Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Dave speaks with State Senator Patricia Spearman who has introduced some bills that could solve the issues veterans are facing. He also interviews Frank Hawkins of the Nevada Wellness Center on Hawkins' experience of operating a marijuana dispensary.
Veteran's Affairs Plus discusses the issues that veterans in Las Vegas deal with on a daily basis. Your host, David L. Washington connects listeners with relevant community resources and information that they need to help veterans or themselves.
Kevin Krall 0:00
You're listening to special programming sponsored by making moves life coaching services. The content of Veterans Affairs plus does not reflect the views or opinions of public radio K, u and v, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Unknown Speaker 0:23
Good morning, Las Vegas. This is Dave Washington, making moves life coaching services. I am the host of Veterans Affairs plus.
Unknown Speaker 0:42
We got two great guests this Saturday. And you know, it's the fact that we had the Senator Pat Spearman on last month's show. And I didn't think she had adequate time to really go into a little bit more detail on the various bills that she has sponsored for US veterans. So, Senator, how're you doing?
Unknown Speaker 1:01
I'm good. How are you doing?
Unknown Speaker 1:03
I'm doing well. Give me just one quick moment, I want to very quickly Express acknowledgments and condolences to the Williams and step family. We lost a great educator in our community, Miss Dorothy dot step, who was a neighbor of me and Mauritius for many, many years. So, again, just want to express condolences to that family. Senator, talk to us. Tell us about those wonderful things you did during this past session. Well,
Unknown Speaker 1:28
thank you. And as you will know, nothing happens in isolation. So we had a really good team up there working hard to try to make some things happen. One of the things I'd like for especially the National Guard members to look into, and that is we, we voted for a tax free weekend for Guard personnel Guard personnel, right around the time of well, right around now, with school starting and that was that was in appreciation for all that they've done. What a lot of people don't don't know is that not only do the members of the National Guard, are they deployed overseas, but during the early part of this year, they were also deployed to various sundry places around the state to make sure that number one, if there was testing that had to take place, that they were there, and they were also there helping to administer vaccines. So just want to give a shout out to all the members of the Nevada National Guard, that's army that's navy and air force, that's everybody. So make sure and your command should have that information. And it's just oil already be disseminated. The next field that I want to lift up is one. Regarding HOAs. For some people, it really has been disconcerting, because they can have their they have their mortgage paid, but they are in jeopardy of losing their home. And because they couldn't pay their HOA we had a bill that was going to move that from the non judicial to the judicial process, which would have given homeowners another layer of protection. That didn't go anywhere, but we were able to get some things happening in another arena. And I learned last week, that Department of Real Estate, was able to secure some funds. So people who are behind in their HOA dues, and maybe in jeopardy of losing their home because of it. She contacted the Department of Real Estate and make your case so that you don't have to lose your home. Another bill that I'd like to lift you up is one that and and veterans those who especially those who have not retired yet, as as a retiree, I have access to VA health care. But we have some who get one tour or one enlistment and decided that that wasn't what they wanted to do. And so healthcare is always a problem. Right? So Senate Bill 341. Senate Bill 341 is a bill that I carried in this is the bill that is as had an opportunity to radically change the Office of Minority Health and equity. Number one, it it provides for a a separate account in the state budget for minority health care and equity. And that office is run by Tina Dortch and she is a sharp person I just cannot stop seeing because she has done more at once. With just one person, you know, she doesn't have any help. It's just her. She does a lot and so will now have a budget where often minority health and equity can not only apply for grants, but people can make deposits in there. And we're also eligible to receive some of the monies that are coming into the state as a result of the opioid settlement. That's going to be huge gonna be huge because As as you know, a lot of communities were hit very hard with the opioid pandemic again. And that was, and many people don't know that because folks who are addicted to painkillers many times suffer in silence. Right? That's true, but their families are suffering and they are suffering. So with with the way that we've revamped the health, the opportunity for Minority Health, and equity to expand to touch all communities, that's going to be huge. So I'm going to, I'm going to invite veterans if you don't have health care, if you're in between jobs, or if you're looking for another job, please, please, please make sure that you contact Tina, George, and find out what some of your options may be.
