James is a member of the California Cannabis Advisory Committee that advises the California Bureau of Cannabis Control and the other licensing authorities–the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Department of Public Health–on the development of regulations that help protect public health and safety and reduce the illegal market for cannabis. James also is a prominent business leader, political consultant, and an avid defender of human and civil rights. He is co-owner of First Federal Financial Services, a credit card processing firm, a founding stockholder of Revere Bank, and an avid fine art collector. James earned his J.D. from Humphrey’s School of Law, and his B.A. from University of California, Riverside.