Cal NORML 2215-R Market St. #278, San Francisco CA 94114 canorml@igc.org - - FAX (510) 849-3974 LA Office: 8749 Holloway Dr, W. Hollywood 90069 www.lanorml.org

CONTACT THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE NOW! (1) Support bill to stop unfair urine testing of medical cannabis patients (AB 2279 - Leno) (2) Support Resolution Opposing DEA Medical Marijuana Raids (SJR 20- Migden)

May 3rd Cannabis Freedom Day - San Francisco Civic Center - Noon- 6pm (booth setup - 10 AM). Santa Rosa - Grace Pavilion, Sonoma Co Fairgrounds Noon--6pm: info@vom.com.

News

• Rep. Barney Frank introduces (1) federal decrim bill HR 5843 to remove penalties for possession of less than 100 grams (2) medical marijuana bill HR 5842 to let states legally regulate medical cannabis. Tell your Congres member to support HR 5842.
• Mendocino County activists fight anti-pot Measure B (=Bad) on June 3rd ballot.
  Please help www.nomeasureb.org !
• Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act (NORA) initiative would reduce imprisonment for non-violent drug offenders, make MJ possession an infraction.
• Cal NORML testifies to state Board of Equalization on sales tax benefits of legal medical cannabis dispensaries.
  
• NORML Testifies to UN NGO Consultation on Narcotic Drugs: No progress toward UN goal of eliminating illicit cannabis through prohibition - only solution is to eliminate its illicit status. (Vancouver, Feb 4-5, 2008).
• CA Supreme Court rules employers can discriminate against workers for using medical marijuana (Ross v Ragingwire, Jan 24, 2008).
• DPFCA Voter's Guide to 2008 Presidential Candidates
• DEA raids cost California $ millions in sales tax revenues.
• DEA launches sweeping statewide attack on medical cannabis dispensaries.
• Federal crackdown on medical marijuana in Eastern District threatens Prop 215 caregivers with federal prison, forfeiture. More prosecutions for medical marijuana than terrorism in California. (List of federal medical marijuana cases).
• Callifornia's $1 billion medical marijuana market could yield $100 million in taxes, but DEA raids disrupt collection.
• California NORML testifies on carcinogenicity of marijuana smoke
• Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoes hemp bill for second year in a row.
• Sacramento DEA raid an unjustified attack on patients' access to medical marijuana (Sep 27th, 2007).
• Mendocino County OKs 25 plants, sheriff starts zip-tie program for medical marijuana gardens.
• LA DEA raids 10 medical cannabis dispensaries on same day that Congress rejects Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment to end DEA medical marijuana raids (July 25, 2007).
• LA DEA threatens landlords of Los Angeles medical cannabis coops (Jul 11, 2007).
• DEA announces medical cannabis arrests in Bakersfield, Morro Bay, Corona, Los Angeles. Owners charged with profiteering. (Jul 16-17, 2007)
• Mendocino Co. Supervisors urge legalization, taxation and regulation of marijuana.
• CA bill to relieve medical cannabis dispensaries of back sales taxes (SB 529 - Migden).
• NORML challenges Lakeport medical marijuana cultivation ban.
• Judge orders DEA to stop blocking medical marijuana research.
• Cal Dept of Health announces cutback in fee hike for state medical marijuana ID cards effective April 1st, 2007.
• UCSF study finds medical marijuana effective against HIV pain.
• DEA raids 11 LA area dispensaries; West Hollywood officials protest. (List of federal medical marijuana cases).
• Judge rejects San Diego lawsuit challenging Prop. 215 (Dec. 6th).
• San Francisco approves marijuana deprioritization, calls for legally taxed and regulated adult distribution (Nov 14th, 2006).
• California cities vote for marijuana reform (Nov 6th, 2006).
• Tenth Anniversary of Prop. 215 (Nov 5th-6th 1996).
• California campaign to make marijuana offenses lowest enforcement priority in Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica and San Francisco.
• Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoes Industrial Hemp bill AB 1147.
• Mounting pressure for crackdown on LA dispensaries (Oct 2006)
• Bungled LA DEA dispensary raid raises troubling questions (Aug 31, 2006).
• DEA closes San Diego medical cannabis clubs (July 21, 2006). Mounting pressure against proliferating clubs in Los Angeles, Orange County.
• Marijuana initiatives submitted for November ballot in Santa Barbara, Santa Monica and Santa Cruz www.taxandregulate.org
• California June 6th primary election voter's guide.
• Zogby poll shows 55% of West Coast supports changing federal law to let states regulate marijuana like alcohol.
• Upswing in California marijuana prisoners reported in 2005; arrest rates steady since passage of Prop 215.
• Medical marijuana refugee Steve Kubby released from Placer County jail (April 2006).
• San Diego dispensaries raided by police as county plans federal lawsuit against state ID cards, Prop. 215 (Dec 2005).
• CAMP posts new record - over 1 million marijuana plants eradicated in 2005.
• San Francisco OKs medical cannabis dispensary ordinance (Nov 2005).
• Cal NORML poll shows SF voters don't see pot clubs as a problem, over 60% support legalization.
• New accident studies show marijuana a lesser driving hazard than alcohol - Drug urine tests unjustified (2005).
• CHP agrees to honor Prop. 215 - other Prop. 215 legal issues outstanding.
• NIDA blocks MAPS - NORML study of marijuana vaporization as research proponents appeal at DEA hearings.
• Raids against medical cannabis dispensaries resume; patients not targeted. "A warning shot across the bow" (July 05). (List of federal medical marijuana cases).
• Marijuana smoking not linked to lung cancer, UCLA study concludes (Jun 05).
• Supreme Court rules against medical marijuana patients Raich & Monson - state medical marijuana law NOT affected (Jun 05).
• Congress rejects Rohrabacher-Hinchey amendment to stop federal war on medical marijuana, but California delegation votes 35-19 in favor (Jun 05).
• Air Travelers face more intrusive baggage checks
• Counties and cities act to regulate cannabis dispensaries.
• Centennial of the Drug War - First Congressional anti-narcotics bill passed March 3, 1905 - 2005

