Ellen Komp

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California Adds Cannabis Smoke and THC to Prop. 65 List of Reproductive Toxins

UPDATE: OEHHA Issues Notice of Modifications to Cannabis Smoke and Delta-9-THC Exposure Warnings​
The CA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has proposed changes to the labeling of cannabis products and signage at venues​ where cannabis is smoked, vaped or dabbed following its ruling (opposed by CA NORML​) that cannabis smoke and THC are reproductive toxins. Comments regarding the proposed changes to the text of regulations will be accepted by OEHHA through October 8, 2021 at https://oehha.ca.gov/comments…

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Common Insurance Policy Contract Wording That All Cannabis and Hemp Businesses Should Avoid

By Shauna Blackburn of Cannabis Connect Insurance Services

It is important to know that every cannabis business in the chain of custody (cultivation, processing, manufacturing, distributing, wholesalers and retailers alike) is responsible for tracking and protecting against product tampering.

Below are some policy forms, exclusions, or endorsements often found on a general liability insurance policy that should be avoided for cannabis businesses:

• Smoking Exclusion: Smoking exclusions in regards to cannabis and hemp use is a “no brainer” for dispensaries, but since the grower, processors and others in the chain of custody do not always know where the flower or oil will end up, this endorsement would leave everyone in the chain of custody exposed.…

A close-up of two people exchanging cash on a glass display counter. One person is handing over dollar bills, while the other person's hand, wearing a gold watch, is poised near a transparent jar filled with more dollar bills. Three small glass containers are visible on the counter, perhaps for cannabis products endorsed by NORML. CA Norml

Cal NORML Denounces Cannabis Tax Hike

November 22, 2019 – The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration has announced two cannabis tax hikes effective January 1, 2020.  The perverse effect of this move will be to make legal, regulated cannabis even less economically competitive with the untaxed, unregulated legacy market.

Cal NORML regards the moves as steps precisely in the wrong direction, and is urging the legislature to reduce cannabis taxes instead.

The CDTFA announced that it will raise the mark-up rate by which it calculates the state excise tax from 60% to 80%. …

An illustration depicts a man standing at a fork in the road. One path leads to a pile of medication bottles and pills, while the other path leads to a cannabis plant. The scene symbolizes a choice between traditional pharmaceuticals and medical cannabis, highlighting issues like marijuana legalization. CA Norml

CMA House of Delegates Votes To Oppose Cannabis Pain Patient Discrimination

An illustration depicts a man standing at a fork in the road. One path leads to a pile of medication bottles and pills, while the other path leads to a cannabis plant. The scene symbolizes a choice between traditional pharmaceuticals and medical cannabis, highlighting issues like marijuana legalization. CA Norml

 

 

November 11, 2019 – At their meeting at the end of October in Los Angeles, the House of Delegates of the California Medical Association voted to adopt a recommendation stating, “That CMA oppose policies of health plans, health systems, and hospitals that have pain management programs that automatically eliminate patients who use therapeutic cannabis.”

The CMA’s new policy is consistent with federal CDC and VA policies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in guidelines on prescribing opioid medications for pain issued in 2016, states: “Urine drug testing results can be subject to misinterpretation and might sometimes be associated with practices that might harm patients (e.g.,…

A slide titled "Recommendations to Protect Californians' Employment Rights and Workplace Safety" features diverse people on the left and bulleted recommendations on the right. Recommendations include revising laws and policies related to medical cannabis users and drug testing, discussed in a recent Senate hearing. CA Norml

Cal NORML Calls For Employment Rights for Cannabis Users at Senate Hearing

A slide titled "Recommendations to Protect Californians' Employment Rights and Workplace Safety" features diverse people on the left and bulleted recommendations on the right. Recommendations include revising laws and policies related to medical cannabis users and drug testing, discussed in a recent Senate hearing. CA Norml

November 9, 2019 – California NORML called for state legislation to protect employment rights of cannabis consumers at an informational hearing on cannabis and employment held on Friday, November 8 in the Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement committee. Find audio and video recordings of the hearing

“Even though cannabis is now legal for adult use, and has been legal for medical use since 1996 in California, employees in our state can still be fired or denied employment for testing positive for cannabis, even if they used it days before, or need it to treat a serious illness,” Ellen Komp, Cal NORML deputy director, testified.

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A bronze statue of Lady Justice, holding scales and a sword, stands in front of a green background. A wooden judge's gavel and sound block are placed beside the statue, symbolizing law and justice. The scene commemorates the Legal Seminar held in June 2021 by California NORML. CA Norml

States with Laws Protecting Patients’ Medical Rights

Arizona
For the purposes of medical care, including organ transplants, a registered qualifying patient’s authorized use of marijuana must be considered the equivalent of the use of any other medication under the direction of a physician and does not constitute the use of an illicit substance or otherwise disqualify a registered qualifying patient from medical care. (36-2813(1)(C).

