TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": TWO OF THE THREE HARVARD GRADUATE STUDENTS SUING THE UNIVERSITY FOR FAILING TO PROTECT THEM AGAINST A PROMINENT PROFESSOR ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, HARASSMENT, AND RETALIATING AGAINST THEM FOR SPEAKING OUT.

THEN, LATER, HE ONCE SPENT NINE MONTHS BEHIND BARS FOR SELLING MARIJUANA.

NOW JESSE PITTS RUNS THE FIRST SOCIAL EQUITY BUSINESS IN MASSACHUSETTS LICENSED TO GROW, MANUFACTURE, AND SELL THE DRUG LEGALLY.

PLUS, THE CONCERNING BUSINESS MODEL OF TRAVEL NURSES AT HOSPITALS HERE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND, FINALLY, WHEN IT COMES TO AMAZON, SPOTIFY, AND THE NFL, I'M A HYPOCRITE, AND YOU MIGHT BE, TOO.

I'LL EXPLAIN WHY AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT AHEAD.

♪♪.

>> Braude: IN A CASE THAT'S MAKING NATIONAL HEADLINES, THREE WOMEN IN THE HARVARD GRADUATE ANTHROPOLOGY PROGRAM ARE SUING THE UNIVERSITY, ACCUSING SCHOOL OFFICIALS OF IGNORING AND FAILING TO PROTECT STUDENTS FROM SEXUAL ABUSE AND RETALIATION BY A PROMINENT HARVARD ANTHROPOLOGY PROFESSOR.

THE SUIT CLAIMS THAT PROFESSOR JOHN COMAROFF "USED HIS POWER AND HIS PERCH AT HARVARD TO EXPLOIT ASPIRING SCHOLARS: HE KISSED AND GROPED STUDENTS WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT, MADE UNWELCOME SEXUAL ADVANCES, AND THREATENED TO SABOTAGE STUDENTS' CAREERS IF THEY COMPLAINED."

THE STUDENT AT THE CENTER OF MANY OF THE CLAIMS IS LILIA KILBURN, WHO SAYS COMAROFF'S ASSAULTS ON HER STARTED IN 2017.

THE OTHER TWO PLAINTIFFS, MARGARET CZERWIENSKI AND AMULYA MANDAVA, SAY THEY FACED "CAREER-UPENDING" RETALIATION AFTER THEY WARNED THE UNIVERSITY OF KILBURN'S ACCUSATIONS.

AND ALL THREE SAY THE UNIVERSITY REPEATEDLY BRUSHED THEM ASIDE AND OPTED TO PROTECT ITS STAR PROFESSOR OVER VULNERABLE STUDENTS AND, ACCORDING TO THE SUIT, HARVARD, IN FACT, KNEW OF OTHER SIMILAR ACCUSATIONS AGAINST COMAROFF FROM HIS TIME AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO WHEN THEY HIRED HIM BACK IN 2012.

FOR HIS PART, COMAROFF HAS CATEGORICALLY DENIED ALL ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM, WHICH FIRST WENT PUBLIC IN 2020 IN AN ARTICLE IN HARVARD'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER, "THE CRIMSON."

AFTER THAT, COMAROFF WAS PUT ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, AND THE UNIVERSITY STARTED INVESTIGATING.

BUT IT WAS ONLY LAST MONTH THAT HE WAS BARRED FROM TEACHING REQUIRED COURSES OR TAKING ON NEW STUDENT ADVISEES FOR THE REST OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR AFTER INVESTIGATIONS FOUND HE ENGAGED IN VERBAL CONDUCT THAT VIOLATED SCHOOL HARASSMENT AND CONDUCT POLICIES.

MARGARET CZERWIENSKI AND AMULYA MANDAVA JOIN ME NOW, ALONG WITH ONE OF THEIR ATTORNEYS, CAROLIN GUENTERT.

>> Braude: CARLIN, AMULA, AND MARGARET, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

CAN YOU TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT YOUR CLIENT, LILIA, SAID THE PROFESSOR DID TO HER?

>> HE HAD A SERIES OF HARASSING ACTIONS AGAINST MS. KILBURN BEFORE SHE EVEN ENROLLED AT HARVARD.

HE KISSED HER ON THE MOUTH WITHOUT HER CONSENT.

ONCE SHE DID ENROLL, ON HER FIRST DAY OF GRADUATE SCHOOL, HE GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBED HOW HE WOULD BE RAPED AS SHE TRAVELED TO AFRICA, MORE SPECIFICALLY, SOUTH AFRICA, AS PART OF THEIR FIELD WORK.

