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Current Bills in Sacramento - State Legislature
April 11, 2012 - Sen. Mark Leno is sponsoring a bill, SB 1182, which would clarify SB 420 so as to make it clear that entities acting consistent with the Attorney General's August 2008 guidelines may legally sell, cultivate, process, transport, etc. medical marijuana.
March 20, 2012 - A bill to establish a "zero-tolerance" DUI standard for marijuana has been introduced to the legislature by Assemblywoman Norma Torres (D-Pomona). The bill, AB 2552, would make the presence in blood or urine of any non-zero amount of cannabinoids (the distinctive ingredients of marijuana) presumptive evidence of driving under the influence. Included would be not only synthetic cannabinoids but also non-psychoactive metabolites, which can reside in the system for weeks after last use. California NORML strongly opposes the bill. UPDATE 4/10/12 - Zero-Tolerance DUI Bill Amended to Apply to Non-Medical Controlled Substances
SACRAMENTO - Nora Campos (D-San Jose) has filed a bill to require that all medical marijuana patients in California register with the state. The bill, AB 2465, is sponsored by the Police Officers' Research Association of Cal, which wants to make it easier for police to distinguish between illegal and legal marijuana users. Cal NORML strongly opposes the bill, as it infringes on patients' right under Prop 215 to legally possess and cultivate marijuana given a physician's written OR oral recommendation.
A comprehensive bill to regulate sales and production of medical marijuana, AB 2312, has been introduced by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-SF). The bill is based on a proposed ballot initiative, the Medical Marijuana Regulation Control and Taxation Act (www.regulatemarijuana.org) developed by a coalition of advocates including ASA, the UFCW, California NORML, the California Cannabis Association, the Emerald Growers Association, and others. California NORML supports AB 2312, while being concerned about the danger of hostile amendments from the legislature, whose mood has not been friendly to marijuana.
AB 2600 by Chris Norby (R-Fullerton) would prevent the DMV from revoking a person’s driving privileges for simple possession of one ounce or less of marijuana. At present, such a suspension is required if use of a motor vehicle was involved with or incidental to the offense.
As introduced, Assembly Bill 2365, by Assemblyman Brian Nestande (R-Palm Desert), would have required that family courts consider parents’ use of prescribed controlled substances, including medical marijuana and narcotic maintenance medications, in child custody proceedings. CalNORML received assurances from Assemblyman Nestande's office and the Assembly Judiciary Committee that the reference to medical marijuana would be removed from the bill, and it was. Read CalNORML's letter on AB2365.
Read CalNORML's letter in support of SB1506 (Leno).
Past Actions - 2011
August 31 - Governor Jerry Brown has signed AB 1300 (Blumenfeld), a bill to allow local regulation of medical marijuana collectives and cooperatives.
The CA Assembly approved Sen. Correa’s bill SB 847 to prohibit the location of dispensaries near residential zones by a vote of 68-5.
June 9, 2011 - In a difficult session for marijuana advocates, the California legislature failed to approve key bills to protect medical marijuana employees' rights and to decrease cultivation penalties, while advancing legislation to tighten regulation of dispensaries.
June 3 - Despite a mandate to reduce the state's prison population, the California Assembly rejected Assemblyman Tom Ammiano's bill AB 1017 to reduce marijuana cultivation penalties. THIS BILL WILL BE UP FOR A RE-VOTE IN JANUARY 2012
April 13, 2011 - A bill to allow local regulation of medical marijuana collectives and cooperatives has been introduced by Assemblyman Blumenfield (AB 1300).
April 5 - Legislation to prevent employment discrimination against medical marijuana patients, and continue to guard against impairment at the workplace, passed the California Senate Judiciary Committee today.
SACRAMENTO, March 29 - The California Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings today on Mark Leno's bill to protect employment rights for medical marijuana users, SB 129, but the vote was delayed for another week due to illness of a committee member.
CalNORML Reports, March 2011 - Several important cannabis reform bills have been introduced to the California legislature. They include protecting Prop 215 patients from workplace discrimination, reducing cultivation penalties, legalizing industrial hemp, and establishing full-scale medical marijuana licensing schemes.
February 23 - Sponsored by Mendocino County District Attorney David Eyster, Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) has introduced a bill, AB 1017, which would change section 11358 of the Health and Safety Code from a mandatory felony penalty to an alternate felony or misdemeanor, known as a "wobbler".
January 31 - Before hundreds of attendees at the California NORML statewide "Next Steps" conference on Saturday, January 29, Senator Mark Leno (SF) announced he has re-introduced his bill to end employment discrimination against medical marijuana users.
2010
Sept. 30 - A bill to downgrade the possession of one ounce or less of marijuana from a misdemeanor to an infraction was signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Sept. 30 - Gov. Schwarzenegger signed bill AB 2650 (Buchanan), which prohibits medical marijuana collectives from operating within 600 feet of a school as of Jan 1, 2011.
