Ellen Komp

Portrait of Mark Twain, 1867

Mark Twain’s 1865 “Stoned Stoll” To Be Commemorated on Thursday, September 17 in San Francisco

WHEN: “High” Noon, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026
 
WHERE: Transamerica Pyramid Redwood Park, 600 Montgomery St., San Francisco. We will meet at the frog pond.
 
WHAT: Attendees will hear from Cal NORML deputy director Ellen Komp about Twain’s historic “stoned stroll.” We will then take a short stroll to the southwest corner of Clay & Sansome Streets, former site of Richards & Co., a drug store that sold hasheesh. 
 
Attendees who would like to attend the event “stoned” or get that way afterwards can visit one of San Francisco’s many cannabis consumption lounges. 
…
A woman triumphantly waves a "California Republic" flag and carries an armful of freshly-harvested marijuana plants. She is depicted against a yellow sky with billowing clouds at sunrise. Text in the scroll at the bottom reads, "Sow the seeds of Victory!" Cal NORML.

Cal NORML Election Guide 2026


A woman waving a "California Republic" flag carries an armful of marijuana plants. She is depicted against a yellow sunlit background. Text at the bottom reads, "Sow the seeds of Victory!" Cal NORML.

Cal NORML Voter Guide to Cannabis Candidates

November 2026 Election

Artwork: Ruth Anne

UPDATED: 9/8/26. We will continue to update as we gather more information about candidates. 

Registered to Vote? Visit https://registertovote.ca.gov/.
The last day to register to vote online for November 3 General Election is October 19.

County elections officials will begin mailing ballots by October 5.

Quick Links: EXECUTIVE / CONGRESS / STATE SENATE / STATE ASSEMBLY / LOCAL

Pro-reform candidates’ names are in green; Anti-reform in red; Neutral in black.…

Prop. 215 activists with their Lifetime Achievement Awards, presented by the CA State Fair. Photo by Matt Allen.

Prop. 215 Activists Celebrated at CA State Fair

Prop. 215 activists were honored at the California State Fair on Saturday, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the passage of the landmark Compassionate Use Act.

“Thirty years ago, this whole wonderful event here was inconceivable. it was a mandatory felony to grow or sell any marijuana, anywhere in the US,” Cal NORML director Dale Gieringer, a co-author of the Compassionate Use Act, said in a speech at Saturday’s event. “But a growing number of people were discovering that marijuana was useful for AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, chronic pain, and many other conditions.…

Area chart titled "Marijuana Arrests by Race 2015-2024" shows cannabis crimes in California, with arrests for White (blue), Black (orange), and Hispanic (gray) individuals declining—though disproportionate arrests persist, especially for Hispanic individuals. Ca NORML

Blacks and Latinos Disproportionately Arrested for Cannabis Crimes in California

Stacked area chart titled "Marijuana Arrests by Race 2015-2025" shows declining cannabis crimes for Whites (blue), Blacks (orange), and Latinos (gray), with all groups experiencing significant decreases over time. Ca NORML

Although the number of people arrested for cannabis crimes in California has dramatically declined since the voters legalized adult use and sales of cannabis in 2016, people of Latino descent are more than twice as likely as Whites to be arrested for cannabis crimes in California, and Blacks are more than five times more likely. These racial disparities have worsened since legalization.

According to the 2025 Crime in California report released by California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta on July 1, the felony marijuana arrest rate decreased 13.3% in 2025 (440 in 2024 to 399 in 2025).…

A pair of hands, one in a handcuff and the other breaking free, are raised against a background of marijuana leaves. The image suggests liberation or freedom in the context of Prop. 64 and marijuana arrests. CA Norml

Benefits of Legal Cannabis Under Prop 64

Infographic showing the benefits of legal cannabis in California under Prop 64: 215,000 crimes expunged, 80,000 jobs created, $7 billion in taxes generated, decreased crime rates, reduced arrests, no rise in auto fatalities or youth use, and increased parental rights. Ca NORML

Since Californians legalized adult cannabis use and sales 10 years ago in 2016, our state and its citizens have seen many benefits from the laws that Prop. 64 put in place.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS BENEFITS

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A map of California highlights Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Nevada, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, and Trinity counties in green. Text reads: "Budist 2025 California Cannabis Harvest Report" with a cannabis leaf icon. Forest graphics border the image. Ca NORML

Budist 2025 California Cannabis Harvest Report Released

A map of California highlights Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Nevada, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, and Trinity counties in green. Text reads: "Budist 2025 California Cannabis Harvest Report" with a cannabis leaf icon. Forest graphics border the image. Ca NORML

A well-attended event in Berkeley on Saturday, May 16 presented the Budist 2025 California Cannabis Harvest Report, with outdoor farmers represented from the report’s covered counties: Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino, Sonoma, Lake, Nevada and Santa Cruz. Starting from DCC dashboard numbers and adding in the number of licensees producing outdoor crops, the report highlights farmers and cultivars in each region, and looks at statewide trends.

