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Grantsmithellis.com GrantSmithEllis.com is a news and media website run by Massachusetts activist Grant Smith Ellis. Cov

07/11/2024

NEW:

At a major public-listening session related to lab fraud today, Massachusetts CCC Commissioners announced that Commissioner Ava Concepcion will be returning tomorrow (a strange development, seeing as Concepcion will be leaving again, before January of 2025).

Concepcion went on leave from the CCC under mysterious circumstances in recent months, as a series of scandals (and allegations that high-ranking agency leaders, including Concepcion and fellow Commissioner Nurys Camargo, covered up series allegations of abuse raised by female staff members at the Commission towards a now-suspended division head, Cedric Sinclair). Read more background here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/94494445

CCC Commissioner Kimberly Roy --known as a hero throughout the state for being the first person to bring up the issue of lab fraud, years ago-- also announced that she is pushing for the de-anonymized release of all testing lab data in the state (data that will show, according to my sources, at least 3-4 labs with a failure rate for total year and mold that is either at, around, or below 4% (some labs have fail rates for yeast and mold that is close to zero).

That said, for now, because the CCC has only released potency data, I am taking this opportunity to release multiple years of total yeast and mold results for the Commonwealth (which have been released to multiple people but, for some reason, were not put on the CCC website) - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10HaUR9rTfprnRtuJEOUQFjcJyiuDkFpG?usp=sharing

Acting Chair Bruce Stebbins also doubled down, before the meeting started, and told the public and stakeholders that the CCC’s “secret shopper program” (to catch lab fraud) does exist, despite reporting on this feed (and confirmed by CCC staff, also per this feed) that such a program does not actually exist. Read that reporting here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/follow-up-ccc-of-115104903

However, during a flurry of conversations Thursday afternoon, I can now confirm, again, that no CCC teams exist to conduct such purchases, of any kind. It is possible that “a small number” of purchases have been made for the purposes of confirmatory re-testing, but, per my sources, there is no ongoing program and no organized structure to administer such off-the-shelf testing.

Listen to my full comments from today, where I explain to the CCC exactly how they can ward off further judicial erosion of Chevron-deference (an ongoing situation wherein the courts, in particular SCOTUS, are taking power away from regulatory agencies because courts no longer view such agencies as subject-matter experts), be proscriptive as to the standardization of testing methodologies, and (although I should have said more about this), actually pay their staff for the work they are doing (in particular if that secret shopper program does eventually come online).

Also, to be clear, anyone trying to remove yeast and mold testing entirely is a subversive market actor, interested only in their own profits. You cannot, and will not, win a regulatory battle to allow you to sell moldy products to patients and consumers (that very much have a health impact).

NEW [Exclusive]🚨🚨: Ascend Wellness Whistleblowers, Staff Members, Come Forward To Allege Company Knowingly Exposed Patie...
05/11/2024

NEW [Exclusive]🚨🚨: Ascend Wellness Whistleblowers, Staff Members, Come Forward To Allege Company Knowingly Exposed Patients To Moldy Product, Created Dangerous Working Conditions, Did Not Fix Flooded Storage Areas And Facilitated Mysterious “Off-The-Books” Surplus Products Deliveries

This story is 3,000 words (the longest of my career).

It contains extensive interviews and behind the scenes pictures.
I worked hard and I hope I have done justice to the voices entrusted to my care.

Full story - https://www.patreon.com/posts/115377703

FOLLOW-UP [Exclusive]🚨🚨: Massachusetts CCC Staff Allege Long-Standing Pattern of Wage-Theft And Confirm That Purported “...
31/10/2024

FOLLOW-UP [Exclusive]🚨🚨: Massachusetts CCC Staff Allege Long-Standing Pattern of Wage-Theft And Confirm That Purported “Secret Shopper Program” To Prevent Testing Lab Fraud Does Not Exist Because Agency Management Would Not Pay Personnel To Work On The Project

Earlier today I reported that, “...A Purported “Secret Shopper Program” To Catch Testing Lab Fraud And Protect Public From Dangerous Products Within Massachusetts Adult And Medical Use Markets Does Not Actually Exist, Say Sources...”

