Flow Kana and Small Farmers: An Opinion Piece

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We’ve been approached several times to post a controversial opinion piece here about small cannabis farmers and the Flow Kana corporation. Some call it a conspiracy theory. Some believe it completely.The writer, John Sakowicz, is no stranger to controversy.

In the interests of fairness, tomorrow we’ll post a rebuttal piece by well-known Mendocino grower Casey O’Neill.

Marijuana leaf

[Stock photo by Kym Kemp]

Flow Kana’s biggest equity stake is held by Gotham Green Partners, a private equity firm based in New York. Flow Kana has raised a total of $175 million, most from Gotham Green Partners, and $125 million of which was a round of financing in February, 2019. It was the largest private funding round of a cannabis company in the United States to date.

But who are Gotham Green Partners? Who is their Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Jason Adler…?

The Gotham Green Partners website says nothing. It’s dark.

So I did some digging.

But who am I to do this digging?

Me? I’ve lived in Mendocino County for the last 19 years. I love Mendocino County.

I was born and raised in New York, worked on Wall Street, and I have known guys like Jason Adler, all my life.

Among other gigs, I was hired by Buzzy Krongard at Alex Brown, worked for John Mulheren at Spear Leeds Kellogg, and worked for Ken Tropin at Dean Witter. I’ve worked in the offshore shadow banking system. My Wall Street work file is found at FINRA. It’s a public document.

Also, I’ve been a bonded fiduciary and trustee of Mendocino County’s own $600 million pension system (2012-2017), and was I was trained as a fiduciary at Stanford Law School, UC Berkeley’s Haas School, and UCLA’s Anderson School.

Finally, I’ve had a radio show that does investigative reporting since the global financial crisis in 2008. I have sources in corporate intelligence at Kroll Associates and Duff & Phelps.

I’m good at what I do.

And this is what I’ve learned.

– JASON ADLER –

Jason Adler started Gotham Green Partners in May, 2017.

Michael Henderson-Cohen, a Principal at Gotham Green Partners, sits on the Board of Directors at Flow Kana. He babysits Jason Adler’s money at Flow Kana.

Who is Jason Alder, really?

Jason Adler is “Mr. Wall Street Dark Money”.

For 13 years, Jason Adler was the Chief Executive Officer of Saiers Capital, LLC (formerly Alphabet Management, LLC).

It’s a quantitative hedge fund, also known as a quant fund.

Quants make their money on trading in the volatility of global financial markets. In fact, their massive, computer-driven, “flash” trading creates much of this volatility.

It’s a get-filthy-rich-scheme.

Jason Adler cashed out of Saiers Capital a few years ago to start Gotham Green Partners.

– QUANTS –

So what are quants?

Quants are Wall Street’s geeks. They’re often mathematicians. And make their money manipulating financial markets, creating volatility in financial markets, then trading on the wild swings of volatility that they themselves create.

Jason Adler’s partner, Nelson Saiers, was such a geek. He studied algebraic topology and cobordism theory. Barron’s described Saiers as a star quantitative investor. He worked at UBS and Deutsche Bank. At Deutsche Bank, Nelson Saiers was a Managing Director and ran a proprietary trading business focused on derivatives

How do quants do what they do?

Quants use their hedge funds’ massive, computer-driven, “flash” trading to create much of the volatility in today’s markets.

Something called “derivatives” highly leverage their trades.

If you’re a big institutional investor and you can’t beat the quants, then you join them. It’s a sort of legal blackmail. Quant hedge funds specifically target risk-adverse institutional investors, like big pension funds, interested in hedging against the very risk that quant hedge funds they, themselves, create. It’s ironic, but true.

Let’s be clear: Hedge funds do not create value. They destroy value. Hedge funds are the true robber barons of Wall Street. And Jason Adler is one of those robber barons.

In large part, due to hedge funds, and also due to derivatives, which leverage bets made by hedge funds, global financial markets are now are a dangerous world wrought with turbulence, unpredictability, and insane amounts of risk.

To think that Jason Adler is in our backyard, right here in Redwood Valley, makes my skin crawl.

– THE CRONOS GROUP AND JASON ADLER –

As a footnote, Jason Adler also sits on the board of another cannabis company, The Cronos Group.

According to their own annual report, “The Cronos Group is committed to building disruptive intellectual property by advancing cannabis research, technology and product development.”

Sounds like biotech to me.

Also, Cronos is in bed with a company called Altria.

Altria is “Big Tobacco”. (More about that later.)

Altria paid a 42% premium over the Cronos stock’s 10-day volume-weighted average price for the period ending Nov. 30, 2018.

That gave Altria a 45% stake in Cronos, with an option for Altria to increase its stake to 55% over the next five years.

But there are even greater long-term benefits for Cronos Group resulting from the deal. Cronos will now have an exclusive partner in Altria.

– ALTRIA –

Who is Altria? What is Altria?

Altria was previously known as Philip Morris Companies, Inc. Sound familiar? They have a huge portfolio of cigarette brands, including Marlboro. They also own wine brands and vape brands.

Altria is Big Tobacco. Their market capitalization, as of today, August 30, 2019, is $82.07 billion.

And they are bad people.

According to the Center for Public Integrity, Altria spent around $101 million on lobbying the United States government between 1998 and 2004, making it the second most active organization in the nation.

Altria also funded The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition which lobbied against the scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change.

Daniel Smith, representing Altria, sits on the Private Enterprise Board of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

In August 2006, Altria was found guilty of civil fraud and racketeering.

Our boy, Jason Adler, sits on the Cronos board, which makes him a partner with Altria. Because Jason Adler and Gotham Green Partners funded Flow Kana, that puts only one degree of separation between Flow Kana and Altria.

Let me say that again. There’s only one degree of separation between Flow Kana and Big Tobacco.

And that one degree of separation is Jason Adler, and Jason Adler is Mr. Wall Street Dark Money.

There’s more.

– PEBBLE LABS –

Jason Adler is on the board of directors at a biotech company, Pebble Labs, located near the U.S. nuclear weapons lab in Los Alamos, NM.

Pebble Labs’ technology makes it possible to use bacteria to insert “engineered” genes inside host plants or animals.

Keep in mind that recombinant micro-organisms can potentially produce any protein encoded by any gene. For example, Monsanto has already figured out how to insert a gene in its seed corn that produces Bt toxin, designed to protect the plant by rupturing the stomach of any insect that feeds on it. Monsanto claims the toxin will break down before the corn makes it to your dinner table, but rats fed the GMO corn showed organ failure and the toxin has been detected in the bodies of pregnant women.

Pebble Labs plans on running away with this technology. It has an in-house, proprietary advanced analytics and computational technology called “Parallax Analytics” that uses uniquely developed algorithms, software, and data sources to design and drive accelerated research initiatives.

Freaked out yet?

There’s more.

– MICHAEL HARRISON –

Pebble Labs’ Chairman and CEO is a guy named Michael Harrison.

Michael Harrison is also the Chairman of Trait Biosciences, a cannabis biotech company.

– TRAIT BIOSCIENCES –

Read carefully about what I’m about to say next. It’s very important.

Trait Biosciences, also located in Los Alamos, NM, will change everything about cannabis farming in the same way Monsanto changed everything with strains of transgenic corn.

Monsanto has GMO corn that is variously drought-resistant, herbicide-resistant, insect-resistant, fungus-resistant, and corn with higher nutritional value.

Monsanto did it all with biotech.

Trait Biosciences has its own five areas of transgenic cannabis:

1. “Trait’s DistilledTM” patent pending creates water-soluble CBD, THC, terpenes and other cannabinoids. They do this by mimicking a process that occurs commonly in nature and naturally occurs in your body as it metabolizes different types of foods. This process—called glycosylation—involves attaching a sugar molecule to the cannabinoid, which makes it water soluble.

2. “Trait DefenseTM” patent pending takes the natural bacteria that lives in the biome of cannabis to create molecules of “interfering RNA” (commonly known as RNAi) to stop viruses and mold from being able to replicate, transforming cannabis farms into disease-free farms.

3. “Trait Tailored’sTM” patent pending technology enables Big Ag and Big Pharma to precisely customize the cannabinoid profiles of their hemp or cannabis strains with ground-breaking precision.

4. “Trait AmplifiedTM” dramatically improves the plants’ natural cannabinoid production and crop yield. “Amplified’s” patent pending natural process increases cannabinoid synthesis in every part of the plant—leaves, stalks, stems, roots and, of course, the bud. This provides growers the opportunity to operate on a “continuous harvest” cycle—pruning the plants on an ongoing basis to harvest only the cannabinoids—instead of the traditional “vegetative flowering harvest” process, which results in the destruction of the entire plant.

5. “Trait ZeroTM” patent pending regulates the plant genes involved in THC production. Their “ZeroTM” technology grows cultivars of THC-free hemp.

Trait Biosciences is the biotech game changer.

This is another irony, of course. Mendocino County was the first jurisdiction in the United States to ban GMOs with a county ordinance, Measure H.

Measure H did not specifically ban GMO bacteria/microorganisms. I forget the details why, but can research why later. Suffice it to say, if someone creates (and patents) a GMO bacteria that alters the properties of a non-GMO plant (e.g. cannabis), it may be legal in Mendocino County.

But do we want to go down that road?

I don’t think so.

– WHAT CAN YOU DO –

Heard enough?

If you’ve heard enough, write to Jason Adler at Gotham Green Partners, 489 5th Avenue, Suite 29A, New York, NY 10017. Ask Mr. Adler what he’s doing here in Mendocino County. How did a Wall Street robber baron find his way to Redwood Valley?

Ask Mr. Adler if he’s planning on using Pebble Labs and Trait Biosciences biotech to create new patented strains of cannabis.

While you’re at it, also write to Michael Steinmetz, Flow Kana’s co-founder and CEO. Write to him at: Flow Kana, 1150 Bel Arbres Road, Redwood Valley, CA 95470. Ask Mr. Steinmetz if knows who he’s in bed with.

Ask Mr. Steinmetz if he ever vetted Jason Adler, also known as Mr. Wall Street Dark Money, or if vetting his investors isn’t important.

Ask him if he plans on using Flow Kana’s small farmers as guinea pigs for GMO strains developed by Pebble Labs and Trait Biosciences.