Arkansas
For the purposes of medical care, including without limitation organ transplants, a qualifying patients use of marijuana in accordance with this amendment is considered the equivalent of the authorized use of any medication used at the direction of a physician and does not constitute the use of an illicit substance.…

A governmental meeting room in Sacramento with green chairs and a U-shaped arrangement of desks. Several people are seated while a few stand or sit at a central desk. American and California flags are visible. Text on the screen mentions a joint hearing of various CA Committees about vaping regulations. CA Norml

CA Committees Hold Hearing on Vaping in Sacramento

A joint hearing at the California State Assembly in Sacramento features a panel of officials seated in a U-shaped arrangement behind desks. The topic is "Governmental Organization, Business & Professions and Health Committees." Two presenters sit at a table facing the CA Committees, addressing issues including vaping. CA NormlOctober 17, 2019 – Three California Assembly committees held a joint informational hearing on “Vaping Tobacco and Cannabis Products: Health Effects and Deficiencies in Regulation and Current Law” yesterday in Sacramento.

Committee chairs Evan Low (Business & Professions), Jim Wood (Health), and Adam Gray (Governmental Organization) made opening remarks. Wood said that he was concerned about youth vaping rates (for both nicotine and THC) and the current health crisis, saying he saw them as separate issues. Nonetheless, the issues were somewhat conflated at the hearing, as they have been throughout the crisis. …

The image shows the California State Capitol building in bright daylight. Above the building, a cloud in the shape of a cannabis leaf stands out against the blue sky. The California NORML logo and website URL, www.CaNORML.org, are displayed at the bottom, reminiscent of an activist's bill. CA Norml

Newsom Signs Bills Protecting Cannabis Compassion Programs and Students

The image shows the California State Capitol building in bright daylight. Above the building, a cloud in the shape of a cannabis leaf stands out against the blue sky. The California NORML logo and website URL, www.CaNORML.org, are displayed at the bottom, reminiscent of an activist's bill. CA Norml

UPDATE: THE LAW WILL TAKE EFFECT ON MARCH 1, 2020.

October 14, 2019 – Governor Newsom has signed SB 34 (Wiener), to exempt compassion programs that give away cannabis to needy patients from taxation. He also signed into law SB 223 (Hill) to allow parents to bring cannabis medicines to their children at school (if their school districts approve). Gov. Brown vetoed similar bills last year.

Newsom vetoed SB 305 (Hueso) which would have allowed terminally ill patients to use cannabis in certain health care facilities, citing federal conflicts in his veto message.…

Illustration of a bright yellow sun rising or setting above a green field. Sun rays extend outwards, filling the sky with a gradient of yellow to orange, while green stripes extend from the bottom, creating a sense of depth in the field—a perfect backdrop for the California Cannabis Business Conference hosted by NCIA. CA Norml

NCIA Hosts 3,000+ Top Cannabis Entrepreneurs at 3rd Annual California Cannabis Business Conference

Logo for the NCIA's California Cannabis Business Conference. The design features a bright yellow sun rising over a green field on the left, with "NCIA's" written vertically. The right side displays the text "California Cannabis Business Conference" in orange and black, capturing the spirit of cannabis entrepreneurs. CA Norml

Sign up here and get 20% off registration with the code CANORML20.

The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) is hosting the third annual California Cannabis Business Conference this October 8-9. The event, which will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center, will gather thousands of cannabis industry leaders, policymakers and entrepreneurs to discuss and examine California’s cannabis-specific regulations, market trends, policy, advocacy, and research.

California Cannabis Business Conference is the only industry trade show focusing solely on the California market.…

Two people are sitting on the floor. The person on the left is wearing a white shirt and light-colored pants, while the person on the right, dressed in a patterned top and denim shorts, is handling a large silver object with a transparent bag attached. The room is dimly lit; it's clear this setup isn't safe for cannabis vaping indoors. CA Norml

Cannabis Vaping: What’s Safe and What’s Not

 

Two people are sitting on the floor. The person on the left is wearing a white shirt and light-colored pants, while the person on the right, dressed in a patterned top and denim shorts, is handling a large silver object with a transparent bag attached. The room is dimly lit; it's clear this setup isn't safe for cannabis vaping indoors. CA NormlPHOTO: Jason Schwartzman and Jenny Slate vape in HBO’s “Bored to Death” (2011)

Download CAL NORML’S Health Advisory on Cannabis Vape Oils

UPDATE 11/14 – A fourth death has been reported in California tied to vaping, this one apparently related to e-cigarettes. CDPH continues to urge everyone to refrain from vaping and e-cigarette use, no matter the substance or source, until the cause of vaping-associated lung disease is known.

UPDATE 10/29: CDPH’S weekly report says the VAPI case count in CA has increased to 144 but no new deaths are reported and the rate of hospital admissions has slowed. …