Ellen Komp

4/20/20 – Thanks to all who took our advice to #FlattenThe420Curve and stocked up in advance for 420 celebrations this year, instead of crowding retailers on 4/20.

There are lots of opportunities to celebrate online that support reform groups and/or COVID charities.

Don’t Go to Hippie Hill This Year (or Gather Anywhere Else)

The April 20 celebration at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco has been cancelled. SF’s Mayor London Breed has announced that Robin Williams Meadow will be fenced off, and officers will patrol the area, making sure people don’t gather there or elsewhere.…

Photo: Noah Friedlander / CC BY-SA

READ A MESSAGE FROM NORML’S NATIONAL DIRECTOR ABOUT COVID-19, CANNABIS AND SAFETY

THIS STORY WILL BE UPDATED AS DEVELOPMENTS HAPPEN.

UPDATE 3/23/20: MONTEREY COUNTY AND AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS ENDORSE ADVISORY FOR AGRICULTURAL WORKER PROTECTION DURING COVID-19 CRISIS

3/21/20: California’s Dept. of Public Health has issued an order deeming cannabis retailer workers and workers supporting cannabis retail as “essential critical infrastructure workers” during the statewide coronavirus “stay at home” order.

The Bureau of Cannabis Control has issued a statement saying, “Because cannabis is an essential medicine for many residents, licensees may continue to operate at this time so long as their operations comply with local rules and regulations.…

This page will be updated as more results become available. 

March 4, 2020 – In the Democratic presidential primary held yesterday in California, Bernie Sanders, who has an A+ rating from NORML based on his policy to deschedule marijuana and legalize it nationwide, is carrying California with 33.6% of the vote. Ex-VP Joe Biden, who has consistently opposed cannabis as a “gateway drug” and now says he favors “decriminalizing” cannabis, has a C- grade from NORML and has won only 24.8% of the vote in California (so far).…

Cal NORML regrets to announce that the Cal NORML / ASA Lobby Day scheduled for June 1, 2020 has been cancelled due to safety concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic. As of now, the Legislature is not in session, and will only be considering emergency bills regarding COVID and a few other issues.

We will be continuing to monitor the legislative situation in 2020, and hope to see everyone back in Sacramento for Lobby Day 2021!…

January 28, 2020 – Berkeley city council voted unanimously (with one member, Sophia Hahn, absent) to allow delivery services and vape lounges in the city, culminating a two-year process that gathered public input through its cannabis commission, public health commission, and planning commission, as well as from dozens of Berkeley residents, veterans, seniors and others who spoke at the meeting largely in favor of consumption rooms.

The council also voted to direct its Public Health Department to advise them about whether to ban artificial flavorings in vape pens.…

January 21, 2020 – For the third year in a row, a bill has been to lower taxes on licensed cannabis products in California. Announced at a press conference by Asm. Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) along with co-sponsors Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova) and Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), the bill (AB 1948) seeks to eliminate cultivation taxes for three years, and lower the state excise tax from 15% to 11% during that period.

“We’re confident we’re going to get something done this year, because the industry has been patient enough,” said Asm.…