– MICHAEL STEINMETZ –

Flow Kana’s CEO Michael Steinmetz is another interesting dude.

Originally from Caracas, Steinmetz built and sold a Venezuelan national food marketing and distribution company, and worked as an investment analyst at Merrill Lynch and a data analyst at NASA’s jet propulsion laboratory.

NASA’s jet propulsion laboratory.

Really? Holy cow!

And Venezuela, too.

Really?

Venezuela is one of the most corrupt, most bankrupt countries in the our hemisphere, and today, the Trump administration is threatening to invade Venezuela with a view to “restoring democracy”, replacing an elected president (casually described by the Western media as a “dictator”) by a U.S. proxy, the speaker of Venezuela’s National Assembly.

Venezuela is on the U.S. State Department’s watch list, along with Cuba and Nicaragua.

So what was Michael Steinmetz really doing in Venezuela?

I’ve also heard Michael Steinmetz was involved in a cryptocurrency mining scheme. I’m tracking down a story involving the now-disappeared, cloud-mining cryptocurrency site called “HashOcean” in San Francisco.

Nothing yet.

– DO THE MATH –

Flow Kana got $175 million from Gotham Green Partners.

Well, we know the old Fetzer estate in Redwood Valley sold for about $5 million, and it appears Flow Kana has done another $5 million in buildouts and renovations.

And Flow Kana paid $5-10 million for Real Goods Solar Living Center in Hopland, a 12-acre property. (The price wasn’t disclosed.)

A two-year consulting agreement between John Schaeffer, CEO and founder of Real Goods, and Flow Kana, probably cost Flow Kana a few more bucks.

Add another few million bucks for Flow Kana’s marketing campaign. Another few million for legal and compliance. . Maybe add another half million for their fancy packaging roll out, including white label packaging.

But it still doesn’t add up to anything close to $175 million.

As to why Flow Kana only represents just over 100 of the legally permitted gardens in Mendocino County, and only pays an average of $300-400 a pound, and yet still requires the product to be put on the market before they even pay the farmer such insulting prices, it seems to me things don’t add up.

Seems to me Flow Kana has given us some serious clues as to where their private funding is actually going — and it’s not going to support the small farmers.

– MY THEORY –

My theory? It’s completely unsubstantiated, but a strong intuition.

My theory is that Mendocino County government is quietly working on behalf of Flow Kana to put select farmers out of business.

How? The Sheriff can raid them. Or the Building and Planning Department can make it impossible to get permits.

Who gets put out of business?

Independent farmers. Leaders. Rebels. Organizers. Farmers who won’t take the Flow Kana deal.

If true, this is appalling. And criminal.

It’s racketeering.

If I find one scintilla of evidence that this is true, I’m going straight to the U.S. Attorney in San Francisco.

– MY OTHER THEORY –

My other theory is also completely unsubstantiated, but a strong intuition.

It’s that Flow Kana will someday soon work with Pebbles Labs and Trait Biosciences — a joint partnership brokered by our boy, Jason Adler — to create patented proprietary strains of CMO cannabis, just like Monsanto does with corn.

And they might start with a strain targeted at opioid/pain med addicts trying to kick their habits. It’s huge $50 billion market. Maybe more.

Farmers not buying Flow Kana-Pebble Labs-Trait Biosciences GMO clones or seed would be sued, just like Monsanto sues farmers who don’t buy Monsanto GMO seed corn.

Noncompliant farmers would be forced out of business.

The partnership of Flow Kana-Pebbles Labs-Trait Biosciences will then own the market.

That would be my strategic plan, if I were Jason Adler, Michael Henderson, and Michael Steinmetz.

Again, just a theory.

– MONSANTO –

A quick word about Monsanto.

They have a killer business model. Buy their GMO seed, or they’ll sue you, and put you out of business.

Since 1997, Monsanto has filed 286 lawsuits, on average about 13 lawsuits every year for 22 straight years, against organic farmers who have “improperly reused their patented seeds.”

The biotech giant hasn’t lost a single case, either.

Here’s Monsanto’s legal argument: Monsanto sues on behalf of farmers growing Monsanto GMO crops, arguing that the cross-pollination of GMO crops with the pollen of non-GMO crops (from neighboring fields) destroyed the biotech traits of future crops.

This argument is allowed by the Plant Patent Act of 1930 (enacted on June 17, 1930, as Title III of the Smoot–Hawley Tariff, ch. 497, 46 Stat. 703, codified as 35 U.S.C. Ch. 15).

What about unfair business practices? What about 92% of people saying they want their food labeled, if it contains genetically modified ingredients? What about the right of farmers to grow food from seed that hasn’t been altered to turn it into a DNA freak show

Forget it.

A class action lawsuit representing over 300,000 farmers who wanted the right to grow organic food was dismissed on the grounds that the plaintiffs had been sued by Monsanto!

Wow.

The judge further said the farmers’ reasons for suing the biotech giant were “unsubstantiated”.

When Monsanto released a statement to the press following the dismissal of the case, Monsanto said the plaintiffs had
“overstated the magnitude of Monsanto’s patent enforcement,” also noting that Monsanto’s average of roughly 13 lawsuits per year “is hardly significant when compared to the number of farms in the United States, approximately 2 million.”

The partnership of Flow Kana-Pebble Labs-Trait Biosciences will likely use the same legal arguments.

– FINAL QUESTION –

Jason Adler is better known by his rightful name, Mr. Wall Street Dark Money.

Who the hell is this guy?

Why the hell is he here, in Mendocino County?

What the hell are we, the community small farmers in Mendocino County, going to do about it?

John Sakowicz

Please forward this post to our brothers and sisters in the cannabis industry.

Small farmers are endangered here in Mendocino County. We must unite. We must fight together as one. We are family. Wall Street Dark Money only wins, if they divide us.

John Sakowicz
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barn owl
Guest
barn owl
4 years ago

Disturbing information, which all small farmers currently or contemplating doing business with Flow Kana in Southern Humboldt County at their location in Whitethorn Valley should read.

Not buying it
Guest
Not buying it
4 years ago
Reply to  barn owl

John says “we” the small farmers. He didn’t mention anywhere he was a farmer. A little reading on the link provided says he worked at the Jail.
I dont trust him one bit

Sacowicz Adulterous
Guest
Sacowicz Adulterous
4 years ago
Reply to  Not buying it

You mean John the Adulterous?

https://www.theava.com/archives/81351

Rod Gass
Guest
Rod Gass
4 years ago

I’m on pins and needles over the possiblity that CaseyO will take questions and address comments.

One thing to remember this guy, John Sakowicz, is running for an elected position. I’ve no love for campaign promises made to catch votes. They almost never hold-up to the light of day. Maybe He’s better than the usual.

Anon
Guest
Anon
4 years ago
Reply to  Rod Gass

Casey commented on the original facebook post on John Sacowhatever’s page. The comments are juicy there…

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago

~looks like the Letter is 29 pages long.

I pass. And take Barn Owl’s and Rod’s words for it.

Ocrimony
Guest
Ocrimony
4 years ago

No surprise here. Wall street and big tobacco have been looking for an “in” for years, and now they have it. So it appears that within a few years, legal growers will be growing FlowKana’s GMO pot or nothing at all. People who want good old fashioned marijuana will have to grow their own, if they can even find the seeds or clones, or they will be dependent on the black market. Prop 64 was a perfect Trojan horse. Is anyone going to fight this?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
4 years ago
Reply to  Ocrimony

Or legal growers can continue growing their dank ass boutique strains and working with other distributors who are actually from here. Flow Kana isn’t the only name in the game and isn’t even one of the top two brands in Mendo county. Hope it stays that way.

Leif
Guest
Leif
4 years ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Who are the top two brands in Mendocino county?

Lots of investors
Guest
Lots of investors
4 years ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Roger Mcnamee an angel investor in flo has put up 22 million .He seems like a pretty smart guy who has some excellent foresight.Hes Also the author of Zucked .

Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe :

The New York Times bestseller about a noted tech venture capitalist, early mentor to Mark Zuckerberg, and Facebook investor, who wakes up to the serious damage Facebook is doing to our society – and sets out to try to stop it.

Roger McNamee has been a Silicon Valley investor for 35 years. He co-founded successful funds in venture, crossover and private equity. His most recent fund, Elevation, included U2’s Bono as a co-founder. He holds a B.A. from Yale University and an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Roger plays bass and guitar in the bands Moonalice and Doobie Decibel System and is the author of The New Normal and The Moonalice Legend: Posters and Words, Volumes 1-9. He has served as a technical advisor for seasons two through five of HBO’s “Silicon Valley” series and was also responsible for raising the money that created the Wikimedia Foundation.

https://www.cbinsights.com/company/flow-kana-funding

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_McNamee

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago

Synthetic Hegemonic Currency

“Give me control of a nation’s money and I care not who makes the laws.”
— Mayer Amschel Rothschild
[Mayer Amschel Bauer] (1744 -1812), Godfather of the Rothschild Banking Cartel of Europe in ‘The Creature from Jekyll Island’ (American Opinion Publishing), p. 218

Hegemony is an attempt to present the interests of the ruling class as the universal interests of society but, crucially, to be effective it must have a material basis in the ‘concrete coordination of interests’ between the ruling class and subordinate groups (Gramsci, 1999)

SmallFry
Guest
SmallFry
4 years ago
Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  SmallFry

~say it isn’t so.