Now, I am able to confirm, from multiple CCC sources, that my reporting was correct and that program does not exist (and has never existed). Also, further new details about why that secret shopper program never came to be are now emerging that raise serious concerns about how members of CCC staff are being treated by Commission leadership.

Those details, shockingly, indicate that the secret shopper program that was supposed to be run by the Massachusetts CCC never got off the ground because agency management wanted staffers to do unpaid overtime in order to obtain products for the purposes of such “off the shelf random testing.”

Making matters even more confusing, CCC staff would have been unable to use state vehicles (which are GPS monitored) or benefit from so-called “comp time” (where staff can work on their off days and then, the next week, take a day off instead), when engaging in field visits for the now non-existent secret shopper program.

Furthermore, in many cases, some rank and file staff members are driving multiple hours per day (beyond their scheduled work hours) in order to do remote field work. While the CCC does provide staff with gas cards for these trips, staff members are not paid for any time in those vehicles after 5pm (even if they are on official CCC business, which, by rule, is defined as any time the staff member is in their vehicle).

“ Many [CCC staff members] had earned work-hours taken from us without any compensation of any kind,” one former agency staff member, unwilling to speak on the record due to fear of further retaliation, told me.

“[CCC management] thinks they can throw “employee appreciation” lunch events and then suddenly everything is fine. It far from fine and I hope these [Beacon Hill] hearings show how desperate day-to-day staff members are to have true leadership and direction,” another source, also unable to speak on the record, told me.

“We are drowning, we want to be an asset to Licensees. We are spread so thin and so inconsistent we cause more harm than good...without even meaning to,” said a third person, also unable to speak on the record due to concerns that they would be attacked by their own agency colleagues for speaking up.

“A large number of staff have voiced concerns and those people get humiliated in front of the entire group. So many of us gave up. Thanks for being a voice for us, Grant. There’s a reason “the powers that be” don’t want you reaching out and requesting documents. They know you can ruin them and their facades.,” one of those three people told me (nearly bringing me to a speechless-halt).

Read the full story (published earlier today) about that non-existent secret shopper program here here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/115072115

Read the full story here (link also in bio) - https://www.patreon.com/posts/115104903

BREAKING NEWS🚨🚨: Purported “Secret Shopper Program” To Catch Testing Lab Fraud And Protect Public From Dangerous Product...
31/10/2024

BREAKING NEWS🚨🚨: Purported “Secret Shopper Program” To Catch Testing Lab Fraud And Protect Public From Dangerous Products Within Massachusetts Adult And Medical Use Markets Does Not Actually Exist, Say Sources

Per sources directly familiar with recent developments, I can now confirm that a purported “secret shopper program” -- a structure designed to protect public health and ward off fraud by testing labs that was supposedly in existence under existing Massachusetts CCC regulations (and state law) for over six years-- does not actually exist.

This news was hinted at in recent months in the Boston Globe, and at a major legislative hearing on Wednesday related to serious allegations of abuse and cover-ups within the agency that was the talk of every corner of state government, when the only lab in the state contracted to do such “secret shopper” testing confirmed that CCC staff had never sent a single sample to said lab for testing.

Because the CCC does not have a standards lab of its own, and because I can now confirm that CCC staff working on the “secret shopper project” --that exists under 935CMR500.303 (1-5) [Page 143]-- have not even figured out basic foundations for the program (such as how the product would be purchased, transported or stored by the agency).

My sources report that, because the program does not actually exist, the agency has decided to attempt to use the “secret” nature of the work on the project to give the impression to stakeholders that such a program does exist (apparently for the purposes of deterrence), this news is even more concerning (as that means no one at the agency is doing confirmatory off-the-shelf testing of any kind).

I. Citizens Stepping Up to Fill the Gap

Previously, reporting on this feed confirmed that, in lieu of the CCC doing its job, citizen secret shoppers had begun to do their own “off the shelf” auditing.

