Sniffing Out New Marijuana Lobbyists

There’s a new hired gun in town, and it’s smoking. Sacramento lobbying shop California Capitol Solutions has registered to cast its spell on San Diego city hall on behalf of five medical pot shops, including Balboa Health Center, El Cajon Wellness Center, HB Wellness Center, Sirona Wellness, and Thirty Health Center. According to its September 16 registration filing, the company, headed by M. Max Del Real, seeks the “establishment of a medical cannabis ordinance regulating dispensaries.” The firm is also registered with the California secretary of state, but reported no third quarter clients in its latest disclosure, October 9. In July, in his other role as president of the California Cannabis Business League, Del Real headed a posh political fund-raiser in a private penthouse loft in Sacramento for Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos, according to an account in the Eureka Times Standard. Guests included members of the Humboldt Growers Association, the California Board of Equalization, medical marijuana dispensary owners, and former Sacramento City Councilman Robbie Waters, the paper reported. A biography on California Capitol’s website says, “As a former classroom teacher, Max inspired thousands of youths to excel in school and go to college.” It adds, “Through his lobbying efforts, Max helped engineer a local tax on medical cannabis that is projected to earn the City of Sacramento $1,500,000 annually.” Another newly arrived marijuana lobbyist is Cynara Velazquez, who runs Consumer Engagement Resources, which on August 2 registered to represent the Patient Care Association regarding “land use and public safety regulation for medicinal cannabis collectives.” The “outcome sought,” the filing says, is “fair regulation.” Like Del Real, Velazquez has been a spokesperson for the industry.