Unknown Speaker 5:46
So Senator, you're saying that some of those funds will go into that budget, these dollars are coming in from the federal government,
Unknown Speaker 5:55
if they will, specific, specifically, what what 341 did, in addition to the financial account, the Governor's bill to have a state public health officer inside that bill is also a position for a researcher. And that researcher will be housed in the Office of Minority Health and equity. That's very important, because we have to know as policymakers, it's research that drives our policy jointly should drive our policy. And there are a number of things that we in black, brown and bipoc communities, number of things that we know, because we suffer something, I don't know, I don't know of anyone that hasn't had someone either right now, or previously in their fat family that hasn't suffered from high blood pressure. I don't know of anyone who right now or previously, and that a family member suffered from diabetes, or heart disease, or asthma. And those are comorbidities for for the COVID. Both the alpha and the Delta variant. And so so that makes us more susceptible to not just disease, but as I commonly say, dis ease. And it is that way, because a lot of people don't have not put stock into our communities looking at what's going on. Why is this a problem? That is genetic, or there's something that we can actually resolve. And, and as the research becomes more prevalent, we're noticing that it is something there, there may be some some genetics involved. But by and large, many of these comorbidities are a direct result of the fact that we do not have access to the type of foods that are nutritious and value. And that, you know, if you nutritional heavy calorie foods, there's another bill that, that I was really glad to get across the finish line. And I have to give a lot of praise to some of the folks in the community. I'm gonna stop calling names, but I know somebody but please, if I miss your name, Georgia to my head, and that my heart, we had Ross who has the urban who has removed, she was very helpful in trying to get that done to make a headway. And trying to get that done. We also had make it work helping to get that done Quentin salwaar. Helping to get that done. So many other people and nutritionist, the State Board of nutritionists, were helpful. There were some people in the medical field that were helpful, what the urban, what the community gardens and urban farms bill will do is it will allow communities to access vacant land. And we know all over our communities as they come and there's nothing going on there. Bottle caps and cigarette butts and you know, and glass right? Well, if this if this land belongs to the to the city to the county, or the state or whatever, we have an opportunity now to ask for that land to be donated to the community center
Unknown Speaker 8:58
would would be able to say I'm sorry for breaking out but that's
Unknown Speaker 9:02
okay. Senate Bill 297. And so what what this bill does is in addition to public lands like city, county or state lands, if you are a land owner, and you have vacant land that is close to community that is wanting to have community gardens, the bill stipulates number one, if you want to donate that land, it has to be for a minimum of five years, five years, and we're not going to you don't donate the land and get an immediate vacant tax abatement. Because we all know, a lot of times what happens is, you know, we get promised the moon and barely barely get above a tree stump. So so the land is donated for a minimum of five years. Sometimes in the fourth year. If you have met your goals, then that next year, you can receive a tax abatement. There's also stipulations in the bill, that it's not It's not for someone who wants to just parachute in community and make money. No, this is something that is conceived by the community is dictated by the community, the community size, what they're going to grow, how much of it they're going to grow, they're going to give away what the requirements are that the community decides all of that. And, and when you start talking about economic development, those persons who are helping to kill the land go the the vegetables or the fruit or whatever it is, those those persons have got to come from the community. Right. So it is it is nutrition and it is economic development. Together, the Urban Farm piece provides us an opportunity to use things like big box stores, and also acreage, acreage is where we can we can go and grow and have an opportunity to have a fresh fruits and vegetables farmers market, or something of that nature. And the proceeds all of the proceeds from that go right back into the community.
Unknown Speaker 11:08
So Senator, is there? Is there an education arm to that for say, for young people? Because I you know, I did a little something in my backyard that I haven't completed yet. But I certainly want my young grandchildren in particular, to learn how to grow something, you know?