That process, in turn, confirmed that a number of products being sold on the adult and medical use market in Massachusetts were dangerously contaminated with yeast and mold (despite having received a “pass” on initial testing). See that reporting here - https://www.instagram.com/p/CvaQ280LODJ/?img_index=1

Read the full story here (link also in bio) - https://www.patreon.com/posts/115072115

Hello. Good morning, friends. A few important notes (these points are not all, per se, related):1) I don't care how rile...
31/10/2024

Hello. Good morning, friends. A few important notes (these points are not all, per se, related):

1) I don't care how riled up you may be over my coverage, please do not put your hands on me as a way to get my attention.

2) Anyone pushing to stop the issuance of new adult and medical use licenses in Massachusetts --right after the new social equity grant fund opened earlier this year-- is a subversive market actor attempting to obtain a veiled oligopoly (using state intervention).

This tactic is no different than giant MSO's attempting to expand the per-entity license cap in the state and, in fact, works hand-in-hand with that sordid proposal to undermine the free market in the furtherance of centralized control for a few front-groups and those moneyed interests that they represent).

3) If your testing lab has a failure rate for total yeast and mold that is hovering around 4%, it is not a good idea to throw stones from within your precariously perched glass (green)house.

4) There is no doubt in my mind that staff members of the CCC are under active federal investigation.

5) I have an interesting story coming out in the next few hours (it is CCC related). This should be fun.

Happy Thursday.

Your friend,
Towel

NEW:Corporate MSO front-group MPAA is now openly advocating at public legislative hearings to allow existing giant medic...
30/10/2024

NEW:

Corporate MSO front-group MPAA is now openly advocating at public legislative hearings to allow existing giant medical operators to own more than the number of licenses currently permitted under law for other operators.

The MPAA attempted to suggest that removing vertical integration for medical operators would have no impact on such license limits but, when looking at the law that MPAA has proposed related to breaking up that vertical integration requirement, the group proposes allowing medical operators to control more than 30 licenses (across adult and medical use spaces).

The aim of MPAA’s (and the random guy they sent to today’s hearing) work here seems to be to help centralized control over the market in the hands of a small number of giant MSO’s.

NEW:Megan Dobro, founder and CEO of SafeTiva Labs, stood in front of lawmakers at today and, instead of talking about se...
30/10/2024

NEW:

Megan Dobro, founder and CEO of SafeTiva Labs, stood in front of lawmakers at today and, instead of talking about serious allegations of abuse towards female staff members within the CCC, Doboro aligned herself with a new lobbying operation (that is a a new copy of the infamous anti-equity group “the CDA”) and called for a cap on the total number of licenses that can be issued in the state (this is seen by many industry observers as a a plan to centralize control of the market and then pull up the ladder to prevent new competition.

This, just days after I reported that the group Doboro is now working with has plans, over the coming year, to attempt to expand the number of licenses that a single entity can own up to 34 (including 10 social equity licenses, even if those applicants are not qualified under that social equity status).

I also have information leading me to believe that Doboro’s testing lab works with a Qpcr testing operator called PathogenDx and that, when PathogenDx tests samples, they do so using a “black box process” (which, in turn, is then send back to the lab with a result determined by PathogenDx, per my sources).

This is a sad fall from grace for Doboro, in my eyes. Working with the CDA’s new manifestation tends to be a sign that the MSO’s are working as hard as possible to deflect serious concerns about the CCC into an opportunity to expand their profits.

Shockingly, Deboro also accused her fellow labs of ethics violations and said those other labs may be getting “special treatment.”

NEW:Currently suspended Massachusetts CCC Chief Communications Officer Cedric Sinclair is attendance at today’s high-sta...
30/10/2024

NEW:

Currently suspended Massachusetts CCC Chief Communications Officer Cedric Sinclair is attendance at today’s high-stakes Beacon Hill related to serious misconduct (and a subsequent cover-up thereof).

Strangely, in recent days there has been an active effort by CCC staff to protect Mr. Sinclair (in my opinion) by smearing Debbie Hilton-Creek (the CCC staff member who, finally, suspended Sinclair in December of 2023).

