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* A very interesting move…
The U.S. Senate’s former top cop is moving from guarding the U.S. Capitol to protecting pot.
Terry Gainer, who retired from the U.S. Senate in May as one of its longest serving sergeant at arms, has been hired as a security consultant for a Chicago-based start-up seeking to launch medical marijuana growing facilities in Illinois.
Green Thumb Industries, founded by Chicagoan Ben Kovler, is among a number of companies trying to position themselves as possible growers or distributors in the state’s budding medical pot business.
“GTI is wholly committed to ensuring our facilities are safe. Chief Gainer brings almost half a century of experience in law enforcement at the municipal, state and federal levels to our team,” Kovler said in a statement obtained by the Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises.
* And check this out…
The company also has hired Mike McClain as its lobbyist in Springfield. McClain is a close ally of House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago.
That would be the same guy we’ve named our annual insider award for.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:49 am
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Let’s hope the growing facility isn’t in Roby.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 11:55 am
Pot is a cash only business. Therefore there is a need for security to move both the ‘product’ and the resulting cash from place to place. As I see it, Terry Gainer has identified a need and is attempting to cash in on the need. A good business on his part.
From reading the newspapers and watching TV we all know that Chicago has a problem with gun violence. I wonder if the state’s budding medical pot business will bring as a side effect more gun violence attracted by the ‘product’ and/or the cash?
Comment by Hit or Miss Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:05 pm
GTI seems to be going about this the right way. Wish I was an investor. They’re going to make a fortune.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:06 pm
Terry Gainer, the name sounds familiar. I think was the head of the Illinois State Police quite a while back.
Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:08 pm
It is interesting to see all these breathless stories about the medical marijuana rollout. In most cases locals in rural areas seem interested in these facilities — big bunch of well paying jobs don’t happen every day — makes one wonder what the media was expecting?
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:13 pm
I have yet to see an MM business story that did not contain the adjective “budding.”
I hope to in the future, but maybe that’s just a pipe dream.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:24 pm
Put one in the burbs so we can literally have a Rolling Meadows.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:26 pm
Somewhere, Shirley Allen is not impressed
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:29 pm
It’s an interesting case study of how we do business in Illinois.
In other states with MM, those who get the doc certification can legally grow and harvest a set number of plants for medicinal use. The cost is virtually nothing.
In Illinois, the meats-a-cookin’ and the big dogs are on it.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:35 pm
Just legalize recreational marijuana. We need the tax revenue.
Comment by Roamin' Numeral Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:36 pm
@ hit or miss: you seem to misunderstand part of the reason for legalizing marijuana- to take it out of the hands of criminals; there should be no need for medical marijuana to be a cash-only basis. While I doubt that insurance companies are going to start covering it (yet) (because it still isn’t legal at the federal level), there is no reason why a check or credit card could not be used at an authorized distributor. Gun violence probably will not increase because of legal pot. Government should accept it, legalize it, and tax it, including for recreational use.
Comment by downstate commissioner Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:39 pm
downstate commissioner, the medical dispensaries in other states (as well as the legal dealers in other states) have had a hard time getting banking services (including credit card services) due to banks and credit cards being worried about the feds.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/07/13/marijuana-cash-flow-colorado/12271369/
So Hit or Miss is on to something.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:48 pm
Lots of stories of investment and job opportunities, perhaps allowing more business licenses would help the IL economy. . . .
Comment by Abraham Froman Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 12:59 pm
I wonder if Rauner’s firm has any investments in any med mar firms. Somebody should ask.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 1:25 pm
Ever notice how the politically connected always seem to be the ones who benefit from new regulations?
Comment by logic not emotion Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 1:29 pm
And the rich get richer…
Comment by Obamas Puppy Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 1:31 pm
==The meat’s a cookin’ and the big dogs are on it.===
yeah boss. yeah
Comment by walker Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 4:30 pm
~~~~@- Michelle Flaherty~~~~
Literally just choked reading that. Laughed out loud for real.
Thank you.
Comment by Dr Dean Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 7:07 pm
Investment? When the Feds stop enforcing the current law, the backyard gardens will come and there goes the investment.
Comment by zatoichi1 Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 9:25 pm
Zat, the feds aren’t on backyard garden patrol now. But if you have a a couple of plants, you risk a visit from your local police, no matter what the feds are doing.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 15, 14 @ 9:30 pm
the clock`s ticking 3 years left for troopers to make all rules for illinois ill
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Comment by Personal injury Lawyers Peoria IL Wednesday, Jul 16, 14 @ 11:30 am