Ryan James Wedding's Early Cartel Links Part 1: BC Bud Farm & California Cocaine Bust

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

Wedding made his court appearance in Santa Ana, California last week following his surrender and arrest in Mexico. He pleaded not guilty to charges across two indictments.

His lawyer, Anthony Colombo, Jr. grandson of slain New York Mafia boss Joe Colombo, stated multiple times that his client had in fact not surrendered but was apprehended in Mexico. This statement was of course contradictory to both the official Mexican and US Ambassador to Mexico's claim that he voluntary surrendered.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum went so far as to cite an AI generated image from a fake Instagram account as proof that Wedding had surrendered and was not arrested by Mexican authorities. 

According to CBC News, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme was informed 3 days before Wedding's arrest and was told to fly to Ontario, California for the FBI's press conference. 

Similar statements from US authorities point to a planned surrender as well. Court records show that 2 days prior to Wedding's surrender, additional documents were filed under seal.

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Marijuana is Lowered to Schedule 3 in the US as Fentanyl is Declared a WMD

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to expedite the reclassification of marijuana – an effort to increase research on its medical use but not fully legalize it.

“This reclassification order will make it far easier to conduct marijuana-related medical research, allowing us to study benefits, potential dangers and future treatments,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “It’s going to have a tremendously positive impact.”

The order — which directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to hasten the process of loosening federal restrictions but does not include a timeline — comes after an intensive lobbying campaign from the cannabis industry.

“I’ve never been inundated by so many people as I have about this particular reclassification,” Trump said.

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