Ellen Komp

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.

  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 …

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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

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 …

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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 …

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West Sacramento city hall

WEST SACRAMENTO HALTS CANNABIS EQUITY LICENSING

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 …

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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 …

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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

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 …

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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

Efforts 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 …

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A large cannabis leaf on a green background, with the word "CBD CANNABIDIOL" and a chemical structure diagram shown on the right side. Faded cannabis leaves in the background highlight 50 years of cannabis progress and reform. CA Norml

State, Federal Hemp Bans Flummox Consumers – A Cal NORML Report

State and federal lawmakers have moved to clamp down on hemp products, leaving Californians at a loss to legally obtain natural hemp CBD medications. The California Department of Public Health has effectively banned the sale of hemp products pending the implementation of a new state licensing system in 2028. Meanwhile, the Congress has moved to …

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Sacramento Capitol with leaf cloud

California Bills Addressing Cannabis Taxes, Hemp, Research Signed into Law; Direct-Access Bill for Patients Vetoed

UPDATED 10/13/2025 Six cannabis-related bills made it through the legislature this year and four were signed into law, while ten failed to advance. A bill from Asm. Haney to rollback cannabis taxes that Cal NORML sponsored became law, as did bills to regulate hemp from Asm. Aguiar-Curry and Sen. Wiener, and a bill from Asm. …

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