Laserfiche WebLink
From:Sharmi Shah <br />To:publiccomment <br />Subject:Support for City Council May 19, 2025 Agenda Item 7.B. <br />Date:Friday, May 16, 2025 4:52:15 PM <br />You don't often get email from sharmi@shahattorney.com. Learn why this is important <br />Hello, <br />I am legal counsel for three retail cannabis businesses operating in Redwood City. I have <br />represented almost 100 cannabis businesses in the past 10 years. Since the inception of the <br />industry, these businesses have faced hardship due to, among other reasons, high operating <br />costs (e.g., higher than average rent due to the nature of the industry), high taxes, and various <br />licensing fees. <br />In the last year, all of my clients had further financial hardships due to the rapid increase of <br />businesses selling illegal and unregulated hemp and illegal cannabis products. As a result, it is <br />very difficult for these businesses to operate. Indeed, at least one business is currently under <br />Receivership (an alternative to bankruptcy as cannabis businesses are ineligible for bankruptcy <br />protection due to the fact that cannabis is a scheduled controlled substance). <br />A reduction in the renewal fee would greatly assist these businesses. I am in support of <br />Agenda Item 7.B. and request the Council’s approval thereof. <br />Sincerely, <br />Sharmi Shah, Esq. (she/her) <br />Founder/Principal <br />Sharmi Shah, Attorney at Law, A PLC <br />Campbell Office Center <br />901 Campisi Way <br />Suite 320 <br />Campbell, CA 95008-2376 <br />Office Phone: (408) 628-4262 <br />Mobile Phone: (408) 459-8120 <br />Email: sharmi@shahattorney.com <br />Website: www.shahattorney.com <br />CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication constitutes an electronic <br />communication within the meaning of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 USC <br />§2510, and its disclosure is strictly limited to the recipient intended by the sender of this <br />message. This communication may contain confidential and privileged material for the sole <br />use of the intended recipient and receipt by anyone other than the intended recipient does not <br />constitute a loss of the confidential or privileged nature of the communication. Any review or <br />distribution by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient please contact <br />the sender by return electronic mail and delete all copies of this communication. This email is <br />not intended to create an attorney client relationship. For more information about Sharmi <br />Shah, Attorney at Law, A PLC please contact us at (408) 628-4262.