Read more about those serious allegations directed at Sinclair here -https://www.patreon.com/posts/94494445

30/10/2024

Alright, it's time for a personal towel statement:

A few months ago I was approached by an organized group of CCC staff (with direct ties to Cedric Sinclair, Nurys Camargo and Ava Concepcion) who attempted to get me to run a smear piece about Debbie Hilton-Creek (the current acting CCC Executive Director) in order to deflect attention from serious allegations of misconduct directed at the following people:

- CCC Lawyer Andrew Carter (who is apparently the agency's "fixer")

- CCC Commissioner Nurys Camargo

- CCC Commissioner Ava Concepcion

- Former ED Shawn Collins

- Currently suspended CCC Chief Communications Officer Cedric
Sinclair

I did not run that smear piece because I believe that effort was part of a "playbook" to insulate Camargo, Sinclair, Collins, Carter and others from accountability by muddling public discourse.

I stand by that decision.

Alright, let’s do a special treat and start today’s Massachusetts CCC coverage a bit early.Join me as we watch four men ...
28/10/2024

Alright, let’s do a special treat and start today’s Massachusetts CCC coverage a bit early.

Join me as we watch four men compete to lead an agency in freefall related to serious allegations of abuse directed at female staff members by high-ranking leadership (and a subsequent cover-up of those allegations by at least one Commissioner --Nurys Camargo-- who will be involved with today’s vote on a new agency ED).

Furthermore, one of the ED candidates (Matt Giancola) has direct connections to a CCC staffer who is currently suspended amid those serious allegations of abuse (Cedric Sinclair), and rumors are swirling that today’s process may be pre-textual and designed to hire Giancola for the purposes of reinstating Sinclair to his position.

Watch live via Facebook.com/GrantSmithEllis or https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1ynJODjkwoZxR

Good morning, towel friends!I am up early and ready to bring you live coverage of today’s Massachusetts CCC Executive Di...
28/10/2024

Good morning, towel friends!

I am up early and ready to bring you live coverage of today’s Massachusetts CCC Executive Director final interviews.

Join me as we watch four men compete to lead an agency in freefall related to serious allegations of abuse directed at female staff members by high-ranking leadership (and a subsequent cover-up of those allegations by at least one Commissioner --Nurys Camargo-- who will be involved with today’s vote on a new agency ED).

Furthermore, one of the ED candidates (Matt Giancola) has direct connections to a CCC staffer who is currently suspended amid those serious allegations of abuse (Cedric Sinclair), and rumors are swirling that today’s process may be pre-textual and designed to hire Giancola for the purposes of reinstating Sinclair to his position.

Read more about those serious allegations directed at Sinclair (and an alleged cover-up by at least two Commissioners, Ava Concepcion and Nurys Camargo) directly from an impacted victim here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/94494445

Just two from now, on Wednesday, October 30th, the CCC will be the subject of a highly-anticipated hearing on Beacon Hill (wherein lawmakers will consider fundamentally altering the structure of the embattled agency amid concerns about testing lab fraud, cover-ups of abuse, a broke local licensing process, and a spring, 2024, request by the state's Inspector General (more in post and bio).

Watch live, around 9am ET, via Facebook.com/GrantSmithEllis or X.com/GrantSmithEllis

26/10/2024

Some people would look at running out of food and medicine at the end of every month --despite hundreds of millions of content views-- as a sign of failure.

I, however, try to embrace that situation in order to cover important stories that others (in particular those with money) would prefer be silenced.

Maybe a life of leisure and vacuous performative activism/"consulting" would be easier on my soul (and my ever-fleeting body), but if the price to be paid is the authenticity, cogency and truthfulness of my coverage then I, politely, decline the offer.

Happy Saturday, friends, I hope you are able to make the most of the day (whatever challenges may be in your way).

Towel had a great visit to ACS in Hull yesterday.I’m grateful to those who are still keeping medical patients in this st...
26/10/2024

Towel had a great visit to ACS in Hull yesterday.

I’m grateful to those who are still keeping medical patients in this state front and center. I didn’t even know flower like this was on the market.

FRIDAY SCOOP:Embattled non-profit MassCann (the group that runs the yearly Freedom Rally market on the Boston Common) is...
25/10/2024

FRIDAY SCOOP:

Embattled non-profit MassCann (the group that runs the yearly Freedom Rally market on the Boston Common) is apparently no longer an active charity as of the year 2023-2024.