Unknown Speaker 11:25
Sure. So the other person, I'm glad you asked that question gives me a chance to mention University of Nevada, Reno, Dr. IV loud, who's with the extension, you and our extension, he was helpful as well in getting that established. And we're working together with him now to try to develop all of these things around growing growth, agriculture, etc. That will be needed, so that these will be so that it will be successful. Some of the some of the regulations and the promulgation of those regulations have not been completed yet. But certainly, if someone wants to get more information, please, please, please contact us. Extension Dr. Lau, and I'm sure that he will be more than glad to give you some more information. And if you get this washed, if you've got a land that you are killing and wanting to go into agriculture, some type of agribusiness or nutrition, please, please, please, please give him a call as well. We want want to make sure that more people understand and know about this. And you know what, a lot of people a lot of our lands in, in the black community, a lot of that was lost when many people left the south and moved north and didn't want any part of a quote farming. And so, you know, so many of us walked away from 1012 20, even 100 acres because there's like, I don't want to I don't want to, I don't want to have fun. Now, if we had that farm land, it would be worth probably hundreds of 1000s.
Unknown Speaker 13:02
You know what? And to that point, your former Carly, my wife, Marcia, her family is in a little bit of a battle on some family, land that can't be sold. But yet, it's being leased. And they they it's ridiculous what they're the founder is being paid. And they're in the process of renegotiating it. But you're right. Young people just don't want to get into farming. And I can tell you that food is is our life, we got to have some food. And for us to not be involved in it. It's It's shameful. But I understand that is something that hopefully with this particular program, and would you please, Senator, later on, I know you're busy and jumping, would you send me text me that gentleman's name, and number, please, because I want to make sure that we follow up and get others to follow up as well. And appreciate you doing
Unknown Speaker 13:53
ivory wiles. And he is the director of cooperative extensions. at you and our booth. Yeah, and please, please give him a call I'm looking for we're looking right now to probably do some. Well, we will we will be partnering to do some things that are a little bit bigger than just urban farms and the community gardens, but it will be complementary to that. And this is this is an opportunity there. There's money out there for for urban agriculture. We just have to access it. And it is my hope that doing it this way. We can do some of that. And as I said before, at the very beginning, Raj with Lulu, she has been phenomenal. A lot of people that's that's probably one of the that's that's the secret, but it shouldn't be a secret what people should know about it and she should get a lot more accolades for hanging on to that for 10 years because now we'll be able to use what she has done and what she has learned to do. She helped us let me say this one last thing. She She recently completed a study with one of the major insurance, consumer health insurance companies with 100 women, and it was about nutrition and diabetes. At the end of the study out of the 100 women 35 were fully had fully moved away from type two diabetes off of their medication. Excellent. Yeah. And then there were several others who were on right there on the cusp of being diabetes brief. And and then being able to say I can stop my medication without any type of adverse effects. Adverse Reaction, so. So we know that that if we doing this correctly, this will be a game changer Earth. When we start talking about health, health care, and the things that we pass on to our children, grandchildren and beyond.
Unknown Speaker 15:57
Excellent. Senator, as we wrap up, I want to thank you so much for coming back on because you made more clear some of the things that you were able to had to rush over last time that we talked, and we certainly gonna get you again, on this show, if you're willing, after the first of the year to talk about other things that I know that your work is not completing, we appreciate the work that you do. So continue to serve, and we appreciate your service as a service person. Now you serve in the community as one of our state legislators. So thank you, Senator, and you take care and stay safe. Thank
Unknown Speaker 16:29
you. Thank you. And I look forward to coming back again. Absolutely. In the army, as we say who are all right.
Unknown Speaker 16:58
Once again, good morning. This is Dave Washington, Veterans Affairs plus. We had a great first segment with Senator Pat Spearman. She kind of gave us more information on several bills that she was able to get cleared through the legislature this session for that's going to be helpful to veterans. Now we have on the line, a dear friend, a great businessman. He's the owner of Nevada Wellness Center, Mr. Frank Hawkins. I doing Frank,
Unknown Speaker 17:28
I'm wonderful chief How you doing?
