Pazoo (PZOO) Risk Analysis
Risk Overview Q4, 2016
Source: the company's latest filing for the period ended Dec 31, 2016, filed Apr 21, 2017
Risk Change Over Time
No filing history is available.
Risk Highlights Q4, 2016
Risk Word Cloud
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 15
- Regulation - Risk 1Regulation of Pharmaceutical Testing Facilities.
There are stringent regulatory risks and guidelines. The risk factors set forth below relate to risks related to testing facilities in the State of Nevada, where MA & Associates, LLC has been granted a State license as a testing facility. 1. Local Regulatory Risk. The primary local regulatory risk faced by medical marijuana facilities is that of the local municipality enacting a moratorium on the issuance of business licenses. Some of the local municipalities have gone back and forth regarding whether and what categories of medical marijuana facilities they will allow in their jurisdiction. Municipalities from the City of Henderson to the City of North Las Vegas have vacillated between a full moratorium, a moratorium on dispensaries only, and no moratorium at all. 2. State Regulatory Risk. On November 7th, 2000, 65% of Nevada voters passed 'Question 9' which went into effect October 1st, 2001. Question 9 amended the States' constitution recognizing the medical use of marijuana and removing the state-level criminal penalties for the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by qualified patients. Nevada marijuana laws allow the legal use of medical marijuana by a patient with 'written documentation' and a 'registry identification card'. The will of the people was codified in Nevada Revised Statute 453A. Despite the fact that the people of the State of Nevada expressed their wish to legalize medical marijuana in 2000, NRS 453A was not fully adopted until April 1, 2014. 3. Federal Regulatory Risk. Due to the current federal laws prohibiting the use of cannabis for any reason, medical or non-medical, the regulatory risks associated with federal enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act are the most serious threat to the medical marijuana industry as a whole. Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) thus far has taken a stance on the matter that it will enforce the law to prevent sales to minors, sales by criminal enterprises or gangs, interstate commercial trade of medical marijuana, and medical marijuana as a pretext for trafficking other controlled substances. The USDOJ has specifically declared that it will leave all other enforcement to the States to enforce as they see fit and in compliance with their own State laws. There is no guaranty that this policy of limited enforce by the USDOJ will continue in the future. Strict enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act could have a crippling effect on the marijuana industry. During the Presidential campaign, President Donald Trump stated he would seek to enforce the federal law. In recent pronouncements, United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that enforcement of Federal Law in this area is a distinct possibility and would be a change over the policies of the previous administration. Additionally, because of the uncertainly in the future outcome of federal enforcement, many conventional lenders and banking institutions are reluctant to make large investments, or create banking and clearing relationships in this industry.
- Regulation - Risk 2Federal regulation and enforcement may adversely affect the implementation of medical marijuana laws and regulations may negatively impact our revenues and profits.
Currently, there are 24 states plus the District of Columbia that have laws and/or regulations that recognize, in one form or another, legitimate medical uses for cannabis and consumer use of cannabis in connection with medical treatment. Many other states are considering similar legislation. Conversely, under the Controlled Substance Act (the "CSA"), the policies and regulations of the Federal government and its agencies are that cannabis has no medical benefit and a range of activities including cultivation and the personal use of cannabis is prohibited. Unless and until Congress amends the CSA with respect to medical marijuana, as to the timing or scope of any such potential amendments there can be no assurance, there is a risk that federal authorities may enforce current federal law, and we may be deemed to be possession of marijuana in violation of federal law with respect to MA & Associates, LLC's business operations or we may be deemed to be facilitating the selling or distribution, or aiding and abetting the selling or distribution, of drug paraphernalia in violation of federal law with respect to CK Distribution's business operations. Active enforcement of the current federal regulatory position on cannabis may thus indirectly and adversely affect our revenues and profits. The risk of strict enforcement of the CSA in light of Congressional activity, judicial holdings and stated federal policy remains uncertain. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case brought by San Diego County, California that sought to establish federal preemption over state medical marijuana laws. The preemption claim was rejected by every court that reviewed the case. The California 4th District Court of Appeals wrote in its unanimous ruling, "Congress does not have the authority to compel the states to direct their law enforcement personnel to enforce federal laws." However, in another case, the U.S. Supreme Court held that, as long as the CSA contains prohibitions against marijuana, under the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution, the United States may criminalize the production and use of homegrown cannabis even where states approve its use for medical purposes. In an effort to provide guidance to federal law enforcement, the Department of Justice (the "DOJ") has issued Guidance Regarding Marijuana Enforcement to all United States Attorneys in a memorandum from Deputy Attorney General David Ogden on October 19, 2009, in a memorandum from Deputy Attorney General James Cole on June 29, 2011 and in a memorandum from Deputy Attorney General James Cole on August 29, 2013. Each memorandum provides that the DOJ is committed to the enforcement of the CSA, but, the DOJ is also committed to using its limited investigative and prosecutorial resources to address the most significant threats in the most effective, consistent and rational way. The August 29, 2013 memorandum provides updated guidance to federal prosecutors concerning marijuana enforcement in light of state laws legalizing medical and recreational marijuana possession in small amounts. The memorandum sets forth certain enforcement priorities that are important to the federal government: - Distribution of marijuana to children;- Revenue from the sale of marijuana going to criminals;- Diversion of medical marijuana from states where it is legal to states where it is not;- Using state authorized marijuana activity as a pretext of other illegal drug activity;- Preventing violence in the cultivation and distribution of marijuana;- Preventing drugged driving;- Growing marijuana on federal property; and - Preventing possession or use of marijuana on federal property. The DOJ has not historically devoted resources to prosecuting individuals whose conduct is limited to possession of small amounts of marijuana for use on private property but has relied on state and local law enforcement to address marijuana activity. In the event the DOJ reverses its stated policy and begins strict enforcement of the CSA in states that have laws legalizing medical marijuana and recreational marijuana in small amounts, there may be a direct and adverse impact to our business and our revenue and profits.
