Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
City councilors debated Tuesday at City Hall whether campaign donations that come from the marijuana industry should be subject to more disclosure requirements than other money.
"I think we should all know who's getting what from whom and when," City Council President Kevin A. Jourdain said.
Jourdain, who proposed the pot money disclosure, noted that publicizing such donations would be voluntary.
"This is simply a request," Jourdain said.
The council by a show of hands voted in favor of sending this requested disclosure to city councilors and Mayor Alex B. Morse.
But some councilors derided the measure as redundant, given the campaign finance disclosure forms that the state requires.
They also questioned why similar disclosures wouldn't be required of other industries.
"Where does it stop with us not being business friendly?" Councilor at Large Daniel B. Bresnahan said.
"Where are we going to draw the line? We already have state agencies" that review campaign donations, he said.
"This is not the first business that has been controversial. Why hasn't such a disclosure been required before?" Bresnahan said.
Jourdain, who has been vocal about his opposition to the marijuana industry, said the city has never encountered this kind of business before.
"I think it's quite obvious why. This is very unique. We haven't seen this type of thing, certainly in the time I've been here. The public has a right to know," Jourdain said.
Here is the order the City Council voted to forward to councilors and the mayor:
JOURDAIN -- That all Councilors and the Mayor report if they have been offered or received any campaign donations in 2017 from anyone connected to the marijuana industry or any proposal or prospective proposal for medical or recreational marijuana in the City of Holyoke. This should include anyone who is or has been an attorney or other agent acting on behalf of anyone involved in locating a marijuana facility in any form in the city. It should also include any owner or investor in any such facility. This requested disclosure should be given in writing as a communication to the City Clerk by noon on October 16, 2017 so it can appear as a communication at the Council's October 20th meeting agenda. Please report the name of the donor or prospective donor, amount received if any and approximate date received.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Should campaign donations from marijuana industry require different disclosures? Holyoke councilors debate | masslive.com
Author: Mike Plaisance
Contact: Contact Us - MassLive Media Solutions
Photo Credit: Reuters
Website: Massachusetts Local News, Breaking News, Sports and Weather - MassLive.com
"I think we should all know who's getting what from whom and when," City Council President Kevin A. Jourdain said.
Jourdain, who proposed the pot money disclosure, noted that publicizing such donations would be voluntary.
"This is simply a request," Jourdain said.
The council by a show of hands voted in favor of sending this requested disclosure to city councilors and Mayor Alex B. Morse.
But some councilors derided the measure as redundant, given the campaign finance disclosure forms that the state requires.
They also questioned why similar disclosures wouldn't be required of other industries.
"Where does it stop with us not being business friendly?" Councilor at Large Daniel B. Bresnahan said.
"Where are we going to draw the line? We already have state agencies" that review campaign donations, he said.
"This is not the first business that has been controversial. Why hasn't such a disclosure been required before?" Bresnahan said.
Jourdain, who has been vocal about his opposition to the marijuana industry, said the city has never encountered this kind of business before.
"I think it's quite obvious why. This is very unique. We haven't seen this type of thing, certainly in the time I've been here. The public has a right to know," Jourdain said.
Here is the order the City Council voted to forward to councilors and the mayor:
JOURDAIN -- That all Councilors and the Mayor report if they have been offered or received any campaign donations in 2017 from anyone connected to the marijuana industry or any proposal or prospective proposal for medical or recreational marijuana in the City of Holyoke. This should include anyone who is or has been an attorney or other agent acting on behalf of anyone involved in locating a marijuana facility in any form in the city. It should also include any owner or investor in any such facility. This requested disclosure should be given in writing as a communication to the City Clerk by noon on October 16, 2017 so it can appear as a communication at the Council's October 20th meeting agenda. Please report the name of the donor or prospective donor, amount received if any and approximate date received.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Should campaign donations from marijuana industry require different disclosures? Holyoke councilors debate | masslive.com
Author: Mike Plaisance
Contact: Contact Us - MassLive Media Solutions
Photo Credit: Reuters
Website: Massachusetts Local News, Breaking News, Sports and Weather - MassLive.com