AND HE KISSED HER AGAIN, HE GROPED HER, AND HE INCREASINGLY ISOLATED HER.

>> Braude: CAROLIN, WHEN WAS THE UNIVERSITY FIRST MADE AWARE OF THESE CHARGES FROM MS. KILBURN?

>> MS. KILBURN BEGAN REPORTING TO THE OFFICIALS AT THE UNIVERSITY, INCLUDING THE KETEMINE OFFICE AND OTHER PROFESSORS IN 2019.

>> Braude: MARGARET, WHEN DID YOU FIRST LEARN OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO LILIA?

>> WELL, I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT LILIA'S COMPLAINT3 IN 2019, JUST BEFORE THE CRIMSON ARTICLE CAME OUT, AND REPORTED ON SYSTEMIC ABUSE IN ANTHROPOLOGY.

>> Braude: AMULYA, WAS IT THE SAME TIMEFRAME FOR YOU?

>> YES.

>> Braude: WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT WHAT LILIA SAID HAD HAPPENED TO HER?

>> WHEN I FOUND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO LILIA, AS ALLEGED IN THE COMPLAINT, I DECIDED THAT IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO JOIN HER IN COMING FORWARD AND REPORTING TO PROFESSORS IN OUR DEPARTMENT, AND THE TITLE NINE OFFICE, THAT I, MYSELF, HAD HAD A CONVERSATION WITH PROFESSOR COMAROFF, IN WHICH HE THREATENED MYSELF AND MARRYING, HERE, WITH CAREER-ENDING RETALIATION BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN SHARING WARNINGS WITH THE STUDENTS IN OUR DEPARTMENT ABOUT HIS PATTERN OF HARASSMENT AND ABUSE.

>> Braude: MARGARET, WHAT SPECIFICALLY DID COMAROFF SAY TO THE TWO OF YOU?

>> UM, WELL, I'LL LET AMULYA ANSWER THAT BECAUSE HE DELIVERED THE MESSAGE TO HER.

>> Braude: AMULYA, WHAT DID HE SAY TO YOU?

>> I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT.

AFTER WE TALKED A BIT ABOUT A GRANT THAT I WAS WORKING ON, PROFESSOR COMAROFF INTRODUCED A CONVERSATION IN WHICH HE TOLD ME THAT HE KNEW THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH STUDENTS AT HARVARD, BECAUSE IN THE COMPLAINT HE TOLD ME, AS ALLEGED ALSO IN THE COMPLAINT, THAT HE COULD NOT HAVE HARASSED THESE STUDENTS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN SEXUALLY INACTIVE FOR SEVEN YEARS DUE TO A MEDICAL ISSUE.

AS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND, BEING ALONE WITH HIM IN HIS OFFICE WAS REALLY DISTURBING TO HEAR THAT.

AS THE CONVERSATION PROCEEDED, HE TOLD ME THAT MULTIPLE STUDENTS, WHO HE NAMED, AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO HAD ALSO SPREAD WHAT HE CALLED RUMORS ABOUT HIS BEHAVIOR, AND THAT THEY, AS A RESULT OF TALKING ABOUT HIM, HAD HAD TROUBLE FINDING JOBS.

AND HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO ME.

>> Braude: MARGARET, DID YOU GET ANYMORE POSITIVE RESPONSE, ANY CONSTRUCTIE RESPONSE, FROM ANYBODY AT HARVARD ADMINISTRATION?

>> TRULY, NO.

I MEAN, I TOLD A PROFESSOR IN 2017, AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING.

I TALKED -- I REPORTED IT TO TITLE NINE IN 2017, AND THEY SAID NOTHING AS WELL.

SO PRETTY MUCH THAT IS ALWAYS THE RESPONSE WE GOT.

>> Braude: CAROLIN, YOU FILED THIS SUIT AFTER HARVARD PUBLISHED ITS REVIEW.

CAN YOU GIVE US SOME REACTION TO WHAT YOU KNOW THEM TO BE?

>> WELL, WE KNOW THAT THE CONCLUSION IS THAT PROFESSOR COMAROFF WAS FOUND TO HAVE VIOLATED HARVARD UNIVERSITY'S TITLE NINE POLICY FOR ENGAGING IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT MS. KILBURN'S RAPE AND MURDER WITH HER.

AND (indiscernable).