- Regulation - Risk 3We could be found to be violating laws related to medical cannabis.
The risk of strict enforcement of the CSA in light of Congressional activity, judicial holdings and stated federal policy remains uncertain. Because we do not currently cultivate, produce, sell or distribute any medical marijuana, but we do test marijuana for growers and dispensaries and may be deemed to facilitate the selling or distribution of medical marijuana in violation of federal law. Also, CK Distribution, LLC intends to sell hydroponic and other equipment to marijuana growers. Should it be determined under the CSA that our products or equipment are deemed to fall under the definition of drug paraphernalia because our products could be determined to be primarily intended or designed for use in manufacturing or producing cannabis, we could be found to be in violation of federal drug paraphernalia laws and there may be a direct and adverse effect on our business and our revenues and profits.
- Regulation - Risk 4Variations in state and local regulation and enforcement in states that have legalized medical cannabis that may restrict marijuana-related activities, including activities related to medical cannabis may negatively impact our revenues and profits.
Individual state laws do not always conform to the federal standard or to other states laws. A number of states have decriminalized marijuana to varying degrees, other states have created exemptions specifically for medical cannabis, and several have both decriminalization and medical laws. Eight states, Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, have legalized the recreational use of cannabis. Variations exist among states that have legalized, decriminalized or created medical marijuana exemptions. For example, Alaska and Colorado have limits on the number of marijuana plants that can be homegrown. In most states, the cultivation of marijuana for personal use continues to be prohibited except for those states that allow small-scale cultivation by the individual in possession of medical marijuana needing care or that person's caregiver. Active enforcement of state laws that prohibit personal cultivation of marijuana may indirectly and adversely affect our business and our revenue and profits.
- Regulation - Risk 5Marijuana remains illegal under Federal law.
Marijuana is a schedule-I controlled substance and is illegal under federal law. Even in those states in which the use of marijuana has been legalized, its use remains a violation of federal law. Since federal law criminalizing the use of marijuana preempts state laws that legalize its use, strict enforcement of federal law regarding marijuana would likely result in our inability to proceed with our business plan.
- Regulation - Risk 6Laws and regulations affecting the medical marijuana industry are constantly changing, which could detrimentally affect our proposed operations.
Local, state and federal medical marijuana laws and regulations are broad in scope and subject to evolving interpretations, which could require us to incur substantial costs associated with compliance or alter certain aspects of our business plan. In addition, violations of these laws, or allegations of such violations, could disrupt certain aspects of our business plan and result in a material adverse effect on certain aspects of our planned operations. In addition, it is possible that regulations may be enacted in the future that will be directly applicable to certain aspects of our proposed medical marijuana businesses. We cannot predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations or applications, nor can we determine what effect additional governmental regulations or administrative policies and procedures, when and if promulgated, could have on our business.
- Regulation - Risk 7We may not obtain the necessary permits and authorizations to operate our marijuana businesses.
We may not be able to obtain or maintain the necessary licenses, permits, authorizations or accreditations, or may only be able to do so at great cost, to operate our marijuana testing businesses. In addition, we may not be able to comply fully with the wide variety of laws and regulations applicable to the marijuana industry. Failure to comply with or to obtain the necessary licenses, permits, authorizations or accreditations could result in restrictions on our ability to operate our marijuana businesses, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.