Tobacco Wholesalers Seeking Marijuana Monopoly
More evidence emerged today about the intent of corporate interests to take over the legal marijuana industry. According to a report published in the Boston Globe today, the industry involved in delivering and taxing cigarettes sold in Massachusetts is now trying to take advantage of the new law to create their own marijuana monopoly. According to the Boston Globe:
“Plenty of companies are angling to get in on the coming legalized pot bonanza. Some, however, are lobbying the state to carve off a piece just for them: cigarette wholesalers.
The companies that track, deliver, and tax all the cigarettes sold in Massachusetts are seeking a similar monopoly on recreational marijuana when sales begin in 2018. They’ve asked state officials to require marijuana producers to sell all their pot products through them — just as most alcohol has to pass through a wholesaler on its way to bars and package stores.”
Tobacco interests and marijuana lobbyists are becoming increasingly entangled with each other, striving to make a quick buck without regard to public health and safety. In fact, just last month, the chief lobbyist for the marijuana industry actually admitted he was soliciting money and input directly from tobacco companies in Michigan in exchange for helping to shape potential ballot initiative language there.
SAM will continue to work with communities in Massachusetts and across the nation to counter their influence. But we need your help. If you live in Massachusetts contact your representative and tell them to take action to prevent the next Big Tobacco industry from taking hold in the Commonwealth.