Medical Marijuana and Prop. 215

Cannabis Patients' Clubs

Prop 215 Physicians

Local 215 Guidelines

Becoming a Cannabis Provider

Guide to Prop. 215

• Medical cannabis may be legally used & cultivated by qualifed patients in California under Prop. 215, provided they have a recommendation from a licensed physician .
• State law (SB 420) establishes voluntary ID card program plus Prop. 215 guidelines for possession and cultivation effective Jan 1, 2004. State limit set at 6 mature or 12 immature plants and 8 ounces marijuana, except where physician declares more is needed, or where local governments authorize more.
• State ID card program for medical marijuana patients starts up in certain counties. For current info, contact state Dept of Health Medical Marijuana Program .
• Certain cities and counties have their own local Prop 215 guidelines. Medical cannabis supporters are pressing for the adoption of higher guidelines (such as the Sonoma guidelines, advocated by Safe Access Now).
• So you want to start a cannabis club? Facts you should be aware of.
• Local ordinances regulate, ban, or license medical cannabis dispensaries in many cities or counties.
• Cal NORML estimates over 150,000 medical marijuana patients in California (2005).
• Medical uses of marijuana: California law allows use for any serious condition for which marijuana provides relief. Over 250 different illnesses reported.
• Hashish is covered by Prop. 215 according to Attorney General ruling.
• Cal state surveys show decline in student marijuana use since passage of Prop. 215.
• US Supreme Court Conant decision protects physicians who recommend marijuana for medicine (Oct 15, 2003).
• US Supreme Court overturns 9th Circuit Raich-Monson decision, upholds federal ban on personal use & cultivation of cannabis for medical purposes (Jun 2005).
• State Supreme Court Mower decision protects medical marijuana patients (Jul 18, 2002).
• Major medical marijuana cultivation cases in California include many acquittals for 100 plants and more.
• Survey of Prop 215 patients shows chronic pain the top use for medical marijuana.
• Human studies on medical marijuana

• Medical Marijuana Workers Employment Rights (AB 2279 - Leno) reverses State Supreme Court Ross v RagingWire decision allowing employers to discriminate against medical marijuana users. Support AB 2279.
• Resolution opposing DEA medical marijuana raids (SJR 20 -Migden). Support SJR 20.
• Bill declaring it state policy not to assist DEA in MMJ Raids (AB 2743 -Saldana)
• Bill to relieve medical cannabis dispensaries from liability for back sales taxes tabled ( SB1098 - Sen Migden).
• Bill to require drug testing of welfare recipients (including medical marijuana patients!) defeated (AB 2389 - Benoit)

