November 9, 2022
Richmond City Council Members
450 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, CA 94804
Re: November 15, 2022, Agenda Report-Adding One Additional Dispensary Permit
Dear Mayor Butt and the Richmond City Council:
My name is John Valdez of Richmond Compassionate Care Collective, Inc. (RCCC). I am writing to you regarding the Agenda Report for November 15th written by City Attorney, Mr.
Dave Aleshire and Senior Assistant City Attorney, Mr. James Atencio who are seeking the councils direction to amend the cannabis ordinance to allow an additional cannabis license for RCCC.
RCCC was the first dispensary that was awarded a permit in 2011 with a unanimous vote from the city council. As RCCC tried to find many code compliant properties all while paying the quarterly permit fees ($380,000.00), the defendant dispensaries (Green Remedy, 7 Stars, Holistic Healing and the owners) along with others who aided them, Lisa Hirschhorn, Antwon Cloird conspired to keep RCCC out of the Richmond dispensary cannabis market. Defendant William Koziol and Darren Parle (Green Remedy Dispensary) attempted bribery of Richmond officials, purchased real property in order to block RCCC, intimidated landlords and many other illegal actions in order to block RCCC from ever opening there dispensary for the purpose of excluding competition.
Police Chief Chris Magnus of the Cannabis Regulatory Unit wrote an official letter to Bill Koziol and Darren Parle of Green Remedy advising them that they were illegally operating for 13 months with no permit at the Hilltop location and specifically referencing that “once you vacate the Hilltop property for another permitted dispensary, including Richmond Compassionate Care Collective” the only other licensed dispensary without a location.
Two officers from the Cannabis Regulatory Unit, Sargent Michael Rood and Detective Eric Oliver testified at the antitrust trial on RCCC’s behalf that indeed the defendants did block RCCC from opening a dispensary in Richmond and that everyone knew this, they also attempted to bribe officer Oliver and spread false allegations against me, John Valdez, the CEO of RCCC which I was completely vindicated by a jury and court of these allegations. It was also mentioned that several Richmond City Council members were involved and RCCC’s permit was revoked with the ordinance being changed to reduce the dispensary permits from 4 to 3, only the 3 defendants permits, thus getting rid of RCCC for good.
RCCC won the initial “competitive application process” when it was awarded the first dispensary permit. The 2 current operating dispensaries (7 Stars and Holistic Healing) were both originally denied dispensary permits when they applied the first time through the “competitive application process” by the City of Richmond because they were not qualified to open a cannabis business but somehow were then awarded permits by Richmond?
Since the City of Richmond and its Cannabis Regulatory Unit vindicated RCCC in a court of law, I am requesting that the City of Richmond reinstates my dispensary permit.
I am truly trying my hardest to discreetly and diplomatically resolve this situation on my own without legal implications as I would like to have a harmonious relationship with the City of Richmond and its citizens. It would only be a positive for Richmond as you would be taking in millions of dollars in tax revenue for the city. I am asking you to right the injustice by allowing me to open our dispensary business by giving us the opportunity to become valued members of the business community.
Please contact me at 415-990-2111 or by email, [email protected] if you have any questions.
Respectfully,
John Valdez
CEO, Executive Director, General Manager and Permit Qualifier, Richmond Compassionate Care Collective, Inc.