AND A SEPARATE FINDING WAS MADE BY AN EXTERNAL INVESTIGATOR WHO WAS APPOINTED BY HARVARD'S FACULTY, WHO FOUND THAT PROFESSOR COMAROFF VIOLATED THE UNIVERSITY'S PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT POLICY BY HAVING MADE A THREAT TO MS. MANDAVA.

>> Braude: SO THEY ESSENTIALLY CONFIRMED SOME OF THE CHARGES YOU WERE FILING AGAINST THEM IN THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.

WHAT SANCTIONS HAVE THEY TAKEN AGAINST COMAROFF, CAROLIN?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE BELIEVE THIS THIS IS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE HERE.

AND AS SET FORTH IN THE COMPLAINT, MUCH OF THE STORY, AND MUCH OF WHAT OUR CLIENTS BRAVELY BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE TITLE NINE OFFICE AND THE O.D.

R. WAS DISREGARDED HERE IN TWO NARROW FINDINGS HERE.

[INAUDIBLE] >> HE WOULD BE PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE FOR ONE SEMESTER, AND AS FOR THE FOLLOWING ACADEMIC YEAR, HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO TEACH REQUIRED COURSES, AND SOME LIMITATIONS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON HIS ABILITY TO ADVICE GRADUATE STUDENTS.

AND AFTER THE 2022 TO 2023 YEAR, THE DECISION WOULD BE REVISITED.

>> Braude: THEORETICALLY AT THAT POINT THE UNIVERSITY COULD DECIDE TO REINSTATE HIM IN SOME CAPACITY?

>> THAT'S POSSIBLE.

I BELIEVE THAT IS POSSIBLE.

>> Braude: CAROLIN, YOU ALLEGE THAT THE UNIVERSITY HAS A LONG HISTORY OF FAILING TO PROTECT STUDENTS AGAINST THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR BEYOND COMAROFF.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

>> WE DO.

OUR CLIENTS WERE, OF COURSE, AWARE OF THE CONDUCT THAT PROFESSOR COMAROFF TOOK AGAINST THEM, AS WELL AS MS. KILBURN.

BUT BEYOND THAT, THEY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH KNOWLEDGE.

AND THEN WHEN THE HARVARD CRIMSON BROKE A STORY IN THE SUMMER OF 2020, THAT PROFESSOR COMAROFF WASN'T THE ONLY ONE ENGAGING IN MISCONDUCT IN THE ANTHROPOLOGY DEPARTMENT, OUR CLIENT LEARNED THERE WERE SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST TO OTHER PROFESSORS.

AND THERE IS ALSO A HISTORY OF MISCONDUCT THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED AGAINST PROFESSOR JORGE, AND WE BELIEVE IT IS PART OF A PATTERN AND PRACTICE, AND THERE IS A CULTURE OF VIOLENCE SPECIFICALLY IN THE ANTHROPOLOGY DEPARTMENT THAT IS NOW COMING TO LIGHT, FINALLY.

>> Braude: MARGARET, WHAT IS YOUR OPINION WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT THE RETALIATION THAT IS DIRECTED AT YOU AND AMULYA -- WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON THEM?

>> I THINK A LOT OF THE STUDENTS ARE SHOCKED, BUT THEY'RE ALSO EXPERIENCING SIMILAR THINGS.

IT IS ACTUALLY REALLY DISHEARTENING TO HEAR HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS, BOTH AT HARVARD AND ON OTHER CAMPUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> Braude: AMULYA, THE GLOBE REPORTS 38 PROFESSORS AT HARVARD, A HANDFUL OF WHOM ARE AS PROMINENT AS PROMINENT GETS, WHO SIGNED A STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF COMAROFF, APPARENTLY WITHOUT BOTHERING TO INVESTIGATE WHAT HE WAS ACTUALLY BEING CHARGED WITH.

WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DID THAT HAVE ON YOU WHEN SOME HUGE NAMES IN THE HARVARD ACADEMIC COMMUNITY SIDED WITH THIS GUY WITHOUT, APPARENTLY, EVEN TRYING TO GET YOUR SIDE OF THE STORY?

>> YEAH, AND I WOULD ADD TO THAT THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO SIGNED THAT LETTER ARE PROFESSORS WHO HAVE MENTORED, EMPLOYED, OR ADVISED MARGARET, LILIA, AND I DIRECTLY, AND YET WE WERE NOT REACHED OUT TO FIND OUT THE FACTS OF THE STORY.

>> Braude: WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SO CONCERNED, NOT ONLY ABOUT DECENT TREATMENT BUT PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO ABOUT FACTFINDING AND DOING THINGS BASED ON WHAT IS REAL.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

>> I THINK ON THE ONE HAND, IT IS A SHOW OF A TREMENDOUS POWER OF A TENURED STAR.

