside Health Center locations are open daily, 10am-8pm:
- 1840 Embarcadero, Oakland
- 2106 Ringwood Ave., San Jose
And with our new, complimentary, satisfaction-guaranteed delivery service (see if we deliver to your area) or pre-order for pick-up at either location (sign up online or call 1-888-994-2726)--that means wellness in store AND at your door, for your convenience.
Please keep in mind that as a matter of safe access, we may send more email communication as a way to keep you informed. You may opt out of these emails at any time.
Thank you for your support!
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Rick's Pick of the Month:
Gummi Cares
Anyone who's known me for a while knows that I rarely ingest edibles. There's something about the conversion of delta 9-tetrahydrocannbinol (THC) into the much more potent delta 11-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that often throws me--and many others--for a loop. Basically, about an hour to 90 minutes after consuming an edible, the body metabolizes it. During that time delta 9-THC, which is what we get when we smoke or vaporize cannabis, is converted to delta 11--often producing a greater psychotropic effect. This is why unsuspecting patients who re-dose after an hour or so can wind up uncomfortably medicated when the second and third hour roll around. The cumulative effect can be like a tsunami of THC. Most medical cannabis patients have at least one tale of "one brownie too many." Well, imagine my surprise when I found an edible that I really enjoy! Caroline, Harborside's purchasing manager, turned me onto Gummi Cares. Available in both sativa for daytime functionality and indica, commonly used as a sleep aid, Gummi Cares are small "gummi bear"-style chews. The taste is pleasant and splitting it into smaller pieces can moderate the effects. Half of a sativa gives me an upbeat, focused effect; for me (as everyone's tolerance is different), a whole one is almost too powerful. They are reported by many patients to be great mood elevators and appetite stimulants. The indica Gummi Cares are thought to be quite effective for pain relief and as a sleep aid. Initially I took a whole one and slept for close to 10 hours! Now I'll take half and sleep like a baby. They also make CBD Gummi Cares; unfortunately, due to the scarcity of CBD material, they are in limited production. In the future there may be a vegan option, or Gummi Cares made without gelatin. I highly recommend anyone who enjoys--or someone like me who's been hesitant about--edibles to try Gummi Cares, a highly effective form of edible medical cannabis with a low sugar and caloric count. They're a great choice for anyone looking for effective relief in a small package.
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Please keep in mind that as a matter of safe access, we may send more email communication as a way to keep you informed. You may opt out of these emails at any time.
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