The 2025 outdoor cannabis harvest was the largest since 2022; however all counties in the report except Mendocino lost market share in California’s outdoor market in 2025 vs.…

A diverse group gathers in front of the U.S. Capitol building for Lobby Day, holding signs supporting cannabis legalization and Latino representation, during an outdoor press event organized by the Cannabis Unity Coalition on a sunny day. Ca NORML

Cal NORML Joins Cannabis Unity Coalition Lobby Day in DC

The Cannabis Unity Coalition press conference at the US Capitol on May 14, 2026

Cal NORML participated in Cannabis Unity Coalition lobby day last week in Washington, DC to lobby for full cannabis decriminalization, release of federal marijuana prisoners, and the clearing of records for past marijuana convictions.

Watch the coalition press conference held at the US Capitol at which Cannabis Caucus Co-Chairs Dina Titus (D-NV) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) spoke, along with Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN). Read more.

Also speaking were representatives from Latino and Indigenous groups, prisoner advocates, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, NORML, MPP, DPA, and others.…

A cannabis vape pen rests atop two green cannabis leaves.

Cal NORML Pilot Study Finds Using Cannabis Vape Pens Less Harmful Than Smoked Joints

A cannabis vape pen rests atop two green cannabis leaves.

Cannabis vape pens expose users to significantly less harmful toxins than smoked joints, according to a new lab study  sponsored by California NORML.  The study compared the emissions of two different vape pens – a disposable and a reusable cartridge model – with pre-roll joints purchased from a San Diego dispensary.  The vape pens emitted significantly cleaner emissions than the joint for almost all toxins tested, and, unlike the joint, were within EPA safe daily exposure limits for regular users.

“The dangers of vapes have been misrepresented by anti-smoking advocates to suggest their emissions are as hazardous as smoke,” says Cal NORML director Dale Gieringer. …

A woman triumphantly waves a "California Republic" flag and carries an armful of freshly-harvested marijuana plants. She is depicted against a yellow sky with billowing clouds at sunrise. Text in the scroll at the bottom reads, "Sow the seeds of Victory!" Cal NORML.

Cal NORML Election Guide and Results – Primary Election 2026


A woman waving a "California Republic" flag carries an armful of marijuana plants. She is depicted against a yellow sunlit background. Text at the bottom reads, "Sow the seeds of Victory!" Cal NORML.

Cal NORML Voter Guide to Cannabis Candidates

June 2026 Primary Election

Got input on candidates or races? Write here.

Artwork: Ruth Anne

UPDATED 6/29/26

Quick Links: EXECUTIVE / CONGRESS / STATE SENATE / STATE ASSEMBLY / LOCAL

Governor

RESULTS: Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are heading to the November run-off. Hilton recently said he thinks California’s cannabis taxes are too high.   

Xavier Becerra – In 2016, as California’s Attorney General, Becerra told Politico he would be defending California’s new law legalizing marijuana against possible federal interference, and admitted he tried weed “at a younger time.”…

Todd Blanche signing order

Justice Department Orders State-Licensed Medical Marijuana to Schedule III, Sets Hearings for Broader Rescheduling

Todd Blanche signing order

UPDATE 5/19/26 : The DCC has issued a Notice of Rulemaking to allow for existing licensees who hold a license with both a medicinal and Adult-Use designation to be issued separate Medicinal and Adult-Use licenses.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has signed an order immediately placing both “FDA-approved drug products containing marijuana, and medicinal marijuana products subject to a qualifying state-issued license” in Schedule III. The action is taken “under his authority to reschedule drugs to carry out the United States’ obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs,” according to a press release from DOJ.…

A gold pin in the shape of a cannabis leaf, inspired by Cal NORML advocacy, is attached to the lapel of a dark blue textured suit jacket. Ca NORML

4/20/26 Specials from Cal NORML: Gifts and Discounts for Personal and Business Memberships

A gold pin in the shape of a cannabis leaf, inspired by Cal NORML advocacy, is attached to the lapel of a dark blue textured suit jacket. Ca NORML

Join Cal NORML now through the end of April with a discounted $42 Gold Membership and get a free thank-you gift: Our popular gold lapel pin in the shape of a pot leaf (shown). It’s a great way to represent your support for Cal NORML and cannabis!