I THINK IT ALSO IS A SIGN OF A LARGER SYSTEMIC PROBLEM AT HARVARD WHEN TENURED PROFESSORS ARE WILLING TO SIGN A STATEMENT SUCH AS THAT, AND RISK KILLING THE SPEECH OF STUDENTS LIKE LILIA, MARGARET, AND MYSELF, WHO MAY IN MANY WAYS WANT TO COME FORWARD, MAY HAVE WANTED TO REPORT, AND NOW THEY'VE SEEN ADVISORS OF THEIRS HAS SIGNED THIS LETTER AND THEY MAY NEVER COME FORWARD NOW.

AND I DON'T THINK THE IMPACT OF THIS STATEMENT ON STUDENTS' SPEECH CAN BE UNDERESTIMATED.

>> Braude: CAROLIN, WHAT ARE YOU SEEKING IN THIS LITIGATION?

>> MORE THAN ANYTHING, WE HOPE TO SHINE A LIGHT ON WHAT HAS BEEN QUIET, BUBBLING UNDER THE SURFACE AND IGNORED FOR FAR TOO LONG.

AS WE ALLEGE IN THE COMPLAINT, THERE IS A HISTORY OF MISCONDUCT HERE, MUCH OF WHICH HARVARD KNEW ABOUT, AND WE JUST HOPE THAT DESPITE THE RETALIATION THAT AMULYA IT AM MULE AMULYA WAS JUST DESCRIBING, THAT OTHER STUDENTS OR FACULTY OR ANYBODY WHO KNOWS ANYTHING HAS THE COURAGE TO COME FORWARD.

>> Braude: MARGARET, DID YOU WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE IMPACT THIS HAS ON YOUR CAREER GOING FORWARD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK RIGHT NOW I FEEL AS THOUGH I DON'T HAVE A CAREER IN ANTHROPOLOGY MOVING FORWARD.

>> Braude: WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?

>> JOHN COMAROFF'S NETWORK IS EXTENSIVE.

IT IS IN EVERY MAJOR ANTHROPOLOGY DEPARTMENT IN THE WORLD.

EVEN WITH THE BACKLASH FROM THIS, THERE IS STILL REASON TO BELIEVE THAT HE HAS THE ABILITY TO INFLUENCE HIRING DECISIONS AT CAMPUSES.

>> Braude: AMULYA, DO YOU SHARE THE SAME CONCERNS THAT MARGARET HAS?

>> UNDOUBTEDLY, YES.

>> Braude: I WISH ALL THREE OF YOU LUCK.

I HOPE YOU STAY IN TOUCH WITH US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TENT.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> A NEW CANNABIS STORE SET TO OPEN IN WAREHAM AT THE END OF THIS MONTH WILL MARK A MILESTONE A LONG TIME COMING FOR THE STATE: THE FIRST SOCIAL-EQUITY APPLICANT TO BE TRIPLE LICENSED TO CULTIVATE, MANUFACTURE, AND SELL MARIJUANA AND RELATED PRODUCTS.

IN 2007, JESSE PITTS WAS ARRESTED AFTER 70 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA AND $250,000 IN CASH WERE SEIZED FROM A HOUSE HE WAS RENTING.

HE SPENT NINE MONTHS IN JAIL FOR POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE,FOLLOWED BY PROBATION AND 500 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.

NOW HE'S THE CO-FOUNDER AND C.E.O.

OF TRADE ROOTS, A PRODUCT OF THE STATE'S SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM, WHICH WAS SET UP BY THE CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION SPECIFICALLY TO HELP PEOPLE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE WAR ON DRUGS AND MARIJUANA PROHIBITION TO GET IN ON THE LEGALIZED INDUSTRY.

BUT SINCE THAT PROGRAM WAS UNVEILED IN 2018, ONLY 13 OF THE 350 BUSINESSES THAT HAVE REACHED THE "COMMENCE OPERATIONS" PHASE FALL INTO THAT SOCIAL EQUITY CATEGORY, THREE OF WHICH, AS I SAID, HAVE NOW GONE TO ONE MAN: JESSE PITTS, WHO JOINS ME NOW.

>> Braude: JESSE,s CONGRATULATIONS.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> Braude: MY PLEASURE.

IN THE BEGINNING, DID YOU FACE OBSTACLES GETTING INTO THE LEGAL INDUSTRY BECAUSE OF YOUR CONVICTION?