Farce
Guest
Farce
4 years ago

Umm…Roger is a terribly egotistical and untalented hack. Yeah- he made lots of money. He came from lots of money. Then he wanted to be a musician. So he hired some very talented real musicians who needed some bread, paid them retainers and made them all sound horrible by playing his soulless songs. How could he get popular with the skill of collecting great musicians and making them suck? Well…he paid festival organizers for stage time! Yes, instead of getting paid he actually bought stage time to play at festivals and gave out lots of free posters. eventually people were brainwashed into thinking his band didn’t suck. Herd mentality again and here you are defending him. He became good friends with Steve D’Angelo of Harborside fame- remember the failed Prop 19 where only 3 companies would be allowed to grow “legalized” weed? Yeah- we beat that bullshit back. But here came Roger with his telling everybody how great “legalization” would be. Great for rich people! Steve D’Angelo has now sold off his interests in Salinas mega-greenhouses for mega- millions (still claiming it’s all about helping sick people!) and Roger dropped hundreds of millions into various parts of the “legalized” marijuana industry. Including Flow Kana. Roger is not cool by a long stretch of the imagination. He has helped support some fine musicians with the retainers he pays but then he makes them play shitty music. he has helped some artists by paying for their poster art but that was all his ego and fake mythology of the Moonalice bullshit stories. Weird guy. Not our friend. Led many silly hippies right into the corporate woodchipper with his nice words and so-called caring. Do you really think super-rich corporate-loving stock manipulators are your friends…or care about the mom n pops still remaining?!! I’ve spoken with Roger about his “legalization” stance when he came to Humboldt. He’s full of shit and could care less- because “The market will sort it out and it will be great for everybody”

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Ocrimony

“My theory? It’s completely unsubstantiated, but a strong intuition.” This is conspiracy theory at it’s wordy best. A sort of 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon Conspiracy Theory.

Leif
Guest
Leif
4 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Much of it is verifiable, sure some of it is conspiracy but to dismiss the entire article is foolish

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

If you don’t think it’s credible, why did you give it exposure?

Do credible news sources generally provide platforms for information that the editor deems not credible?

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

It’s not quite Mae Brussells, but seems complete…

My only question is:

If this is all true, and if the plan is completely integrated from GE plant to market, then how come they haven’t paid off Mr Sakowicz to keep quiet? And how come Mr Sakowicz is living in, Redwood Valley, himself?

Pot farming may have a future, but once national legalization is accomplished it may be only sold at the Farmer’s Market… As it should be!

Going back to 1972 and Prop 19, seems like we all smoked a joint and surmised that if legalized, the tobacco companies would probably be ready to kick ass…

Now I don’t use tobacco, don’t smoke weed… Only almost 50 years later, and look what it may become!

Not much like “Weeds, Season 8”, is it?

If you need some weed, grow your own.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago

“Pot farming may have a future, but once national legalization is accomplished it may be only sold at the Farmer’s Market… As it should be!”

~convoluted. W/out logic. Written in future tense. The Free Market is made of free people, Billy. Hence, the traditional, customary, free market has NOTHING to do with LEGAL.

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Way I see it, you can go legal, or you can go more illegal…

I went clean and sober, and long ago.

Don’t care, won’t care, if I buy some weed, I will buy it in Lower Redway or nowhere at all. Unless it’s Legal Lettuce’s…

And if weed becomes legal nationally, only in Humboldt/Trinity/Mendocino and Lake County will you be able to buy the weed that made the Hippie/Cowboy/Cannaculturists famous.

Cantankerous and unapologetic. I’m liking you this way!

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago

~where’s the love?

Where’s the places marked on earth that heaven and earth meet? We’re never gonna get there if we’re willingly stuck on a Legal one-way street in Fiction Land.

“And if weed becomes legal nationally,” Fact and fiction can’t meet.

Slave-speak isn’t part of the solution. I didn’t make the rules.

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago
Reply to  Ocrimony

Trojan Horse… perfect analogy.

Earthmama3
Guest
Earthmama3
4 years ago
Reply to  Ocrimony

Haahaa! Wow! Y’all don’t know your facts! Now THATS SCARY!!

Done
Guest
Done
4 years ago

Plays the local community / small farmer card and then raises +100 million from wall street type investors.

Flow kana is a Trojan horse.

Humboldt local recently posted about the shady businesses practices of flow kana. All that extra invested capital is being used to corner the market.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Done

***”All that extra invested capital is being used to corner the market.”***

~there ya have it folks.

Flow Kana, you’re surrendering to corporatism. Corporatism blocks the light. Do the honorable thing and step aside. Take your funny money w/you.

Patriot in Willits
Guest
Patriot in Willits
4 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Not to be argumentative, But free markets have EVERYTHING to do with LEGAL.
If you don’t want corporatism, aka monoplies, the government has to enact laws to ensure a level playing field. Competition where the little guy stands a chance sometimes means legal remedies. That’s why Teddy Roosevelt broke up monopolies back then.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago

LEGAL OR LAWFUL?

It is crucial to define the difference between “legal” and “lawful.” The generic Constitution references genuine law. The present civil authorities and their courts use the word “legal.” The following is from A Dictionary of Law (1893):

Lawful. In accordance with the law of the land; according to the law; permitted, sanctioned, or justified by law. “Lawful” properly implies a thing conformable to or enjoined by law.

Legal. Latin legalis. Pertaining to the understanding, the exposition, the administration, the science and the “practice” of law: as the legal profession, legal advice; legal blanks, newspaper. “Legal” looks more to the ‘letter of the law’ [form]. And “lawful” to the spirit of the law. “Legal” is that the proceeding is correct in method, that rules prescribed have been obeyed. A writ or warrant issuing from any court, under color of law, is a “Legal” process, however defective.

Legal matters administrate, conform to, and follow rules. They are equitable in nature and are implied (presumed) rather than actual (express). A legal process can be defective in law. To be legal a matter does not have to follow the law.

Lawful matters are ethically enjoined in the law of the land – the law of the people – and are actual in nature, not implied. This is why whatever true law was upheld by the organic Constitution has no bearing or authority in the present day “Legal” courts. It is impossible for anyone in “authority” today to access, or take cognizance of, true law since “authority” is the “law of necessity.” 12 U.S.C. 95.

Therefore, it would appear that the meaning of the word “Legal” is the “color of law.”

Fk fk
Guest
Fk fk
4 years ago

Flow kana are out of area folks looking to get rich off our backs and our natural resources while giving nothing back to the community. No different really than maxxam, just shinier and better at fitting in.

Its pretty simple. ..DONT support them or attend any of their events!!! Make them not welcome.
The corporations are trying to undo all the copyright regs. Years ago big ciros bought up many copyright to pot products. Once they free up those we’re screwed so lets keep these jackasses out as long as possible.
So to flow kana i cant wait to sing…hey hey good bye. And good riddance!

Stick with the locals.

DawnI
Guest
DawnI
4 years ago
Reply to  Fk fk

FK fk – although I’m no fan of FlowKana in light of some of these allegations or facts they did contribute 20K to the local Redwoods Rural Health Center recently. And they must have dropped a pretty penny building out at Whitethorn Construction, maybe paying rent, who knows?
Just a drop in the marijuana profit bucket and it sounds like they can afford to donate a few more dollars to our worthy local causes.

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago
Reply to  DawnI

WTH, are you suggesting that we sell out because they are spending a little money around here? Seriously!

DawnI
Guest
DawnI
4 years ago
Reply to  Yeah,sure

Yeah,sure,
By no means do I think Humboldt County should sell out to Flow Kana one bit. Did you read my first sentence? I’m no big fan of Flow Kana or ANY big corporation coming into what used to be a Mom and Pop growers market. (That is until the second and third generation growers blew it all out of the green houses.) For the record I think it should all be grown in the sun, in the ground, organically, naturally!
I’m just stating a fact. “A drop in the bucket”, money-wise for Flow Kana. They are just trying to buy the community off a little bit, more like.
I wonder if they have made any donations to organizations in Mendocino County where they have their big operations?

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago
Reply to  DawnI

Sorry, I misunderstood you.

Earthmama3
Guest
Earthmama3
4 years ago
Reply to  DawnI

Yes! They have! They donate and are a huge part of the Mendo community! Educate yourselves people!

Money buys anything
Guest
Money buys anything
4 years ago
Reply to  Earthmama3

Earthmoma, are in line for the cool aid too.

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago

Just throw some money around and everyone thinks your great. Amazing how that works.

Earthmama3
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Earthmama3
4 years ago
Reply to  Fk fk

LMAO! Do u even have a clue what Flow Kana is about!? Without FK the Em Triangle will crumble as well as all of us farmers. The real corporate fucks, will take over. It isn’t the size of a company not the money involved, it’s the ethics and ethos. Flow Kana is doing nothing but GOOD for the triangle and our community!! #WAKEUP

Wow
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Wow
4 years ago
Reply to  Earthmama3

You wake up, it’s a corporate take over……. Its sound like you already started drinking the cool aid. Corporations pay people to do all their PUBLIC RELATIONS WORK. People like you are their target demographic to buy into the facade. Donate and people start to believe. O they are great, they donate, they are a big part of the community. In the background they are undermining all your hard work. Enjoy

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago
Reply to  Wow

Real “Earthmamas” would tell Monsanto to shove it. Love the phony ass name to make it seem as if down to earth country folk have bought into this bullshit.

John Sakowicz
Guest
2 years ago
Reply to  Fk fk

Thank you, FK FK.

grassfedlocal
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grassfedlocal
4 years ago

There is so many good local options to use instead of Flow Kana.
None of us need to support them or use there services.

Instead try supporting:

Bear Extractions
Altum Mind
Humboldt Brand
Redwood Roots
Humboldt Cannabis Mill
Sunfed Inc
Peak Distribution

Together as a community we can build up local companies.
Flow Kana is a total Front, none of us need there services.
They need us more than we need them.

Earthmama3
Guest
Earthmama3
4 years ago
Reply to  grassfedlocal

LOL!!!! Whhaaaatttt!?!? Do you have a clue!?! Before you go listing all those brands/companies, best dig deeper there and do your research. Check the portfolio of the people who have invested in those companies… and just because they use the word “Humboldt” or “Mendo” doesn’t mean they actually are, in fact I know many are not. FOR A FACT. Many Humboldt brands have sold out to biiiiig Canadian money, but u won’t hear that! Never would they want to jeopardize the trust of the locals! So sad so many are so blind.

SmallFry
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SmallFry
4 years ago
Reply to  Earthmama3

Umm.. Actually Bear Extractions, sounds fairly legit. There was just an article that featured them, and Canada never entered the realm of comments.. Redwood Roots also, an Article on them, no Canada.. I am not saying Canadian $$$ isn’t involved, somewhere, with other companies, I am just saying EarthMama3.. You sound fairly biased and unsubstantiated.. I think it’s great alternatives to Flow Canna where mentioned..

Ya ya ya
Guest
Ya ya ya
4 years ago
Reply to  Earthmama3

Earth to earthmoma, this is ground control. You must be part of the corporate public relations machine. Sounds like a Kansas City shuffle or a shell game.