Join Cal NORML through 4/30 and we will send your gift to you by mail. Membership renewals qualify; email here if you are unsure of your membership status. Members receive our printed newsletter and discounts on events and items throughout the year.…

A grand, white, neoclassical government building stands under a clear blue sky with some clouds. Unusually, a large cloud shaped like a cannabis leaf floats prominently in the sky above the California Legislature. Trees and greenery surround the building. CA Norml

2026 California Cannabis Legislation: What Bills Cal NORML is Tracking and Acting On

A grand, white, neoclassical government building stands under a clear blue sky with some clouds. Unusually, a large cloud shaped like a cannabis leaf floats prominently in the sky above the California Legislature. Trees and greenery surround the building. CA Norml

LAST UPDATED 9/1/2026

SIGNED INTO LAW

AB-2249 (Irwin) Cannabis: labels, packaging and manufacturing. Signed by the Governor after extensive amendments in the Senate.

 

BILLS PASSED BY LEGISLATURE; MUST BE SIGNED (OR VETOED) BY THE GOVERNOR BY 9/30:

AB 1965 (Sharp-Collins) Cannabis: testing: quality assurance. On Governor’s desk. Cal NORML has sent a letter in support of this bill.

AB-2532 (Irwin) Cannabis: labels, packaging and manufacturing (beverages). Passed Assembly concurrence by 74-0, with Asms. Bauer-Kahan, Gipson, Haney, Lee, and McKinnor not voting.…

Asm. Berman holds up a cannabis package he called, "straight out of Alice in Wonderland"

CA Lawmakers Hold Hearing on Cannabis Packaging

Asm. Berman holds up a cannabis package he called, "straight out of Alice in Wonderland"A “joint” hearing of the CA Joint Legislative Audit and Asm. Business and Professions Committee was held in Sacramento on February 17 addressing cannabis packaging and its attractiveness to children.

Chair of the Joint Legislative Audit committee John Harabedian (D-Pasadena) opened the hearing and turned it over to Asm. Jacqui Irwin (D-Ventura) who requested an audit of cannabis packaging last year. The audit determined that laws and guidance are not always clear on what constitutes a package that is attractive to children, and that the DCC’s enforcement against companies with repeated violations was lacking.…

A person stands at a fork in the road, facing a choice between a path lined with prescription pill bottles and another lined with cannabis leaves, highlighting the impact of cannabis policy debates under a blue sky with clouds. Ca NORML

Have You Been Discriminated Against by A Kaiser Doctor for Using Cannabis? Join Cal NORML’s Action Demanding Kaiser Change Its Policy.

 

A person stands at a fork in the road, facing a choice between a path lined with prescription pill bottles and another lined with cannabis leaves, highlighting the impact of cannabis policy debates under a blue sky with clouds. Ca NORML

UPDATE 6/25/2026 – KPFA radio in Berkeley ran a story on June 24 (at 33:20 in the broadcast) about Cal NORML’s action against Kaiser Healthcare over their discriminatory practices against medical marijuana patients. A Kaiser spokesperson claimed their doctors are making case-by-case decisions on providing healthcare. However, Cal NORML deputy director Ellen Komp was quoted saying patients are reporting that Kaiser doctors tell them their hands are tied by company policy when it comes to treating them. Kaiser patient Victor Pinho, who has been denied ADD medication at Kaiser, was also quoted, confirmed that his doctors have told him that Kaiser policy interferes with their prescribing options.…

A person in California packs a UPS box with cannabis products—CBD gummies, a THC vape, CBD oil, and a bag of medical marijuana buds—on a wooden table. Shipping materials and a label are visible nearby. CA Norml

Medical Marijuana Shipping Bill Scrapped

A person in California packs a UPS box with cannabis products—CBD gummies, a THC vape, CBD oil, and a bag of medical marijuana buds—on a wooden table. Shipping materials and a label are visible nearby. CA Norml

UPDATE 2/26/26 – The cannabis language in the bill has been erased, following opposition from some in the cannabis industry, concerned that it would open the door to broader shipping. 