This shocking development comes after the group failed to file tax returns with the state Attorney General (and the IRS) for over three years, according to sources familiar with the matter but not authorized to speak on the record.

Such non-compliance means that the group has been operating as an illegal fundraising operation since at least the year 2023-2024, per state records (and, in turn, any money “donated” to the group for the 2024 Freedom Rally market may have been done so in violation of state law).

According to federal records, the group is also at risk of losing it’s coveted 501 c (4) status, having only filed federal tax forms four out of the past ten years (2014, 2016, 2017 and 2020).

State fines can be as high as $10,000 per day, if the group is indeed found to have accepted donations while operating illegally and, in some cases, active directors of the non-profit can be personally forced to pay those fines if levied (these fines can easily reach into the six figures if there is a prolonged period of noncompliance).

Infamously, corporate MSO front-group “the MPAA” also faced similar tax-form compliance issues in recent years (before being laughed out of the state for opposing an expansion of the medical patient homegrow cap, and then losing that regulatory battle anyway, because they’re terrible at life). Read more here - https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/09/09/marijuana/healey-warns-medical-marijuana-nonprofit-over-failure-disclose-finances/

SCOOP:Per sources, there is an active effort to undermine the interview process for the position of Massachusetts CCC Ex...
25/10/2024

SCOOP:

Per sources, there is an active effort to undermine the interview process for the position of Massachusetts CCC Executive Director in order to hand the position to a high-ranking current CCC staffer Matt Giancola (someone with ties to former ED Shawn Collins and currently-suspended Chief Communications Officer Cedric Sinclair).

My sources report this attempt to install Giancola to the position may also bring with it a long-dormant plan to reinstate Sinclair to active duty, despite a serious pattern of abuse allegations directed at Sinclair by no less than four female CCC staffers over a period of years. Read more about those serious allegations directed at Sinclair (and an alleged cover-up by at least two Commissioners, Ava Concepcion and Nurys Camargo) directly from an impacted victim here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/94494445

Strangely, prior to the shocking departure of Collins from the agency in December of 2023, I reported that there was a similar plan in place to hand the ED position to Sinclair. Read my long-form story on that series of events here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/89165627

Late Thursday, the CCC has announced the final four candidates for the open position of agency Executive Director.

The candidates will be interviewed in public this coming Monday, October 28th, starting at 9:30am (I will have special live coverage). The core issue on the minds of stakeholders and staff, no doubt, will be the serious allegations of abuse levied against currently suspended CCC Chief Communications Officer Cedric Sinclair - amid reports that there are efforts by Sinclair’s allies to hide that misconduct and bring back the embattled CCO). Read more here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/94494445 and here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/112000365

Just two days after these ED interviews, on October 30th, the CCC will be the subject of a highly-anticipated hearing on Beacon Hill (wherein lawmakers will consider fundamentally altering the structure of the embattled agency amid concerns about testing lab fraud, cover-ups of abuse, a broke local licensing process, and a spring, 2024, request by the state's Inspector General to put the day to day operations of the CCC under a receiver.)

The candidates are:

Travis Ahearn- Town Administrator - Town of Holliston

Matt Giancola - Current CCC Director of Government Affairs and Policy (close ties, as mentioned, to former ED Shawn Collins, who left the agency under highly unusual circumstances after it was revealed, on this feed, that Collins had close connections to a license holder (Greatest Hits) under investigation by the CCC while Collins was on staff). Read more about that Collins story here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/breaking-off-and-101955958

Marty Golightly - Former Navy Chief, previous experience in healthcare and local government (including as Halifax Town Administrator).

David Lakeman - Illinois DOA Cannabis Division Manager (CORRECTED) (the only candidate from outside the Mass. political apparatus)

This story originally appeared here - https://patreon.com/posts/scoop-per-there-114682803

BREAKING 🚨🚨:The Massachusetts CCC has announced the final four candidates for the open position of agency Executive Dire...
24/10/2024

BREAKING 🚨🚨:

The Massachusetts CCC has announced the final four candidates for the open position of agency Executive Director.