Money trickles all over the place
Guest
Money trickles all over the place
4 years ago
Reply to  Ya ya ya

Good PR or “we bought you a new hospital and a little league field” is just one of the confidence tricks. Hedge fund companies are just financial toy shops for billionaires to make even more money while toying with everyone else under the guise that they can make a fortue. People will join any game if the price is right for them. It’s a great facade. But if you are not part of their game, you will only lose.

Farce
Guest
Farce
4 years ago

Thank you, Kym! For finally providing some very real information of what our wonderful “legalization” has brought us…I like that you will provide balance on this tomorrow with Casey’s writing on Jason and Flow Kana. Casey is a great guy. Many of us saw him grow up and he’s always been a caring and straightforward person. As I’ve said before- He’s been the only permitted grower I’ve seen to make a public stand against the harsh eradication attacks on small unpermitted grows. So he has a lot more guts and sense of community than anybody in Humboldt! But I’ll also say this- Casey HAS to defend Flow Kana. He was Jason’s first local friend, brought him around to introduce to everybody and welcomed him as a bro. Casey was raised in the local culture and went to Laytonville schools. Which means…he just doesn’t know these kind of guys or this kind of a beast. Kinda like Hezekiah going to do battle for us in Sacramento- never had a clue or a chance. Great guys- good hearts, integrity and who you want as your friend and neighbor. Just not …let’s say…wise to the dark ways of the corporate world. And the world that we invited here when we opened ourselves up to this corporate-friendly farce of a “legalization”. This article above contains all the research i have done and more and breaks it down way better than I can- I do not know stock investor jargon. This is the best article you have ever printed on the future of cannabis in Humboldt and Mendocino. Thank you!

Gohst of the Dead Growers
Guest
Gohst of the Dead Growers
4 years ago
Reply to  Farce

Casey was the pawn used to get their foot in the door. Because of that in, Flow Kana has been able to raise millions of dollars on fromted product. I hope Casey at least has an equity stake in the company or did he give the entire community away for free?

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago

I guess Casey was a Trojan Horse of sorts also.

SmallFry
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SmallFry
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Kym, I am going to try and present this as nicely as I possibly can, and it might sting a little.. I appreciate you and your work, and I respect your posting of this, However, I can’t say I haven’t noticed a fair amount of partialism on your site In favor of Flow Canna.. I understand this is a private site, and I appreciate your openness, but let’s be real for a minute.. These type of investors represent a real threat and challenge to Small Farmers and the way of life we have created in the Triangle.. What about the other points addressed in this Article, especially the points about GMO, and Monsanto/Bayer.? These are very real threats to Small pharms And our existence. Please don’t underestimate this..

mezzicun
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mezzicun
4 years ago
Reply to  SmallFry

Small farmers and the Emerald Triangle are getting a raw deal in the legalization scheme as it is completely corporate dominated with big money players, whether folks mentioned in the article or the corporations running 40,000 acre indoor farms in the Central Valley. Given that mechanized farming cuts production costs and machines can trim buds, to say it’s an uphill battle for the small Emerald Triangle farmer, is an understatement.

Legallettuce
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Legallettuce
4 years ago
Reply to  SmallFry

I disagree with a few of your statements SF. This site and these commentors such as yourself will vet the truth out of Johns opinion piece better than any other outlet available. Thanks for posting Kym and if John wants to go public and can take the reverb in stride then better we all are and prove our way of life is unique. Now, on with the vetting my friend and let the chips fall where they may.

SmallFry
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SmallFry
4 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

Really LL.. Disagree..? You mean you don’t beilive in the existence of Aliens or that a baby Dinosaur is going to pop out of a GM Bud? That’s ok, it’s totally understandable.. I have absolutely no factual info to back either of those up. But ya never know.. Actually, I think I have disagreed with just about every long term commenter at one point or another.. I think.. The vetting process issues clarity, Giving Thanks for that for sure.. Let the evidence unfold.. However, I believe I will hold on to my assumptions for the time being..

Legallettuce
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Legallettuce
4 years ago
Reply to  SmallFry

Yes, I value your opinions we are not always gonna agree and I appreciate that the most on this site.

SmallFry
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SmallFry
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Kym… I appreciate your quest for facts and the truth.. I do.. I also think that Corporations are very good at painting a lovely portrait to disguise the vileness behind… So there is that.. Just keep in mind.. Monsanto/Bayer are extremely manipulative and have ploys to get farmers hooked on thier products.. I can honestly say that If major money behind Flow Canna is also linked in to Biotech.. That, to me is a concern..

https://www.panna.org/gmos-pesticides-profit/monsanto-cos-dirty-little-secret

shak
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shak
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I don’t understand the promoting of ‘taking to heart’ the Flying Monkey’s hit piece at AVA, especially when the hit piece offers no clue about being in relation to what this article is discussing.
Where can we find an article that debates the fine points of this article, but not the author of the article?

shak
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shak
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I was just reading that, and agreed with SmallFry… where’s the debate to this article?

question the quest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Good people are cogs of corporations and are replaceable. Corporate bottom line are profits. These entities chew, grind and devour people and resources.

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

That could be said of any group of people- governments, religions, sports teams, universities, etc. But, while banding together and having leadership increases success for the majority of participants in the group, it also increases the danger of those excluded or threatened with exclusion. That is power.

It is not corporations that are the villains. It’s the governments that will not make limits for them because government officials prefer to tap into a share of corporate success. A lack of principle in the general public leads to a lack of principle in the government which then allows a corporation a free hand.

onrust
Guest
onrust
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

It’s the problem with conspiracy theories in general and rightist ones specifically. They are more based on things that no reasonable person accepts as facts and their determination to spread the BS is only exceeded by them boring the shit out of us. Have you ever read the writings of brother John Birch? He was the right-wing nut job that started the right wing government theory that communism is horrible and all that other bad crap of the fifties. Communism is no longer important in the world so the Republicans sold their soul to Putin to get the mental midget elected. The nation is being run by traitors not properly elected officials. Besides the racist BS that we are getting from so-called Republicans we are now being told that corporations are to be treated as people. What this really means is that they are not obligated to accept any responsibility for what they do. Who’s in charge? The corporations that at some point in time will have to pay for screwing up our weather and the planet, Exxon, Shell, Monsanto, Union Carbide, 3M, and a list of the major corporations who have defiled our air and fresh water and our land and our bodies. Why do you think Trump and his band of idiots are destroying our environmental laws and allowing the capitalists to run roughshod over the rest of us.
America as a concept, a democratic nation guided by the will of the people, was killed in 2016 by great Americans like Mark Zuckerberg and Mitch McConnell, two piss poor excuses for humanity. They have done more to destroy our democracy than capitalism or corporations have. Money talks in our culture, especially to those that have little minds.

We need to make tough changes to our government and our legal system. We elect people to represent us and they are clearly bought and sold by the monied of our country. Being an elected politician should carry an element of risk and danger associated with it, stronger danger than just selling your soul or developing a different sense of morality.
[Edit]
And everyone who has a brain in this country knows that we are a class based society and that the upper class rules. It’s the same in cannibas cultivation as it is in potatoes.

Wow
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Wow
4 years ago
Reply to  onrust

We live in a republic. Pointing fingers is all . “8 year olds dude”

Ullr Rover
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Ullr Rover
4 years ago
Reply to  onrust

Communism did kill 100 million people last century… that’s pretty bad.

And Russia hasn’t been communist for almost 30 years.

And there was something announced about “no collusion “.

We are a Constitutional Republic.

“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.” -John Adams

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
4 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

Mueller did not investigate collusion Ullr.

Mueller investigated obstruction, which the President did NOT exonerated of.

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
4 years ago
Reply to  The Real Brian

“Mueller finds no collusion with Russia, leaves obstruction question open”

“Special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation did not find sufficient evidence that President Donald Trump’s campaign coordinated with Russia to influence the United States’ 2016 election and did not take a clear position on whether Trump obstructed justice.”

https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2019/03/mueller-concludes-investigation/

b.
Guest
b.
4 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

Ullr,
How many did Capitalism kill in the Twentieth Century? And how many did Capitalism kill in the previous century? Do you give the capitalists an “out” with respect to the totalitarian capitalists in Nazi Germany? Do you attribute all of the Cambodian genocide deaths to the communists or to the capitalist war machine that bombed a 1000+ year old irrigation system into disrepair and destroyed the Cambodian civil society before pushing Cambodia into hell? How do you count the deaths in the Middle Passage? and the slave wars that brought people to be sold at the African ports? Capitalism? King Leopold’s (who had chartered himself as a corporation) War- 5 million? Clearly we can count that as capitalist. The Spanish conquest — the only colonial empire that didn’t rely on a corporate structure — as many as 25 million, should we add that to “our” total or can we put that in the Catholics’ total?

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  b.

I suppose there is a point at which a dictator could be considered a capitalist. But mostly you are confusing a social economic philosophy with a type of government. Communism lends itself to dictatorship- the most directly destructive form of government- because it demands that someone- the dictator inevitably -organize the existence of a community’s finance in order to manage it for the community. On the other hand a dictorship has nothing but problems with a society that expects that every individual owns the benefits of their own enterprise. That many points of opposition want to keep what it creates.

So yes, capitalism can allow some individuals to abuse others because it has less controls on its membership and wants them to have the freedom act individually but apparently communism historically always abuses both its own members and others as it organized to make everyone turn over all goods and labor to itself, even while it mouths that it’s for their own good. In other words, a capitalist society may shelter abusive individuals but a communist society deliberately organizes itself and becomes itself abusive on a massive scale in addition to protecting nasty abusive individual making use of it.

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
4 years ago
Reply to  b.

Capitalism is an economic system and not governmental system. But I am not lauding the atrocities committed by any form of government. Your comment with regards to John Birch indicate that his theory about communism being bad was erroneous. History has shown otherwise. The graphic gives a breakdown of homicides committed under the flag of governments.

“…262 million. That’s the number of unarmed people the late Prof. R. J. Rummel estimated governments murdered in mass killings he termed “democide” during the 20th century. “This democide murdered 6 times more people than died in combat in all the foreign and internal wars of the century,” he wrote.”

https://reason.com/2014/05/15/be-antigovernment-and-proud/

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

~i’m just adding this quote to your comment, Ull Rover. Don’t know where, or if, it fits in in the graph you provided.