UPDATE 2/20/26 – During a chat with Capitol Weekly, new DCC chief Clint Kellum said (@ 19:46 in), that direct-mail options for cannabis could be “quite beneficial” to consumers, noting that most people are getting goods via Amazon, etc. Kellum said that the cannabis consumer has “quite a confusing market to deal with, in that there’s not widespread access across the state, you have intoxicating hemp cannabinoids that aren’t allowed in the state but are allowed at the federal level that make their way in through direct-to-consumer efforts, so there’s quite a bit of confusion, and having more traditional lines like direct-to-consumer would be nice.”…

A government committee meets in a large, modern hearing room; people are seated around a curved desk. The screen displays “AB 762 Irwin: Vape ban on Disposable, Battery-Embedded Vapor Inhalation Device: Prohibition.”. CA NORML

Disposable Vape Ban Bill Amended to Remove Cannabis Vapes

UPDATE 1/26/2026: Asm. Irwin’s bill to ban disposable vapes passed in the Assembly Appropriations committee and was headed for a floor vote when it was amended to remove cannabis vapes from the language.

Cal NORML favors shifting to vapes with removable batteries and developing disposal options for cannabis vape waste. 

Manufacturers and retailers should explore re-designing vapes with removable batteries, and/or provide waste disposal programs for cannabis cartridges, vape pens, and batteries. 

See: THE GREEN PUFF: TRANSFORMING CANNABIS VAPING INTO A SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE  and

Raising the Volume: How Regulations and Consumer Market Trends Have Increased the Volume of Cannabis Packaging Waste in California

Consumers should be aware of proper disposal options for cannabis cartridges and integrated cannabis vaporizers. …

West Sacramento city hall

WEST SACRAMENTO HALTS CANNABIS EQUITY LICENSING

West Sacramento city hall

UPDATE 5/29/26: A lawsuit was filed by STASH against the city on May 22; a court hearing on the suit is scheduled for Sept. 21, case number #CV2026-1591 in Yolo County.  In a press release, the plaintiff states: “This case represents a growing and deeply concerning pattern occurring throughout California, where cannabis equity programs, originally created to repair harms caused by the failed War on Drugs, are instead being manipulated, delayed, obstructed, or abandoned after applicants have already invested substantial financial resources and received approval.”…

A photograph of Jack London's hashish party on the Snark.

Jack London, California Cannabis Pioneer

Last night was like a thousand years. I was obsessed with indescribable sensations, alternative visions of excessive happiness and oppressive moods of extreme sorrow. I wandered for aeons through countless worlds, mingling with all types of humanity, from the most saintly persons down to the lowest type of abysmal brute. – Jack London, of a hashish experience

Today, January 12, 2025, is the Sesquientennial of author Jack London’s birth 150 years ago.

Jack London was California’s most celebrated literary figure at the turn of the last century.…

A close-up of a person holding an electronic cigarette, or vape, to their mouth, with vapor visible as they inhale. The device has a blue light and clear chamber showing liquid inside, reflecting progress since 50 years of cannabis reform. CA Norml

Cal NORML Launches Vape Pen Safety Study

A cannabis vape pen rests atop two green cannabis leaves.

UPDATE 5/26: The Study Has Been Released

California NORML is sponsoring a laboratory study to investigate the safety of electronic vape pens.

The study is designed to measure toxic emissions such as benzene, formaldehyde, and heavy metals that could be dangerous to health, as well as the amounts of THC and cannabinoids they deliver to users.

The study is a follow-up to California NORML’s 2001-2004 lab studies of herbal vaporizers, which heat up natural buds or leaf. The studies demonstrated that they could deliver virtually pure THC without any of the toxins or carcinogens present in smoke.…

A large cannabis plant stands in the foreground with the U.S. Capitol and Jefferson Memorial in the background, symbolizing D.C.'s ongoing cannabis reform under a cloudy sky above the historic swamp. CA Norml

CANNABIS REFORM BOGS DOWN IN D.C. SWAMP

A large cannabis plant stands in the foreground with the U.S. Capitol and Jefferson Memorial in the background, symbolizing D.C.'s ongoing cannabis reform under a cloudy sky above the historic swamp. CA NormlEfforts to reform federal cannabis laws remain stuck on hold in Washington, D.C. 

There is no indication as to whether the administration plans to move marijuana from Schedule I to III, as proposed by the Biden administration in April 2024. The DEA’s leadership has expressed skepticism about the proposal and has been sitting on it ever since. President Trump is reported to have privately indicated his interest in rescheduling to cannabusiness interests. However, his advisors are thought to have mixed views.…