CA Assembly Approves Bill to Downgrade MJ Possession to an Infraction
Aug. 30. 2010: The California state Assembly voted 43-33 to approve Sen. Mark Leno's bill SB 1449 downgrading petty marijuana possession from a misdemeanor to an infraction. The bill passed thanks to support from the CA district attorneys and courts; similar legislation had been voted down by the Assembly three times in the past. Read more.
CA Assembly Rejects Medical Marijuana Resolution SJR 14
Aug. 30, 2010: In a disappointing display of legislative perversity, the California Assembly rejected State Senator Mark Leno's medical marijuana resolution SJR 14. The Assembly may still have a chance to revisit the resolution in the coming extraordinary session. Read more.
Watered-Down Dispensary Bill Passes Assembly
June 4, 2010 - The California Assembly has passed a bill, AB 2650, that bans dispensaries within 600 feet of schools. Thanks to lobbying by MMJ advocates, the bill was greatly watered down from an earlier version which would have banned them within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, libraries, religious institutions, child care or youth centers, or other dispensaries.
Marijuana Legalization Bill AB 2254 Submitted to Cal Legislature
Feb 18, 2010 - Assemblyman Tom Ammiano has re-submitted his bill to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana in California. The new bill, AB 2254, the Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act of 2010 is identical to its predecessor AB 390, which was approved by the Public Safety Committee in January. Ammiano has announced the bill is back-burnered, pending the outcome of the TaxCannabis 2010 ballot initiative in November.
AB 1811 (Ammiano) to legalize paraphernalia in California if used for medical marijuana
California NORML endorsed AB1811. Read endorsement letter.
The bill passed the Assembly Public Safety committee on March 23 by a vote of 5-2, with all Democrats voting yes and all Republicans no.
On June 2, 2010, Gov. Schwarzenegger's office announced its opposition to AB 1811, killing any chance that the bill will be passed by the Assembly this year. In a letter the Governor's Office of Planning and Research explained, "The bill is unnecessary, as current law already provides protections for people prescribed medicinal marijuana. Drug paraphernalia is currently equipment used only 'in violation of this division' and prohibits acts 'except as authorized by law.'" Despite this, however, Cal NORML continues to hear reports of medical marijuana patients cited for possessing paraphernalia.
Historic Legalization Vote in CA
Jan 12, 2010. In a historic vote, the Assembly Public Safety Committee voted 4-3 to approve Tom Ammmiano's bill to legalize and regulate marijuana, the first time a legislative body has ever voted to repeal MJ prohibition. Read more.
Ammiano Bill to Tax and Regulate Marijuana Would Raise Over $1 Billion for State
February 23, 2009 - At a press conference today, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-SF) announced the introduction of AB390, The Marijuana Control, Regulation and Education Act, a landmark bill to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol and tobacco. Read more.
July 21, 2009 - The State Senate Judiciary Commitee approved Mark Leno's resolution SJR 14 calling for federal recognition of Cal's medical marijuana laws by a vote of 7-3. The vote was along party lines, with Democratic Senators Alquist, Cedillo, DeSaulnier, Leno, Pavley, Wolk and Negrete-McLeod voting aye, and Repbulicans Strickland, Aanestad and Cox voting Nay. "Moderate" Republican Abel Maldonado was absent for the vote. As usual, the GOP remains stoutly in favor of big federal government over personal freedom and state's rights when it comes to drugs.
August 24, 2009 - The California Senate passed SJR14 by a vote of 23-15.
AYES: Alquist, Calderon, Cedillo, Corbett, DeSaulnier, Ducheny, Hancock, Kehoe, Leno, Liu, Lowenthal, Negrete McLeod, Oropeza, Padilla, Pavley, Price, Romero, Simitian, Steinberg, Wiggins, Wolk, Wright, Yee
NOES: Aanestad, Ashburn, Benoit, Cogdill, Correa, Cox, Denham, Dutton, Harman, Hollingsworth, HuffRunner, Strickland, Walters, Wyland
ABSENT, ABSTAINING, OR NOT VOTING: Florez, Maldonado
PAST CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE ACTION - pre-2009
- CA Legislature 2007-8 Session Ends
See a complete report on legislative voting records. - California Senate Passes Fair Employment Bill for Medical Marijuana Patents (AB 2279 - Leno). (Vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger, see Governor Vetoes Employment Rights Bill.)
- Bill to end employment discrimination against medical cannabis patients passes State Assembly (AB 2279 - Leno)
- Resolution opposing DEA medical marijuana raids passes State Senate (SJR20 - Migden)
- Governor vetoes hemp bill for second year in a row. (2007)
- Bill to relieve medical cannabis dispensaries of back sales taxes (2007)
- Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoes industrial hemp bill. (2006)
- Legislature kills bill to change pot possession penalties. (2006)
- VOTING RECORD OF CAL. STATE LEGISLATORS
VOTING RECORD of CA. DELEGATION 2003-4 - Past Congressional Action