Unknown Speaker 17:31
I am doing well. I'm glad we was able to get your phone squared away because it was my intent to have you on last month and we had some phone problems. So Frank, would you tell us a little bit about about your business? How long have you been in and that type of thing and you started out with medical as I recall, sure, just
Unknown Speaker 17:48
in Nevada, put out applications to run medical marijuana dispensaries to grow marijuana flower and licenses for manufacturing, as well as delivery. So we applied originally in 2014. To have a dispensary. We apply for actually, two dispensaries were successful with the one dispensary in Las Vegas, we scored the highest score. We were the first marijuana dispensary to open in the city of Las Vegas. So we're very proud of that. We opened in 2015, October, and we went recreation, recreational and 2017. July, I believe, and we've been operating ever since. What's new and exciting is the new consumption lounges where people can go and smoke. Those should be coming online in 2021. So we're gearing up for that in our current location that 3200 South Valley View. So
Unknown Speaker 19:03
Frank, what is what is the hole up on the lounge is what it what more hoops has to be dealt with to ensure that they that you're allowed to open up. So
Unknown Speaker 19:12
I encourage everybody to read Assembly Bill 341. But the CCB which is the cannabis compliance board, who's in charge was the regulatory authority is creating regulation for or that we will operate under. So when that regulation is complete, then they will be accepted in the application. Supposedly, they're going to be having workshops if they haven't already started. And applications can go in as early as October one from my understand.
Unknown Speaker 19:55
Okay. So once that's done and they I guess they have to Do you is there any type of training that say, for example, because I'm assuming that someone from the staff has to be up in the lounge area as people are utilizing this space?
Unknown Speaker 20:12
Sure. So they the the CCB cannabis compliant board compliance board will require that we train the employees that will be required to have background checks. And depending on what your uses, or what you're going to do in your, in your consumption lounge, will greatly depend on the type of training that your need. As of right now, there are really no holds barred as to what you can and can't do. As relates to the type of business you want to have in conjunction with those dispensaries that want to have a consumption lounge. So if you want to add on a nightclub, or you want to have a little coffee shop next door, or if you want to incorporate, you know, just a smoking lounge with whatever you have, where you want to do jazz or blues or barbershop, that the CCB is not putting any regulations on that thus far, right. So you know, just let your mind wander.
Unknown Speaker 21:20
You know, I don't I don't want to give away to your trade secrets. But I know that facility that you're currently in, it has some nice size rooms up there. That's just me thinking out loud, not trying to get totally into your business. But I'm thinking pool tables, and different things that could be up there for someone who may want to have a smoke party and you know, this shooting pool or, or watching games or whatever.
Unknown Speaker 21:41
So we already have our lounge design. And we're waiting on the regulation to catch up the city of Las Vegas, approved consumption lounges two years ago. And then the legislature ended up canceling that ability to open until now. So with the new regulation, that's coming forward, we will be waiting, the approval I lounges ready to go. So yeah, we're waiting on them.
Unknown Speaker 22:20
So. So in terms of the overall regulation, so that regulation is that that you have to stay in compliance with his is from the state, city county, what are all the above? Yeah,
Unknown Speaker 22:33
we have many masters. So we have to serve the city of Las Vegas, okay, have different requirements, and regulation, then you have to serve the CCB cannabis compliance board that has regulation that you have to follow. And you have to follow Metro has authorization and jurisdiction and certain areas. So in order to get your card or be allowed to work in the industry, you got to pass that background check. There's a federal background check that you have to go go through and be approved licenses on as an employee, you have to re license every two years. So there there is a lot to it. But there's tons of opportunity. I tell people all the time. Don't be discouraged because you don't have a dispensary, right? This is going to be a trillion dollar industry. It will overtake tobacco, alcohol, don't let anybody discourage you. Your mind is a terrible thing to waste. Whatever you can conceive, you can make money and in the marijuana, because it's such a new industry, right? That it has not been tapped.
Unknown Speaker 23:55
So what are you doing? Or do you guys and again, I'm just Frank, I'm just coming off the top of my head right now, to be honest, is there any group of say, a group that may be doing some lobbying, and I'm talking about the lobbying for the purpose of ensuring that the federal federal government will kind of get off their hands and, and he's tight regulate or are not acting, if you will, on some things that to ensure that you guys can can bank your money and all the other things, the restrictions that they currently have? Is there anything going on along those lines? And I'm seeing it from you owners as a group or someone that will be lobbying for you. Does that exist right now? And what do you think about that? If it does? Yeah,
Unknown Speaker 24:37
sure. It exists on different levels. So the, you know, the companies that are public have a whole different group of lobbyists. Then the advocates who are either advocating for patients or patients rights and or the smaller businesses, who might be dispensaries will may be cultivators. is relying on their local influence to work its way through the local government up to the state government, and hopefully through federal government. So the one thing that I say that that needs to be corrected as to ad E, and that is a bill, a law that that Congress passed, that does not allow for any write offs in the marijuana business, even though it's legal in the state. Right. It's still illegal federally, which is a problem, right?