>> AH, YEAH, SO REALLY AFTER COLLEGE, I HAD -- AFTER MY ARREST, THAT YOU STATED, I HAD A COLLEGE ROOMMATE REACH OUT TO ME AND SHE WANTED TO START A MEDICAL MARIJUANA COMPANY.

AT FIRST I SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT.

BUT AFTER 10 TIMES OF ASKING ME, I JUMPED IN AND SAID, LET'S TRY TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

IT WAS A LONG PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO WRITE THE APPLICATION AND TO GET ALL OF THE THINGS TOGETHER THAT THE STATE WANTED FOR THAT APPLICATION.

AND AFTER WE READY TO APPLY, AND WE WERE APPLYING, IT WAS AN ONGOING PROCESS, THE STATE REWROTE THE REGULATIONS SAYING THAT IF YOU HAVE A CANNABIS RECORD, YOU CAN NO LONGER EVEN BE AN EMPLOYEE FOR A MEDICAL MARIJUANA COMPANY IN MASSACHUSETTS.

SO IT REALLY WAS THE FIRST ROADBLOCK FOR ME TRYING TO GET INTO THE LEGAL INDUSTRY.

>> Braude: SO THE SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM OBVIOUSLY MADE A DIFFERENCE, I'M ASSUMING.

WHAT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THAT HELPED GET YOU FROM THAT POINT TO OWNING THREE LICENSES?

>> SO WHEN THE C.C.C.

FIRST ROLLED OUT THE ADULT-USE REGULATIONS, THE FIRST THING I WAS LOOKING AT IS CAN I ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE?

AND THEY TOOK AN ABOUT-FACE HERE AND THE STATE SAID IF YOU DO HAVE A CANNABIS RECORD AND YOU WERE AFFECTED BY THE WAR ON DRUGS, YOU WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM.

THE ORIGINAL ROLE OUT OF THE PROGRAM, YOU HAD TO BE A 51% OWNER OF THE COMPANY AND MAINTAIN THAT THROUGHOUT THE EXISTENCE OF THE COMPANY.

AND THERE WERE OTHER REGULATIONS THAT IT INCLUDED, YOU HAD TO HIRE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SOCIAL EQUITY CANDIDATES, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

WHEN WE ACTUALLY APPLIED TO TRADE ROOTS FOR OUR THREE LICENSES, WE APPLIED AS A GENERAL APPLICANT.

IT GIVES YOU KIND OF A LEG UP IN THAT APPLICATION PROCESSING OF THAT.

AND IT REALLY IS SUPPOSED TO STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS FOR YOU.

AND WE DECIDED NOT TO DO THAT BECAUSE IN ORDER TO LAUNCH A COMPANY OF THIS CALIBER, IT TAKES A LOT OF FUNDRAISING.

AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, I NEVER PICTURED MYSELF OWNING OVER 51% OF IT WHEN IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE.

SO WE APPLIED AS A GENERAL APPLICANT.

WE GOT OUR LICENSES.

THE C.C.C.

REWROTE THE SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM, SAYING YOU ONLY HAD TO BE A 10% OWNER.

SO IN THE SECOND COHORT, I APPLIED AND WE GOT ACCEPTED.

AND WHAT IT DID WAS OFFERED A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT WOULD HELP YOU THROUGHOUT THE OPCATION PROCESS.

UNFORTUNATELY, FOR ME, A LOT OF THIS CAME AFTER THE FACT.

I HAD ALREADY BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF THE HURTLES THEY WERE TEACHING US.

SO IT WASN'T SO MUCH OF A HUGE LEG-UP FOR ME, BUT IT FELT LIKE SOME SORT OF VALIDATION, VINDICATION THAT WHAT WE WERE DOING BEFORE, THE MORAL COMPASS WAS ACTUALLY CORRECT.

>> Braude: DO YOU THINK THE SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM GOING FORWARD WILL HELP JESSE PITTS IN THE FUTURE, PEOPLE LIKE YOU?

>> YES.

THE C.C.C., WHEN THEY FIRST ROLLED IT OUT, THERE WAS A LOT OF THE BASIC GROUND WORKS FOR IT.

AND THEY HAD TO START FROM SCRATCH TO WRITE THIS PROGRAM.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF LEARNING CURVE ON THEIR PART AS WELL.

THEY HAVE CHANGED SOME THINGS.

FOR INSTANCE, THE 10% OWNERSHIP, THAT WAS A BIG ASPECT OF IT.