  
  
  

PAST LEGISLATIVE ACTION - pre-2008

• Governor vetoes hemp bill for second year in a row . (AB 684 - Leno) - Sept 2007
• Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoes industrial hemp bill. (2006)
• Legislature kills bill to change pot possession penalties. (2006)

• (VOTING RECORD OF CAL. STATE LEGISLATORS)

• Congress rejects Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment to end medical marijuana raids.
• Tell Congress to Support Decriminalization, as recommended by Presidential Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse in 1972.
• Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2007 introduced to legalize cultivation of hemp. CA co-sponsors: Rep. Woolsey, Rep. George Miller, Rep. Pete Stark.
• Smoke a Joint, Lose Your Loan? Repeal the federal ban on student loans to drug offenders! www.raiseyourvoice.com

(VOTING RECORD of CA. DELEGATION 2003-4) - Past Congressional Action

• Guide to California's Marijuana Laws
  
• Attorney Referral List
• Patients' guide to Prop. 215.
  

  (Detailed Legal Integrity Manual from Americans for Safe Access)

• Legal Brief Bank - NORML
  Medical MJ legal briefs: Americans for Safe Access
  
  
• Local Marijuana Initiatives:
  • Oakland Measure Z "Tax and Regulate" Initiative (2004)
  • Mendocino Co. Personal Use of Marijuana Initiative - Measure G ( 2000)
  • Berkeley "Lowest Priority" Marijuana Initiative (1979)
  • San Francisco Proposition W Marijuana Policy Initiative (1978)

   

Consumer Health Facts

• Drug Testing Tips (Sorry, Cal NORML does not handle drug testing queries except from NORML members.)
• Marijuana Health Facts and Myths
• New Studies Confirm: Marijuana a Lesser Driving Hazard than Alcohol - Drug urine tests unjustified.
  • Review of accident studies shows marijuana not a major public highway safety hazard, refuting need for "zero-tolerance" DUI laws and bans on public use.
• Nonetheless, study shows marijuana use is linked to increased injury risk, confirming California NORML's advice to users.
• Expert review of drug tests and per se "driving under the influence" limits.

• Guide to marijuana vaporizers. Protect your lungs!
  Study shows vaporizer effective in humans (April 2007).
  
• California NORML Research Studies:
  • NORML/MAPS vaporizer study shows marijuana vaporizers cut out harmful smoke toxins.
  • Smoke study shows waterpipes ineffectual, vaporizers promising at reducing tars
  • Potency study shows clubs' medical cannabis superior to the government's.
• Marijuana addiction problems? Though marijuana is not physically addictive, some users feel incapacitated by habitual use. Help is available from Marijuana Anonymous and MDJunction!

• Upswing in California marijuana prisoners reported in 2005.
• California's Flood of Pot Prisoners (2001)
• California NORML analysis estimates legalization could net state $1.5-$2.5 billion in taxes, reduced enforcement costs.
• Marijuana Arrests Stable in California 1996 - 2004.
• California marijuana arrests 1960-2001. A sharp decline in felony marijuana arrests since decriminalization in 1975 saved the state an estimated $100 million per year in arrest, prosecution and prison costs.
• California marijuana arrest statistics (2002). African-Americans overrepresented by a factor of five in felony marijuana charges.
• The Story of California's Failed War on Pot
• Economic Benefits of Marijuana Legalization
• The Forgotten History of Cannabis Prohibition in California: 1913 to present.
  • The story of Jack London, California's Cannabis Pioneer
  • More famous marijuana users at www.veryimportantpotheads.com
• 100th Anniversary of Federal Drug Laws 1906-2006:
  "Centennial of an Unnatural Disaster"
• 35th Anniversary of Presidential Commission on Marihuana Report Finds Failed Laws Still in Place - March 22nd 1952-2007.
• California's War on Drugs a 100-Year Old Bust - March 6th 1907 - 2007.
  
  

NORML launches ad campaign in San Francisco.