In his four-decade political career, Bill Lockyer was a state representative who rose to State Senate Leader. Now he’s founder of C4distro, one of two dozen former officials now making a living in California cannabis. Dozens of former California officials and political insiders are moving into legal weed. Even one of the authors of California’s REC law advises a cannabis company.
“There is an opportunity to make a lot of money,” said Lindsay Robinson, executive director of the California Cannabis Industry Association.
L.A. Times
- Among the famous politicians now working in the business are former L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa(D) and former Orange County Congressman Dana Rohrbacher(R). Five former advisors to Gov. Brown work as industry lobbyists or for companies.
- Lockyer said, “As a general matter, business and government transmit on different wavelengths, and so there is some value in having somebody be able to translate to each side.”
- Prohibitionist Scott Chipman, Southern California chairman of Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana says officials should have to wait 10 years after retiring to join the industry.