BUT THEY'RE ALSO WORKING THROUGH DIFFERENT PARTS OF IT, WHERE THERE IS THIS PRE-APPROVAL PROCESS FOR LICENSES.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST HURTLES EARLY ON, WAS YOU HAD TO HAVE A HOST COMMUNITY AGREEMENT IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR A LICENSE WITH THE STATE.

BUT IN ORDER TO GET THAT HOST COMMUNITY AGREEMENT, YOU HAD TO HAVE POSSESSION OF A BUILDING AND HAVE ALL OF THESE THINGS IN LINE.

AND IT PROVED VERY CHALLENGING, NOT REALLY HAVING ANYTHING TANGIBLE TO HOLD ON TO HELP RAISE FUNDS WHILE YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS, TO OBTAIN A BUILDING AND GET YOUR FEET UNDER YOU.

IT KEPT BEING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE OVER AND OVER.

>> Braude: WHEN YOU WERE SITTING IN JAIL, SOMEONE SAID TO YOU "X" NUMBER OF YEARS FORWARD YOU WOULD OWN THREE LONSZ LICENSES TO CULTIVATE AND SELL MARIJUANA LEGALLY, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE SAID TO THAT PERSON?

>> THEY'RE CRAZY.

>> Braude: I FIGURED.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO GO FROM STREET DEALER TO A LEGITIMATE SELLER?

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO THEM ABOUT HOW TO GET FROM THERE TO HERE, AS YOU'VE DONE?

>> THE BIGGEST THING IS, YOU KNOW, TAKE THE LEAP OF FAITH.

TO ME, IT WAS AN ALL-IN OR NOT PROPOSITION.

YOU CAN'T REALLY BE DOING BOTH.

TO TAKE THAT LEAP AND STEP OUT OF THAT REALM AND INTO THIS ONE, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE.

YOU'RE NAVIGATING THE UNKNOWN.

AND YOU JUST CAN'T BE AFRAID TO FAIL.

THAT IS THE BIGGEST ONE.

>> Braude: WHEN DO YOU OPEN?

>> UM, FAMOUS QUESTION.

SO...WE'RE HOPING TO BE OPEN, BUT IT IS ALL CONTINGENT UPON ONE FINAL INSPECTION FROM THE C.C.C., WHICH IS COMING UP ON THE 17th.

IF ALL GOES WELL THEN, WE'LL HAVE MORE OF A DEFINITIVE DATE.

I'VE BEEN STRONGLY URGED NOT TO GIVE A DATE.

>> Braude: BUT IN THE RELATIVELY NEAR FUTURE?

>> YES.

HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE MONTH, IF NOT, ERL NEXT MONTH.

>> Braude: CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WHOLE THING, JESS JESSE, BOTH IN THE CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Braude: THANK YOU.

>> TAKE CARE.

>> Braude: DEMAND FOR NURSES IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.

AND AS LIZ NEISLOSS REPORTS, MASSACHUSETTS, LIKE JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER STATE, HAS BEEN FORCED TO TURN TO AN EXPENSIVE OPTION TO HELP FILL THE GAP, TRAVEL NURSES.

AND THESE DAYS MANY AREN'T TRAVELING ALL THAT FAR.

>> I'VE ALWAYS HAD WANDERLUST, AND WHEN I BECAME A NURSE, I FOUND OUT ABOUT TRAVEL NURSING, SO FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR I'VE BEEN TRAVELING.

>> Reporter: ADS LIKE THAT MIGHT MAKE YOU THINK VACATION, BUT GIVEN THE NURSING SHORTAGE, 28-YEAR-OLD CAT PIPER SAYS SEEING THE SIGHTS ISN'T WHAT'S DRIVING TRAVEL NURSES NOW.

>> THEY'RE COMING IN TO MAKE THEIR MONEY AND GO.

AND IT'S -- IT'S -- FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, IT'S LIFE-CHANGING MONEY.

>> Reporter: NURSING SHORTAGES EXISTED WELL BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

AND TRAVEL NURSES FILLED STAFFING GAPS.

BUT BURNOUT, LOW MORALE, AND LOW PAY HAVE CAUSED AN EXODUS OF STAFF NURSES DURING THE COVID CRISIS.

DEMAND FOR TRAVEL NURSES NOW OUTSTRIPS SUPPLY, WITH THE NEED IN MASSACHUSETTS 20% HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR.

AND THEY'RE FILLING SOME OF THE TOUGHEST NURSING JBS IN A HOSPITAL.

NURSE PIPER WORKS IN MEDICAL I.C.U.

AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER, WHERE SHE SEES THE SICKEST OF COVID PATIENTS.

THOUGH SHE'S A TRAVEL NURSE, PIPER'S NEVER LEFT MASSACHUSETTS.

SHE STARTED TRAVELING WITHIN THE STATE JUST BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

>> I WENT TO A FEW DIFFERENT PLACES, TRIED TO FIND WHERE I WANTED TO BE STAFF.

AND THEN SINCE THE PANDEMIC HIT, RATES HAVE INCREASED ASTRONOMICALLY, AND I'VE STAYED IN IT REALLY FOR MONEY, TO TRY TO BUY A HOUSE.

>> WHEN I WAS STAFF IN WORCESTER, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, I WAS MAKING A THIRD OF WHAT I MAKE NOW.

SO IT'S HARD TO EVEN COMPARE.

AND, HONESTLY, I FEEL GUILTY A LOT OF THE TIMES BECAUSE I'M WORKING THE SAME JOB THAT ALL THESE OTHER NURSES THERE ARE, AND OUR PAY AND COMPENSATION IS NOT COMPARABLE.

>> Reporter: TRAVEL NURSES TRADITIONALLY MADE MORE THAN STAFF, BUT THE CURRENT MASSIVE DISPARITY IN PAY HAS CREATED TENSION.

>> NOW WE'RE FINDING AS PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING AND LEAVING ONE HOSPITAL AND GOING DOWN THE STREET AND TRAVELING AT THE NEXT HOSPITAL FOR TWO OR THREE TIMES THE SALARY.

FOR STAFF TO SIT THERE AND KNOW YOU'RE WORKING WITH SOMEBODY THE SAME PACE, OR MAYBE EVEN TEACHING SOMEBODY HOW TO DO SOMETHING, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO ONLY BE HERE FOR 13 WEEKS IS HARD.

>> Reporter: BUT DESPITE THE PAY PERKS, TRAVEL NURSES FIND BEING ON THE FRONTLINES IN A PANDEMIC TAKES A TOLL, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER NURSE.

>> I THINK THE STRESS LEVELS ARE PROBABLY SOME OF THE HIGHEST I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY CAREER.

>> Reporter: RECENTLY, THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION ACCUSED CONTRACT LABOR FIRMS OF EXPLOITING THE CRISIS AND CREATING UNSUSTAINABLE COSTS.

BUT HEALTH CARE EXPERTS SAY RELIANCE ON TRAVEL NURSES HAS KEPT HOSPITALS FROM FOCUSING ON LONG-STANDING STAFFING ISSUES.

STAFFING WAS AT THE HEART OF THE STATE'S LONGEST-RUNNING NURSES' STRIKE, RECENTLY RESOLVED.

BUT IT REMAINS A NATIONAL ISSUE, AND NURSES SAY RAISE PAY AND RATIOS TO PATIENTS AND YOU'LL KEEP MORE STAFF NURSES.

LIZ NEISLOSS, GBH NEWS.

>> Braude: MY NAME IS >> Braude: AND POTENTIAL PRICE GOUGING BY SOME NURSING STAFF AGENCIES.

>> Braude: MY NAME IS JIM BRAUDE,AND I'M A HYPOCRITE.

I GO ON THE RADIO EVERY DAY, SAKE UNKIND BUT WELL-DESERVED THINGS ABOUT AMAZON, MOSTLY ABOUT HOW THEY TREAT THEIR WORKERS, EVADE SAFETY REGULATIONS, GET BILLIONS IN TAX BREAKS, AND TAKE COSTUMERS AWAY FROM THE KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD, SMALL, INDEPENDENT PLACES I SAY I LOVE.

AND YET I DO HIT "ADD TO CART" TO BUY BATTERIES I COULD PURCHASE FROM THE LOCAL HARDWARE STORE.

WELL, I DID, UNTIL I TOOK A PLEDGE NOT TO BUY ONE THING FROM AMAZON FOR ONE WEEK.

BUT CAN I CONTINUE TO RESIST?

AND THEN THERE'S SPOTIFY.

LOVE NEIL YOUNG AND JONI MITCHELL, NOT JUST FOR THE MUSIC BUT FOR STANDING UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN, HAVE CONTEMPT FOR JOE ROGAN FOR WHAT HE BELIEVES IN, WHICH IS SPREADING HOMICIDAL INFORMATION ABOUT COVID, BUT HAVE I LEFT SPOTIFY?