The candidates will be interviewed in public this coming Monday, October 28th, starting at 9:30am (I will have special live coverage). The core issue on the minds of stakeholders and staff, no doubt, will be the serious allegations of abuse levied against currently suspended CCC Chief Communications Officer Cedric Sinclair - amid reports that there are efforts by Sinclair’s allies to hide that misconduct and bring back the embattled CCO). Read more here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/94494445 and here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/112000365

Just two days later, on October 30th, the CCC will be the subject of a highly-anticipated hearing on Beacon Hill (wherein lawmakers will consider fundamentally altering the structure of the embattled agency amid concerns about testing lab fraud, cover-ups of abuse, a broke local licensing process, and a spring, 2024, request by the state's Inspector General to put the day to day operations of the CCC under a receiver.) Read more here - https://www.instagram.com/p/DA3-k87Sqkj/

The candidates are:

Travis Ahearn- Town Administrator - Town of Holliston

Matt Giancola - Current CCC Director of Government Affairs and Policy (close ties to former ED Shawn Collins, who left the agency under highly unusual circumstances after it was revealed, on this feed, that Collins had close connections to a license holder (Greatest Hits) under investigation by the CCC while Collins was on staff). Read more about that Collins story here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/breaking-off-and-101955958

Marty Golightly - Former Navy Chief, previous experience in healthcare and local government (including as Halifax Town Administrator).

David Lakeman - Massachusetts Municipal Association Legislative Analyst

This story originally appeared here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/breaking-ccc-has-114649537

NEW OVERNIGHT:Per sources with direct knowledge, there is an active plan (led by MSO Ascend Wellness and a lobbying grou...
22/10/2024

NEW OVERNIGHT:

Per sources with direct knowledge, there is an active plan (led by MSO Ascend Wellness and a lobbying group tied to controversial former CCC Executive Director Shawn Collins) to increase the number of licenses a single adult or medical-use entity can own/control in Massachusetts up to an astonishing 34 licenses (six of each existing license type AND a clause allowing those MSO’s to “take over” up to 60% of 10 social equity companies in the state, while allowing a small number of SE applicants to retain that status for the benefit of those MSO’s).

Currently, in Massachusetts, there is no total cap on the number of licenses that can be issued in a given category (manufacturing, cultivation, delivery, and retail) but a single entity can only control 9.9% or more of up to three of each license type (and, as a result of controversial new CCC rules in the fall of 2024, up to six delivery licenses). Read more here - https://www.instagram.com/p/C9nBfKLsMe9/

In the summer and fall of 2024, I reported that Ascend (and other MSO’s) were working with Collins’ new lobbying firm in order to attempt a similar market consolidation by way of an ill-fated amendment to this year’s Economic Development Bill (that amendment failed after groups, including BECMA and MASSEON, spoke out against the plan). Read more here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/110610098

Collins, as also reported on this feed, resigned from the CCC in December of 2023 as chaos consumed the agency, in particular as to Collins’ relationship to a license holder (Greatest Hits) that was under investigation. Collins is currently doing lobbying work with a lawyer for Greatest Hits. Read more here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/breaking-off-and-101955958I

I further reported that Abner Kurtin, an owner of Ascend Wellness, allegedly owns/controls between 6-9 licenses in the state of Massachusetts (other reports also came out indicating that Ascend was behind a failed summer, 2024, lobbying effort to increase the number of licenses that a single entity can own/control in Massachusetts. Read more here - https://www.instagram.com/p/C--ifyVuuDa/

Amid the chaos involving the CCC, regarding these license limit issues or otherwise, the agency has experienced significant turnover at the top levels of staff and Commissioner leadership - https://www.instagram.com/p/C-uvIuXugvL/

Nonetheless, at a recent meeting of the troubled Commission, a discussion was opened (by one of the few people left at the agency with any credibility, Commissioner Kimberly Roy) related to a letter sent by MASSEON and BECMA related to my reporting on allegations of license limit violations by ascend. Read more here - https://www.instagram.com/p/C_wC4xiSfA1/

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