James Anthony

I am a lawyer and political strategist who specializes in California cannabis law, permitting, land use, and local government. Since January 2006, I have worked exclusively in Cannabis Law, Policy, and Political Consulting—focusing primarily on California state and local government. Before that, I was a zoning prosecutor for the City of Oakland (based on which I served on the Board of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition). I have worked with most major dispensaries in Northern California, and have written dozens of winning applications for cannabis business permits and licenses throughout the state. I am a founding director of Hood Incubator, 2017, a leading national nonprofit promoting social justice and equity in the burgeoning legal cannabis industry. That year I also founded Oakland Citizens for Equity & Prosperity (OCEP), the local cannabis trade association. I also sat on the Board of California Cannabis Industry Association (2019-23). As an indigenous Native Hawaiian, I am active in Hawaii on various drug policy, anti-incarceration, and social justice issues. Specialties: Political consulting, initiatives, entity design, location and lease analysis, land use planning (zoning), permits, security, HR, local taxes, regulatory litigation, business litigation, all cannabis license types, state and local licensing and compliance. We get licenses, make deals--and we get revoked California provisional licenses reinstated.