“You must understand, the leading Bolsheviks who took over Russia were not Russians. They hated Russians. They hated Christians. Driven by ethnic hatred they tortured and slaughtered millions of Russians without a shred of human remorse. It cannot be overstated. Bolshevism committed the greatest human slaughter of all time. The fact that most of the world is ignorant and uncaring about this enormous crime is proof that the global media is in the hands of the perpetrators.” –Alexandr Solzhenitsyn

shak
Guest
shak
4 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

The Trotsky’s were side by side with the Bolsheviks, except the Trotsky’s wanted to be globally and the Bolshevik’s wanted to stay national. Stalin got tired of Trotsky and put a price on his head, so he escaped. They were both murdering maniac’s on a mission to rule with a heavy hand.

Some people say the two forms are working together again, and still fighting. One want’s ‘national socialism’ and the other is for ‘global socialism’. They both consider themselves ‘progressives’. Kind of makes me wonder…

shak
Guest
shak
4 years ago
Reply to  b.

I’m not ullr, (who answered beautifully btw), but my curiosity is pricked because I don’t understand your questions. All govts use capitalism. The difference between the countries ideologies mandates on how that capitalism is managed or mismanaged.
The first episode in this series covers the different ism’s and where they differ. I’ll leave it here in case others are interested in learning more about things. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61tFJsVsPo4&list=PLU16omkJffq4auEcsaU1GdAL0TNyUndS6
I found episode 3 (economics) of great interest, but wouldn’t have had I not of watched the first 2 episodes.

Earthmama3
Guest
Earthmama3
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Agee! Sounds very racist really. So sad so many are doing good for our communities and the jealousy consumes…. people hate when ya doin great!!!

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago
Reply to  Earthmama3

I picture you as a Monsanto Corporate secretary tasked to pretend your a hippy that has embraced the new way things will be done. After all, money has been donated. (BFD) 😩

Anti troll league
Guest
Anti troll league
4 years ago
Reply to  Yeah,sure

There is a difference as usual between those who argue a point of contention and those who attack the arguer. To question the integrity a person because they say something you don’t like is the lowest form of debate short of using pitchorks and torches.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago

~but we’ve been subjected to the so-called Earthmama for two days. After a while, Yeah,sure and others, point out the obvious.

John Sakowicz
Guest
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Kym, bottom line?

Flow Kana are outsiders financed by Gotham Green Partners — Wall Street dark money.

Dark money from a hedge fund (Saiers Capital).

Dark money that also has a controlling interest in GMO cannabis (Pebble Labs and Trait Biosciences).

Dark money that is linked to Big Tobacco (Cronos Group and Altria).

Flow Kana’s business plan to to make tenant farmers in a sharecropper system out of the Emerald’s Triangle’s small, independent family farmers.

Flow Kana will rig the prices that will pay for flower. They will control the grading process. They will eventually force GMO seed on us.

To think otherwise, is to be naïve.

shak
Guest
shak
4 years ago
Reply to  Farce

I like what you said Farce, plus you confirmed the names of the main actors in the play.
I like how he set the stage with the character’s names and connections, followed up with opinions and theories, then adding more questions for the readers to dig in to, if they’re so inclined.

I’m still trying to figure out the purpose for that other article over at the AVA. It’s a major hit piece, to smear and slander him, … but why? Why would it be so important to somebody to smear/slander another person? Usually money. Follow the money?

I’m looking forward to hearing more info and insights. I hope more people jump in to research and verify, or offer insightful tips like you did. Thanks for jumping in like you did. Like the article writer said, this is very important info for the community to research and consider.

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
4 years ago

I was never a fan and was disappointed they were allowed to have a booth at Summer Arts. That being said we are a capitalists country and big money makes the wheel go round. I do not blame anyone for aligning with this corporation or that corporation. I just hope the corporation they choose do right for our industry and community.

Again, let us put a bit of reality into all of this and by no means I am not saying to stop challenging the corporate world. The facts are Humboldt, Trinity and Mendo growers can grow some amazing herb. We do not need a permit, license or any other bullshit to grow our herb. The herb we grow will always command a $200 to $320 an ounce purchase in many states across this great union. We are veterans of this war on drugs our funding models, lol, and distribution channels have increased since legalization.

I believe in my community and my neighbors and I dare anyone to plant a GMO cannabis seed in the triangle. We will unleash a new phase in our war if anyone should try. We are not corn, soy or green bean farmers, we are outlaw growers and highly skilled veterans against government oppression. We will not be defeated, we will not go quietly, we will not tolerate any challenge to our way of life, we will win this war. Thanks for the info John I admire you putting your balls on the line, keep up the efforts.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

” I just hope the corporation they choose do right for our industry and community.”

Not a chance. Corporations are unconstitutional. It’s either for-profit corpse-orations, or the law of the LAND.
It can’t be both.

G
Guest
G
4 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

Did you not read the part how monsato sued every non gmo company and won every one?

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  G

MONSANTO GMOs DEFEATED BY OREGON ORGANIC FARMERS AS FEDERAL JUDGE UPHOLDS SEED BAN
Community activists win at key stage in court.
By Steven Rosenfeld / AlterNet
May 30, 2015

A coalition of Oregon organic farmers has beaten Monsanto—the corporate agriculture giant—in a landmark federal lawsuit that will make national waves by the way that their rural county banned the use of genetically modified seeds.

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
4 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

lol, thx CHC. Like I stated a bit of reality, fact based assumption aside. We are a capitalist country we assumed capitalist would come our way. You wanna play in their world then ya gotta play by their rules. However, WEED has and always will be until the end of time the one plant that evens the playing field, lol. Grow Humboldt just grow.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

” You wanna play in their world then ya gotta play by their rules. ”

~needless to say, i’ve never been one for rules without my consent. Their wor(l)d of semantic deceit to create fraud sticks out like a sore thumb.

For sure kanabosm evens the playing field. “We are not expected to be translated from despotism to liberty in a feather bed.” –Jefferson

“The earth belongs to the living, not to the dead.” (i take this to mean corpse-orations)

shak
Guest
shak
4 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

Capitalism is fantastic.
Crony Capitalism SUCKS.
Know the difference.

DL
Guest
DL
4 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

There you have it…our solution!

“their rural county banned the use of genetically modified seeds.”

Mr. Bear
Guest
Mr. Bear
4 years ago
Reply to  G

Is it true? should they have won? maybe people were using a patented strain of plant?

JB
Guest
JB
4 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

// “I dare anyone to plant a GMO cannabis seed in the triangle. ” //

Too late.

MendoSince85
Guest
MendoSince85
4 years ago

John is a weasel who is desperate for attention and who has his own agenda.

Stop trying to look like a hero John, its obvious you’re just a greasy weasel peddling snake-oil and trying to benefit from poking at the ill-sentiments of small growers struggling to make it in the modern cannabis economy and trying to create an imaginary enemy for those people to direct their frustration at. You’re a terrible person John, because you’re not a person, but a weasel.

Ooooooooooo
Guest
Ooooooooooo
4 years ago
Reply to  MendoSince85

Sounds like the weasel found some truth that’s upsetting someone.

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago
Reply to  Ooooooooooo

Sounds like someone bought into the corporate biotech model. Sad. Mendo since 85 attacks the messenger, not the message.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Yeah,sure

” the corporate biotech model”

EPA blocks warning on Glyphosate
https://galacticconnection.com/epa-blocks-warning-on-glyphosate/ September 4th

Glyphosate was officially added to the California Proposition 65 list of carcinogens in July 2017, and warning labels stating that glyphosate may cause cancer were supposed to be added to products beginning in the summer of 2018. The labels, however, were halted when Monsanto (which Bayer acquired in June 2018) challenged the California rule in court.

It’s not surprising that Monsanto/Bayer would sue to stop cancer warning labels from being added to glyphosate-based products like Roundup. What is surprising is that the U.S. EPA has now joined in the fight — but instead of looking out for the public, they’re squarely in support of the pesticide industry.

Charlie
Guest
Charlie
4 years ago

So why does working at JPL make one worthy of suspicion? Does Sakowicz think he was conspiring with aliens?

shak
Guest
shak
4 years ago

Wow, know that’s what I call great sleuth work!

A few other facts to help shed light:
Congress, over the years, have made legislative deals with the Big Pharma and the Big Tobacco companies.
Watch or read the 60 minutes episode called “Under the Influence”. The longest lobbying session ever recorded at that time. (big pharma).
The other is the Tobacco Master Settlement Trust Agreement. States who collect those special funds also protect the companies that create those funds. That’s allegedly why they attack all rival products.
Follow the money.
AND, Follow the wives.
Who’s married to who?
Big Media, Big Pharma, Big Tobacco, … playing musical chairs on boards across the board. Honest.

Jim Powell
Guest
Jim Powell
4 years ago

Wow This Guy is Good!

shak
Guest
shak
4 years ago

Trust but verify.
Calling all sleuths to dbl-check, dive deeper, and verify all info.
This article is a start, but it doesn’t provide the sources for verification.

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
4 years ago
Reply to  shak

I agree, lots of assumptions a bit dramatic but I have confidence of our vetting process on this site. We got a good balance from crazy to ultra conservative and everything else immaginable and unimmagianable in between.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

I know. Don’t ya love it?

~the truth is known and the truth will win. In the meantime, “The Waiting is the Hardest Part” –Tom Petty

Obadiah switzer
Guest
Obadiah switzer
4 years ago

It “unproven”
It’s “unsubstantiated”
It’s a “conspiracy theroy”
Sorta like climate change or lung cancer caused by cigarettes or the high-efficiency carburetor or that Monsanto and Scientology use lawsuits to destroy anything that gets in their path.

The idea that anyone would doubt the validity of this is why we have a professional marketer in the White House.

Good luck.

From my perspective, Humboldt deserves to be exploited and left decaying like greenhouse plastic flapping in the wind.

I grew up there and watched it.

It’s a community of cannibals who fed their children to the unregulated cannabis industry under the guise of political rebelliousness and never really gave a damn thing back to their own “community”.

A microcosm of American ideals under a thinly vailed ideology.

Choke on it.

Yeah, sure
Guest
Yeah, sure
4 years ago

How’s that 1 million unsold pounds up there in Oregon? 6 years worth. Sounds like some major canna balism over production bs going on up there.
PS, prepare for the Bulgarian invasion, they’re headed your way…😄

For sure
Guest
For sure
4 years ago

All ppl should STOP buying legal weed and demand small organic! The county of Kauai sued Monsanto & lost! Monsanto has been in Mendo’s Copay Valley for a long time…Again- CFkingD weed! Civil Fking Disobedience weed…the Emerald Triangle is the longest running act of civil disobedience in American history.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  For sure

In looking for the Kauai lawsuit, i came across a few others:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/13/business/monsanto-roundup-cancer-verdict.html
A jury in Oakland, Calif., ordered Monsanto on Monday to pay a couple more than $2 billion in damages after finding that its Roundup weed killer caused their cancer — the third jury to conclude that the company failed to warn consumers of its flagship product’s dangers.

https://www.npr.org/2019/03/27/707439575/jury-awards-80-million-in-damages-in-roundup-weed-killer-cancer-trial

The blog page on Kauai i was looking for is “off-line”. What i remember about the litigation is that it was straight-up blackmail.

LGR
Guest
LGR
4 years ago

Excellent letter. Someone should contact an investigative journalist at the Times or Chronicle. I heard there was some Venezuelan capital from illicit origins from the beginning. All of their transactions were in cash before last summer. I find this back story very interesting, but these guys certainly weren’t the first guys to come to Mendocino County with a get rich weed scheme. However they were probably the smartest. They are helping to create a legitimate marketplace and jobs which is great, and their PR campaign gets an A for effort.

rollin
Guest
rollin
4 years ago

“Since 1997, Monsanto has filed 286 lawsuits, on average about 13 lawsuits every year for 22 straight years, against organic farmers who have “improperly reused their patented seeds.”

That’s a relatively small amount of lawsuits given the billions, maybe trillions of acres that have been planted in that time. Don’t want to abide by the terms of the agreement you signed? Then don’t sign it in the first place. If you buy seeds from Monsanto under their agreement and then violate that agreement, STFU if you get sued.

“The biotech giant hasn’t lost a single case, either.”

Uhhh, yeah….exactly!

“Here’s Monsanto’s legal argument: Monsanto sues on behalf of farmers growing Monsanto GMO crops, arguing that the cross-pollination of GMO crops with the pollen of non-GMO crops (from neighboring fields) destroyed the biotech traits of future crops.”

Total bullshit propaganda, conflating issues and muddying the waters (intentionally, no doubt) invalidating every thing else in your article and helping to further dumb down the already ignorant masses. Accidental, trace amounts of cross pollination cases have NEVER been pursued by Monsanto. Cite me the case where they have. If you save seeds to use the next year, or purposely breed Monsanto’s patented seeds to use for your next crop, you violate the agreement that you were free not to sign in the first place and therefore should expect to be sued.

No doubt that the hippycrit, Monsanto haters will be in court at a future date, suing someone who bred their coveted weed strain (without permission) instead of buying directly from said hippycrit. Of course, as usual the irony will escape them. But don’t dare point it out. They will become enraged, maybe even call you a racist or a fascist and unfriend you.

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago
Reply to  rollin

Your last sentence was uncalled for.

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
4 years ago
Reply to  Yeah,sure

Awww, he fell in love with a hippy chick and she dumped his ass. Go get some sage and buy something with lavender in it for her. Wrap-up the lavender gift in something you made (paper bag with your thought written on it) and lite the sage. Walk from your place to hers, breathe in some of that sage, and ponder something decent to say to her.

Yeah, sure
Guest
Yeah, sure
4 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

😄

THoGM
Guest
THoGM
4 years ago
Reply to  rollin

Now do all the farmers who razed their fields after receiving their first or third threatening warning letters from Monsanto’s (Bayer’s) attorneys, unable to raise the funds necessary to lodge a legal defense.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  THoGM

“unable to raise the funds necessary to lodge a legal defense.”

idk, i don’t do Legal.

We are the authors of this thing and we can change the story if we want to change it.

Flow Kana Black Market Deals
Guest
Flow Kana Black Market Deals
4 years ago

Wow, the onlybthing left out is that Flow Kana farmers are also explicit in buying black market bud from black market farmers in the $400-600 range and reselling the product to Flow Kana. In fact their well known and promoted Young Willits Area farmers have been buying up hundreds of pounds of traditional market cannabis for Flow kana with cash supplied to then from Flow Kana. FLOW KANA also has a huge hand in the local price increase this year of black market bud. They bough all the bud they could find last fall and spring, watched the price triple, then began selling on thebblack market again after they created an artificial scarcity. In fact every single concentrate production facility in Mendo County is doing the same thing simply because there was not enough “legal product” to fill their orders. It is interesting to see Flow Kana hand in hand with Mendo politicians who all know the amount of money which is available for a small favor. All in all, John Sakowicz is 100% right from the research check I did…. where are all the investigative journalists? Mendocino allowed these sneaky crooks into our county where they have manipulated the prices, stole our traditional market and pushed the price of black market bud up by their sneaky practices of having their young farmers buy black market bud by the box load (100 lbs) at a time. The word from insiders who work at Flow Kana is that these buds are being shipped all over the country. Crooks will be crooks, weather it os a ponzi scheme or the black market, enough is never enough for the greedy like Michael. We dont even mention that Flow Kana takes over 50% of the small farmers profits while crying “support the small family farm”. What a bunch of corrupt schmucks

Yeah, sure
Guest
Yeah, sure
4 years ago

Ahhhhh, a couple of months ago “buyers” were in the area looking for 6,000 lbs. Had the cash. This might explain it because it was the biggest black market shopping spree I had ever heard of.
Anyone else in Sohum hear about this?

FK tactics
Guest
FK tactics
4 years ago
Reply to  Yeah, sure

Most likely companies like Flow Kanna working with the BCC and the Feds to stage large black market deals. Only takes one or two deals like that to build a large racketeering case to wipe out half the county. Once the competition is eliminated with federal charges Flow Kana will easily corner the market.

Bassbird
Guest
Bassbird
4 years ago

Now this is pretty plausible, I would imagine this kind of thing goes on quite a bit. Secret plot to trick small farmers into growing GMO?, not so much.

John Sakowicz
Guest
4 years ago

To “Flow Kana Black Market Deals”…sources are coming out of the woodwork to confirm all that you say about FK’s fraudulent business practices, including switching product, buying black market produce, shorting suppliers, knowingly packaging cannabis with mold, and other supply chain fraud.

Many of these sources are current or former employees. At least four were in management positions.

I’m collecting sources and contact info to pass on to national media who will take the FK story to the next level. Please have the courage to come forward. I am especially interested in documentary evidence of fraud at FK.

Your confidentiality is assured.

My contact info is found at my website: https://heroespatriots.org/

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
4 years ago
Reply to  John Sakowicz

John,

It seems to me you’ve not been honest.

Can you provide paystubs or proof of any of your claimed “prior employment”?

https://www.theava.com/archives/464

Several of the other companies listed on Sakowicz’s résumé had no record of his employment—including Colonial Management Associates (which was acquired by Columbia Management, which is now a division of Bank of America), Spear Leeds Kellogg (which was acquired by Goldman Sachs), Dean Witter (which merged with Morgan Stanley), Merrill Lynch and Alex Brown, now a division of Deutsche Bank.

Why wouldn’t you have refuted this in your blog by now John?

You just vaguely refer to “character assassination” on your site.

Indignant 1
Guest
4 years ago

All I hear is money money money money money money. We do earn money growing cannabis. But it’s our way of life not just an economic engine.
All you people care about is money!
Go away stranger!
And take your government monkeys with you too!

Indignant 1
Guest
4 years ago

Flow canna
And all big farma
Are the enemy of our way of life.

We didnt decide to give you pieces of shit a market share.
It was stolen from our community.

Next spring
Every piece of unregulated land in northern California should grow 6 huge males.

Unless terms are reached.

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
4 years ago
Reply to  T

Yes it is.

There are different reports as to if John filed for divorce or his wife filed.

Let’s get this straight: John Sakowicz (of City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Calif.) and Colorado Appeals Court Judge Laurie A. Booras had an alleged consensual, adulterous, long-term sexual affair despite Sakowicz’s apparently long marriage.

Yet, it appears that Sakowicz only placed his complaint of “adultery” (and public sex, etc.) against Booras after his wife found out about their decade-long complicit affair and filed for divorce.

Sounds like a pretty slimy guy.

Wrecking his own marriage by choice and then blaming the woman he was cheating with is quite poor decisions.

I would not vote for this morally bankrupted individual ever!

It’s like Trump 2.0. – with adultry and broad strokes fears.

Booooo.

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago
Reply to  The Real Brian

Good try trying to discredit him thru his personal life. I don’t care about that, I care if his statements are credible. Just about everyone has some skeletons in their closet and if you are a Trumper, pffffft…

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
4 years ago
Reply to  Yeah,sure

A 10 year affair, and then he is divorced by his wife…and then he files charges against his adulter.

I’m surprised you dont find that interesting.

I think it’s more interesting than a vague reference to a Venezuelan native having had started a business in Venezuela…

I find John’s opinion article to be very long on words but short with facts.

The most interesting part of it was reading about Trait Biosciences.

Not John’s article, but about the company itself.

I think it’s quite fascinating what is going to be happening with the abilities of technology.

Don’t worry, even when Budweiser was King, and before Sierra Nevada and micro-brew revolution, people were still making their home brews.

I dont find the idea that capitalists with money and connections are trying to make more money and more connections. It’s an every second process in the US.

I’m not anti or pro FlowKana. I dont care about the entity itself.

I’ve read your comments and your obviously anti-Flow.

The only reason I know what FlowKana is because of their community-outreach events posted here on KymKemp.

But guess what, there are other distribution companies and I don’t see them posted here as much.

Kym doesn’t solicit information from them, I assume they reach out with Press Releases to her -and others.

That’s work. That’s business. They seem to be doing they’re job. What can I say?

John here is running for office in Mendocino, while riling up emotions on an already hyper-sensitive subject- accusing officials he is running against as bring involved in a mega-weed-GMO-control conspiracy with self-admitted “unsubstantiated” theories.

Read that again.

Sidenote; How can you be paying attention and mistake me for a Trump supporter?

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
4 years ago
Reply to  The Real Brian

*their job, not they’re.

can't find it
Guest
can't find it
4 years ago
Reply to  The Real Brian

If you’re right TRB, he might just bring down FK himself… i mean, some behavior patterns lead to other predictable behaviors.

Guestohboy
Guest
Guestohboy
4 years ago
Reply to  T

Sounds like it is but who really cares? Doesn’t seem to pertain to this.

Anon
Guest
Anon
4 years ago
Reply to  T

Did you not read Kym’s post? She already linked an AVA article about this story and yep, its him. He even apologizes to his ex in the comments.

take it all down
Guest
take it all down
4 years ago

Take it all down. Folks who oppose the quants invading the green rush should stand in front of Flow Kanna’s events and dispensaries and pass out free ounces (legally) to dissuade potential customers. (Tortuous interference? I think not!)

Take it all down. Legalization was a terrible outcome, however you look at it. This plant deserves to be decriminalized, not legalized. Californians deserve a government that is not in cahoots with and profiting from the drug trade (or other criminal enterprises, including the Lottery, which is another story).

Take it all down. The justice and law enforcement agencies, in particular, should not be partnering with and profiting from the drug trade, in my opinion. In the old days, people knew and argued that these agencies in particular should be free from even the hint of impropriety.

Take it all down. Anybody who can grow six plants, should grow six plants. And then they should start giving ounces (legally) away to their friends and neighbors. Start a trend with enough of a jump start as to make a serious dent in these Wall St. parasites’ appetites.

Take it all down. Free the weed

Rod Gass
Guest
Rod Gass
4 years ago

Take it all down, Thank You very much.

Cannabis is so deliberate and straight honest towards human efficacy that we are indeed bewildered by these current events and the sneaky snakes who slither through our grass.

Money is attempting to conquer our preference for decency by monetizing the seedstock. We’ve always admitted that “Whoever controls the seed, owns the future.” The most vulnerable are still the small-scale cultivators. We’ve always been in this position.

Cannabis cares. Some don’t get it, but on this site, cannabis is known and respected as it is, an Earthy gift to herbal worshippers. Free the weed!

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago

Haha, I remember when I first heard about Monsanto. They were going to ‘feed the world’, end hunger and create seeds that doubled corporate Ag’s vegetable harvests. Round up was a gift from the gods. Golden rice. Yada yada yada. As the years went by the truth about Monsanto and their products were revealed. Hedgefunders, Bayer/ Monsanto, lobbyists…. what could possibly go wrong???????
Are you friggin kidding me?????

Indignant 1
Guest
4 years ago

Thieves and liars…

Just because you have money doesn’t give you a right to elbow us out.
Flow cana lies and is gaining the system by using its farmers as agents to locate and “launder” weed into the legal market.
They are a criminal enterprise like the everyone else.
Except they have “big farma”, outsiders dollars and lawyers backing them up.
Outsiders unlawfully reaping the benefit of my communities sacrifices.
We earned everything we posess.
Flow canna swooped in with outsiders capital to subjugate us.
I will not live by the leave of big government.
Or big farma.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!
Do as thou will, but do no harm!

Gavin…pound sand you elite, socialist, dipshit liberal clown.

Doesn’t Mexico need a leader?
You care for them more than us.

Earthmama3
Guest
Earthmama3
4 years ago
Reply to  Indignant 1

Haahaahaa! Oh and it’s Kana

Bassbird
Guest
Bassbird
4 years ago

I don’t think Flow Kana makes any secret of the fact that their ambition is to be the biggest brand name in cannabis. They want to process and sell more cannabis then anybody else. They want market share, and are willing to lose money for awhile to get it, just like Amazon. etc.

But I doubt very much Flow Kana is planning to do anything related to GMOs. Everybody knows pot smokers have an irrational fear of GMO and it would be marketing suicide. Why the hell would they do that? Build a huge marketing beast aimed at healthy-life style rich people only to blow it up? If they were interested in pursuing GMO cannabis, they would just build some giant farms and do it. There is no logical reason to first drag a bunch of small farms into the process. completely retarded theory John.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Bassbird

“the biggest brand name in cannabis”

How special. Gimmie some of that mechanical-weaned-process product.

~i’m going with entropy burn out.

Not in the correct location – but, shhh, that’s a secret.

And, foundation built on $and.

BassBird
Guest
BassBird
4 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

wha? so cryptic

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  BassBird

~cryptic?

I suppose. I take back the first three.

Yeah, sure
Guest
Yeah, sure
4 years ago
Reply to  Bassbird

What makes you doubt it? It’s what Monsanto does.

BassBird
Guest
BassBird
4 years ago
Reply to  Yeah, sure

I doubt it because their whole brand image and target market are people who have a deep fear of the GMO.

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago
Reply to  BassBird

You revealed yourself there.

Slim pickens
Guest
Slim pickens
4 years ago
Reply to  Bassbird

This comment sounds fairly reasonable.

The letter to editor however needs an editor. I swear what a mess.

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
4 years ago
Reply to  Bassbird

I am not supporting John’s hypothesis just throwing out a reason for why a Genetics corporation might want a variety of small farms. I think it would be to create a historic genetic library and access to an geographic variety of samples from seasoned growers. Since very little research has been done in the US this would be in my opinion the fastest way to make up for lost time. Just an opinion not a hypothesis.

I am very interested in this Trait’s Distilled patent. I make concentrates as well and use an ingredient that attaches to the molecules of the canibinoid but I consider it an infusion. Now, using a sugar to convert a lipid to a water souluable state is groundbreaking. Mixing oil and water is not a solution it is a mixture. I know of only one thing that can mix oil and water but that would kill you, lol, not a good business model.

For sure
Guest
For sure
4 years ago
Reply to  Bassbird

Bass bird, Bayer bought Monsanto & declared they were going to be the worldwide producer of medical cannabis. GMOs are the Trojan Horse.

Ummmmmm
Guest
Ummmmmm
4 years ago

Flow kana deez nutz

Indignant 1
Guest
4 years ago

Male plants on every ridgeline from mount Shasta to the grapevine!

If were being forced out of buisness.
I say it’s time to wreak havoc on the permittees for selling us out.
And thieving our livelyhoods.
They drew first blood!
Especially those playing both sides of the fence.
Brothers in arms no longer!
Stranger go home!
Our beach our waves!
Our hills our heritage!

Over pollinate the state 2020!!

Earthmama3
Guest
Earthmama3
4 years ago
Reply to  Indignant 1

Wow. Okayyy cuz surely that’s the answer. Not having any medicine for the people…
And that’s just it. It’s the people’s medicine. Not yours to pollute and control.

Indignant 1
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Earthmama3

It’s no longer medicine.

Civil dis obedience 2020!

None for all,
All for none!

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago
Reply to  Earthmama3

OMG, just stop. Who do you think you’re talking to ?

Indignant 1
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Yeah,sure

Mainly backstabbers and those who have befriended the law.

Tobacco used to be medicine.
Now its not.

Cannabis grown by individuals with specific intention is metaphysical medicine.
It can also be used to heal your corporial vessel.
The use of which has been passed down to us generation to generation from the hash eaters of antiquity.

Commercially produced cannabis by corporations is not medicine.
It’s an over-regulated commoditized commercial product!
Akin to pharmasueticals.

Not medicine!

Monkey Balls
Guest
Monkey Balls
4 years ago

Sako says “we” small farmers?

Earthmama3
Guest
Earthmama3
4 years ago

The person who wrote this article is a complete moron. You have ZERO facts brother. Allow me to shed some light for y’all:
-There is no relationship between Flow Kana and Cronos/Marlboro/Altria, and absolutely zero investment / ownership / control / or influence between the companies. Once you all learn these FACTS which they are maybe u will open your eyes.
-everything Flow Kana does is in service of strengthening and expanding the ecosystem for independent legacy cannabis farms. They have no business model without independent farms, the whole purpose is to prevent what y’all think they are doing from happening! WAKE UP!! FK is made up of small farmers like us! Why are you so quick to judge the inherent size of a company versus their ethics and ethos. There are loads of smaller shady ass companies who could give two shits about the land or the Heritage of our farmers. Don’t be fooled by the companies with “Humboldt” or”Mendo” names in them. Best check their portfolios as well and you will see sooooo many have sold out to BIG Canadian money and they would never want the locals to hear about that but best believe that’s coming out next…
-And to mention their CEO being from “corupt” Venezuela is not only completely and utterly racist it’s also completely uncalled for and has zero to do with the ethics or characteristics of that man. Shame on you!!!
This frustrates me because they have and continue to do so much for the community. They believe in small farming and not only cannabis. They want to change the corrupt system that is already in place. Flow Kana is not the poison, they are the solution. And I know 100% all the haters will have their foots in their mouths soon enough.
People hate when ya doin great! And that’s exactly what they are doing GREAT things! So sad many of you choose to be so blind… and that you all think this article, this one mans shady, falty and racist opinion is right. Wrong! So so very wrong.
Cheers to you Flow Kana!! Keep doing what you’re doing and showing up for the community, the people and our Earth Mother. ✌🏽

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
4 years ago
Reply to  Earthmama3

Ummm, Jason is on the board of directors for Chronos group which 42% is owned by big tobacco (Altira is Phillip Morris). Jason’s other company Gotham Green Partners provided 175 million dollars to Flow Kana. To clarify, a board member of a corporation owned by big tabacco brokered a multi million dollar deal for Flow Kana through his own company. Chronos is not allowed to work directly with Flow Kana because of US laws. Altira’s only way into our market quietly without upsetting the neighborhood is to use a third party such as Gotham Green Partners. Why is big tobacco being all sneaky, well cause they are and none of the tobacco states are legal.

As far as John, well, I do not think anyone is agreeing with his assumptions. John did accomplish one thing we all had concerning big tobacco and Flow Kana. Whether direct or indirect the answer is yes big tobacco is right in our backyard. Each of us can now debate how much money, influence or ownership of big tobaccos involvement exists in our backyard but it does exist and is no longer a rumor.

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

Earthmama is no Earthmama. “She’s” a mouthpiece for Monsanto/Flow Kana here trying to convince us simple folk that we just need to drink their kool aid and everything will be just fine. Don’t look behind the curtain you silly country folk.

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
4 years ago

Call me what you will, but this is interesting and being overlooked.

John was married with 4 kids in Mass.

He then left his marriage and came out as gay. He became a poet and made some money while being regarded highly in the gay poetry world.

https://pages.jh.edu/jhumag/0497web/arts.html

Then he marries a Mendocino woman.

While married to this Mendocino woman he starts a 10 year long affair with a judge in Colorado.

When his Mendocino wife discovers he’s having an affair, she divorces him.

Then he sues the judge for harassment, who later retires in embarassment regarding language she used in emails to John.

https://nypost.com/2019/01/11/judge-resigns-after-referring-to-colleague-as-the-little-mexican/

John sounds like a wrecking ball.

Who needs conspiracy theories when the reality is so juicy?

He likes conspiracies… and sweepstakes.

This Twitter account is his.

https://mobile.twitter.com/jsakowicz1

It is filled with 98% promotional material for sweepstakes of all sorts.

He also retweeted the Clinton Body Count “story” regarding Epstein:

https://mobile.twitter.com/jsakowicz1/status/1160621712221675520

When a plumber puts a suit on and tries to tell you he’s a lawyer, no matter how fancy the suit, he is still only a plumber.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  The Real Brian

^^^^^^^it’s a keeper^^^^^^

Rod Gass
Guest
Rod Gass
4 years ago
Reply to  The Real Brian

Well done Brian.

While I agree with your “wrecking ball” assessment of this John, I’ll add to the mix.

I see a person who is groping for attachment to anything within his grasp. He’s far too active in the need to relocate and start anew. Everyone can believe that … He’s here today while the unsettling affairs of “legalization” are red hot and strictly scrutinized, but where’s he heading to next?

If we base the guy’s value as “Jack be nimble, Jack be quick”, does he even care whether people consider him to be unfit for an elected position?

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Rod Gass

“does he even care whether people consider him to be unfit for an elected position?”

~i’m positive that this doesn’t cross the minds of the current group of elected officials. Hell, they don’t recognize the founding documents, that they took an Oath of affirmation to uphold, that has made America what she is – for better or for worse, despite the programmed for competitive destruction human species.

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago
Reply to  Rod Gass

Ok, his character is questionable.
What I am really interested in is the Flow Kana/Monsanto/hedgefund vampire connection.

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
4 years ago
Reply to  Yeah,sure

Rumor has it as a zombie connection. Guess I better break out the silver rounds just in case.

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago

Lettuce,

You have to start your comment off with “Well done Brian” . . . THEN, talk about virtual cavity search w/glove and TSA employment warning.

~it was hilarious. It was a ‘keeper’ comment (evidently i got you deleted for saying so)

Only a plumber.

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
4 years ago

More about John.

The Rest of John Sakowicz’s Résumé

Several of the other companies listed on Sakowicz’s résumé had no record of his employment—including Colonial Management Associates (which was acquired by Columbia Management, which is now a division of Bank of America), Spear Leeds Kellogg (which was acquired by Goldman Sachs), Dean Witter (which merged with Morgan Stanley), Merrill Lynch and Alex Brown, now a division of Deutsche Bank.

Stock exchange spokespersons said they have no record of Sakowicz working on their floors either. (Sakowicz’s employment at Dean Witter and Merrill Lynch could only be verified through The Work Number, a third-party service used to give HR information to potential employers. Those companies could not say how far back in time The Work Number goes. At the other companies, spokespersons checked Sakowicz’s employment history.)

Sakowicz referred all questions to Schectman, who declined to comment for this story.

In an article on the web site of Sakowicz’s alma mater—John’s Hopkins University—Sakowicz makes other work claims that can’t be verified. The story, published in 1997, reports that at the time Sakowicz was a gay activist and poet living in Colorado Springs. He had recently been awarded a grant from Pen Foundation International for writers with HIV or AIDS, the story says, and he had published work in “mainstream periodicals like the New Yorker and the Atlantic Monthly”—perhaps the two most prestigious magazines in American journalism—but that he was refocusing his attention on the gay press.

https://www.theava.com/archives/464

The internet is awesome.

James Marmon MSW
Guest
James Marmon MSW
4 years ago
Reply to  The Real Brian

Hey the real Brian, did you read John’s wife, Sharon Morris’ comment about that stupid article you are quoting here? Here it is:

“Beth Bosk. You nasty and stupid woman. You liar.

I have known John Sakowicz for 15 years. I probably know John better than any other person in the world.

I am John Sakowicz’s wife.

Although John and I haven’t had anything that could be remotely described as a “storybook marriage” or even a conventional marriage, and although my husband and I have gone through long periods of separation and reconciliation, and although John is a bundle of complexities and contradictions, and although John is a very imperfect man with many, many flaws, he is a good and decent man, and he is an exemplary father, he has come a long way as a husband, he can be counted on as a son, brother, colleague, and friend, he is a brilliant man, and every damn word in his resume is true.

Fifteen years ago, when I first met John as a young widow with two small sons, I lived in Colorado Springs, CO.

I took every precaution to get to know John. He had a folder full of stuff. He keep the folder in a cabinet in the office of his home in Woodland Park, CO.

I saw the press release when he was hired by Dean Witter. It was dated 1984. The press release mention that he was most recently a managing director at Colonial Management Associates, in Boston.

I saw his picture ID to get into his office at Dean Witter in the World Trade Center.

I saw his picture ID to get on to the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as an employee of Spear Leeds Kellogg. It was dated in 1982, and expired in 1985.

I saw his picture ID to get on to the floors of the COMEX and New York Merchantile Exchange as an employee of Merrill Lynch Commodities.

I saw the prenup signed by John and his ex-wife, Patricia, which documented his general partnership interest in the Cayman Island-base, Battle Mountain Research Group.

More recently, I’ve seen John’s settlement witrh UBS, wherein a partial interest of his general partnership — $8.5 million in retained partnership equity — in Battle Mountain Research Group is documented. Other exhibits document other interests in investments in Panama, Antigua, Cyprus, Malta…all offshore tax havens.

And I saw his commendations by the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives for his “leadership in fighting AIDS”.

When I met John in 1995, he was the outreach director for “men having sex with other men” — gay, bisexual, and closeted men — at the Southern Colorado AIDS Project, in Colorado Springs. John did outreach in Palmer Park, and other public venues where men had unsafe, anonymous, clandestine sex with other men. At that time, John knew something about that subject.

I also feel comfortable telling you that when John lived in Boston, he was a patient of Martin Kafka, MD, a Harvard psychiatrist specializing in sex addictions, particularly among men. I could tell you a lot more about the painful path of John’s life in this regard, but I won’t. Let’s just say he is a survivor.

I want to say that almost every word of your above rant is a lie, Beth. It is unkind. It is more than unkind. It is cruel.

And you have never actually met, or even spoken to my husband. Shame on you.

Finally, I just called my brother. He and his family visited me once here in Ukiah, about 12 years ago. He has never met KC Meadoiws. He has never alleged any misgivings about how John has advised either me or my sons in financial matters.

As for Bodensteinner, he settled with John. For a HIPAA violation. So did Ukiah Valley Medical Center. Also, for a HIPAA violation. So did UBS. For mismanaging him in the liquidation of his hedge fund partnership interest. And so the the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. I won’t disclose why, because John still has friends there.

Bittom line? John doesn’t like to litigate, but when he does, he wins.

Someday, too, I suspect, you’ll settle with John.

But know this much, Beth Bosk: Years ago, back when you knew attorney Steve Schectman — Steve, who you now also routinely malign — you asked Steve whether your home insurance policy would cover your costs in paying for a legal defense in a defamation suit.

His answer then was “yes”, I think.

Steve was wrong. You’re on your own, you nasty, stupid woman. You liar.”

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
4 years ago

News From the You’re-Getting-Sued-By-Sako Front

https://www.theava.com/archives/3224

sky
Guest
sky
4 years ago

Sakowicz’s article starts off as interesting and informative, but deteriorates into absolute garbage. As Casey points out, this type of outside money is concerning. That doesn’t connect the dots to the outlandish, ridiculous accusations that John makes. The attack on Michael for him being Venezuelan is especially cruel and unfounded. I’m surprised and disappointed that you published this Kym.

SmallFry
Guest
SmallFry
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I think that it was a good Idea to expose this Article. It’s been circulating on Facebook, and is not a secret… And if Kym had not put this on her sight, a lot of details about John would have not have surfaced as much.. so. I am glad it was posted…I also appreciate Casey’s and Michael‘s response.. Actually Kym.. Thank you greatly for posting this.. I am sure it wasn’t an easy decision.. It definitely gave me a different perspective on John, and the whole conundrum, then if it was just left to circulate On FB.. it’s not like this was not information already out to the public… Soo Thanks Again Kym.. for your dedication to Free speech. I am sure it would have been easier for you to not Air the Article… And yes, the Attack on Micheal was a low jab…I think many agree on that..
I understand it can be a difficult position to be a messenger, either way.. someone is going to be pissed.. most likely..

Keep up on the Good Works Kym.. I know, I am kinda fiery, and rude sometimes.. my apologies.. but I appreciate your works and your site regardless.. Bless u and TY again Kym..

SmallFry
Guest
SmallFry
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

YW Kym, Thanks Again for all you do! Respect!

ray a cogo
Guest
4 years ago

Cannabis is a commodity and “legalization” was funded by those that would benefit…corporate capital and government identifying users and producers in the market. I was in the Netherlands the birth place of the scam.

John Sakowicz
Guest
2 years ago

Bottom line?

Flow Kana are outsiders financed by Gotham Green Partners — Wall Street dark money.

Dark money from a hedge fund (Saiers Capital).

Dark money that also has a controlling interest in GMO cannabis (Pebble Labs and Trait Biosciences).

Dark money that is linked to Big Tobacco (Cronos Group and Altria).

Flow Kana’s business plan to make tenant farmers in a sharecropper system out of the Emerald’s Triangle’s small, independent family farmers.

Flow Kana will rig the prices that will pay. They will control the grading process. They will control every aspect of the cannabis industry. They will eventually force GMO seed on farmers.

To think otherwise, is to be naïve.