WELL, I TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT THEN FINALLY, FINALLY I SWITCHED TO TIDAL OVER THE WEEKEND, BUT ONLY AFTER I READ ABOUT ROGAN'S AFFINITY FOR THE N-WORD.

THE TRUMP-CHANNELING COVID STUFF PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO JOIN THE OTHER 19% OF COSTUMERS WHO DUMPED THE SERVICE, OR PLAN TO, DON'T YOU THINK?

BUT NOW I'M READY.

THE SUPER BOWL'S ON SUNDAY, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD.

LOVE WINGS.

LOVE BEING A POTTED PLANT FOR MAYBE 12 HOURS.

BUT THIS TIME, THE HYPOCRITE IN ME WILL NOT WIN OUT.

I WILL NOT BE JOINING 90 MILLION OR SO OF MY COUNTRYMEN -- I'M NOT WATCHING.

A COUPLE OF REASONS: RACISM, FOR ONE.

HERE IS BRIAN FLORES' LAWYER WITH ME LAST WEEK, JUST AFTER FILING SUIT AGAINST THE LEAGUE.

>> HE'S BEEN GETTING A GROUNDSWELL OF SUPPORT FROM PLAYERS AND COACHES, G.M.S, ETC.

THE ONLY ENTITY THAT IS NOT SUPPORTING HIM, REALLY, IS THE NFL, WHO LITERALLY AN HOUR AFTER WE FILED THIS 60-PAGE LAWSUIT, WITHOUT HAVING DONE ANY INVESTIGATION, DEMONSTRATING A TOTAL LACK OF INTROSPECTION, JUST DECLARED THAT IT WAS WITHOUT MERIT.

>> Braude: TO SAY THAT WE'VE MADE PROGRESS WHEN ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO, WHEN THE ROONEY RULE WAS PASSED, THERE WERE MORE BLACK HEAD COACHES IN THE NFL THAN THERE ARE TODAY, IS RIDICULOUS.

AND THEN THERE'S THE THOROUGHLY BELIEVABLE ALLEGATION THAT FLORES WAS OFFERED A $100,000 BRIBE FOR EVERY GAME HE'D THROW.

FLY NORTH TO D.C., WHERE THE MISOGYNISTIC OWNER OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED THE REDSKINS FOREVER, HAD FEDEX NOT SAID THEY'D END THEIR SPONSORSHIP, HAS BEEN SECRETLY MAKING LEWD VIDEOS OF CHEERLEADERS WHILE FOSTERING A CULTURE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

NOT DONE YET.

THEN THERE'S THE TEAM I WOULD HAVE ROOTED FOR ON SUNDAY, THE CINCINNATI BENGALS.

LOVE UPSTARTS, BUT WHEN YOU READ ABOUT CINCINNATI'S STAR RUNNING BACK, JOE MIXON, KNOCKING A WOMAN UNCONSCIOUS NOT TOO LONG AGO, AND A WEEK AGO HE COMPETED AGAINST ANOTHER STAR PLAYER TYREEK HILL, WHO BEAT AND CHOKED HIS PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND, IT'S TOO MUCH EVEN FOR ME.

AND THERE'S THE RACE-NORMING, CONCUSSION-DENIAL, OH, AND COLIN KAEPERNICK.

AND WHAT'S THE MILLION-DOLLAR-A-WEEK MAN, THE LEAGUE'S COMMISSIONER, ROGER GOODELL, DOING ABOUT ALL OF THIS?

WHATEVER THE MISBEHAVING OWNERS TELL HIM TO.

SO, AS I SAID, I WON'T BE WATCHING SUPER BOWL LVI.

INSTEAD, I'LL BE LISTENING TO A CASE OF YOU AND SOUTHERN MAN, BOTH ON THE TIDAL APP, USING A REMOTE POWERED BY BATTERIES I BOUGHT AT INMAN SQUARE HARDWARE, TO TUNE INTO A COMPETITION WHICH YOU DON'T HAVE TO RATIONALIZE WATCHING TO ANYONE: ANIMAL PLANET'S PUPPY BOWL XVIII.

PROVING, I HOPE, THAT YOU CAN TEACH AN OLD HYPOCRITE NEW TRICKS.

>>> THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

CNN LEGAL ANALYST AND FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR LAURA COATES JOINS ME ON REPUBLICAN ATTACKS ON VOTING RIGHTS, HER NEW BOOK, "JUST PURSUIT," AND GETTING SNUBBED BY "JEOPARDY," DESPITE A RECOMMENDATION FROM ALEX TREBEK.

THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

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