Maine’s chief cannabis regulator said Wednesday that the Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) is aware that it’s been issuing licenses to individuals associated with transnational organized crime.
However, the agency lacks the authority to deny licenses to those who apply for medicinal cultivation licenses even when the applicant was previously linked by law enforcement to illicit cannabis activity, said OCP Director John Hudak.
At a hearing before the Maine Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee (VLA), Director Hudak attempted to address concerns about the hundreds of illegal cannabis cultivation operations in mostly rural Maine that are controlled by Asian Transnational Criminal Organizations (ATCOs).
“We know that these networks are sophisticated and well-funded,” Hudak said. “They rely on complex schemes to establish illegal grows under the radar of enforcement agencies.”
Hudak confirmed that intelligence and enforcement efforts had identified connections to international criminal enterprises.
“Our enforcement partners have seen clear patterns that align with activity tied to transnational criminal organizations,” Hudak explained. “These groups are exploiting Maine’s medical and recreational cannabis systems for illicit gain, and we are working tirelessly to close those gaps.”
These are parasitic organizations committing asymmetric war against USA while also profiting from their aggression. A strong, intelligent state governor would be able to clean this up quickly, but Mills has not even acknowledged the problem. More information available at the links above. Most of these grows are in rural Maine. Since Mills’ election the state has turned into a small but similarly tacky version of California, with top officials spewing all the woke talking points while enjoying high salaries and easy jobs for their friends and relatives. ABN
American Buddhist Net 