Unknown Speaker 25:33
So as far as those the big, the big corporate types, this probably is traded on the stock market, I'm talking about those other industry members, you're saying that they do have people lobbying at this point, trying to get some of these regulations on or lack of acting by the by the feds, and I'm talking about the congressional people to, to move off the dam, if you will, to get some things done and allow you guys to, to exist in a greater way, like other industries?
Unknown Speaker 26:05
That's correct. But But I don't want to be, I want to be upfront and say, everybody is not on the same page. Okay. So people are lobbying for different interests. Okay, gotcha. But there are multiple lobbyists. But not everybody wants the same thing. Interesting.
Unknown Speaker 26:23
Well, as we get ready to wind down, I think we got another couple of minutes. Is there anything else you want to share with our listening audience? We're we're broadening our scope. And again, this is the plus side of, of our veterans affairs show, because I think there's things of interest that our, our public need to be aware of. And these regulations, I think some of them need to be kind of relaxed, if you will, while at the same time taking care of the needs of the people. I'm talking about us.
Unknown Speaker 26:51
I can just share about the veterans, okay. So they they they be in the federal government has goals of veterans to be able to use marijuana for their PTSD, okay. But they, but they are not allowing the current military to use marijuana for PTSD, which is wrong.
Unknown Speaker 27:12
You're saying? You're saying that someone that's and can't use it, if it would help them. But if you're out as a veteran, you served and you're out? You can use it?
Unknown Speaker 27:22
That's correct. Yeah. That's, that's the flow. That's bad government?
Unknown Speaker 27:27
Oh, no doubt. Because to me, if you need if you have a need for something, say, for example, you got you got high blood pressure, whether you're in or out of the military, I bet the prescribe something for you? Well,
Unknown Speaker 27:38
that's what they want to do, because that's the circle. They want to prescribe you the drugs.
Unknown Speaker 27:45
But um, but I'm saying if you're in and they you saying that, say a person is in you can't use your
Unknown Speaker 27:53
active active duty you cannot use.
Unknown Speaker 27:57
Okay, then. All right. Well, that's interesting perspective on that. And it's good to know. And I trust that we have a number of veterans out there listening. So some kind of way, give a call or send a letter to your to your congressional member be Senate or Congress, because I think it's important if you have something going on just because you're currently serving and they won't let you use anything that's going to be helpful to you. It makes no sense to me. And that's me as a layman. That's correct. All right, Mr. Hawkins, we appreciate you, man. And I'm glad that you were able to get you on because I think you share some valuable information. And one of the key things you said and I know that you've mentored a lot of young businessmen in our community, and I know that they certainly appreciate you and the work that you've done in that regard. And certainly, he said, Don't give up. There's more opportunity. That's
Unknown Speaker 28:48
right. And let me close by saying this. Nothing changes until we change. They blocked us then we got to change that. We have to change who we are, what we're doing, how we're approaching it. And when we change, everything changes.
Unknown Speaker 29:05
Great. All right, Mr. Hawkins, we thank you, Frank. Appreciate your time, sir. Okay. All right. Thank you. Once again, this is Veterans Affairs plus, and I want to encourage those out there you veterans to get a hold of Tony Marshal. He's a service officer 301-537-9465. Hope to be in front of you guys on the air. And thanks to Kevin, we'll be back next month. Thank you for listening to Veterans Affairs. Plus, this is Dave Washington signing off.
Kevin Krall 29:43
You've been listening to special programming sponsored by making moves life coaching services. The content of Veterans Affairs plus does not reflect the views or opinions of public radio K, u and v. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai