Ellen Komp

Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank H Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA

Oakland City Council To Consider Exempting Cannabis From Smoke-Free Ordinance on November 12

Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank H Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CAACTION ALERT

On Tuesday, November 12 the Oakland City Council will vote on a nonsmoking ordinance. The proposed ordinance would ban smoking or vaping of tobacco or cannabis at outdoor bars in the city, and also ban smoking/vaping in multiunit apartment dwellings with (as written) an exemption for cannabis.

The Council will consider two options:

1. Passing the ordinance with the cannabis exemption for multiunit dwellings (while still allowing property owners to ban cannabis);
2. Taking out the cannabis exemption and forcing a citywide ban;

We must show support to make sure that cannabis consumers can be protected in their apartments in Oakland.…

Cal NORML Candidate Endorsements – November 2024 Election

Cal NORML has compiled votings records of California legislators on cannabis bills in the 2023/24 session. Based on these, other past records, and responses to our candidate questionnaires, we have assigned candidates grades at the NORML Smoke the Vote Guide. 

Below are candidates who, because of their past record and/or stance on cannabis reform, are endorsed by Cal NORML. Other candidates may be added as we gather more information.

In Cal NORML’s 2023 Membership Survey, 47% of respondents said their vote is “Always” strongly influenced by a candidate’s position on marijuana, and another 34% said it “Usually” is.…

Cannabis Voting Records for California Legislators – 2023/24

Cal NORML has compiled the voting records of California’s legislators on key cannabis bills in 2023 and 2024, assigning grades based on weighted scores for their votes. Lawmakers with the worst voting records are in our “Hall of Shame” (designed in red); our “Honor Roll” (in green) is for legislators with the best records, and/or those who sponsored pro-cannabis bills. 

Also see NORML’s Smoke the Vote Guide to Officeholders and Candidates, and Cal NORML’s guide to key California races, local races, and ballot measures. …

An image featuring a cloud shaped like a cannabis leaf in a blue sky. Above, the text reads "California NORML SMOKE THE VOTE." Below, it states "NOVEMBER 2024" and "CaNORML.org/vote2024. Check out the California Voters Guide for more on cannabis candidates and measures. CA Norml

2024 California Election Results For Cannabis Candidates & Measures

An image featuring a cloud shaped like a cannabis leaf in a blue sky. Above, the text reads "California NORML SMOKE THE VOTE." Below, it states "NOVEMBER 2024" and "CaNORML.org/vote2024. Check out the California Voters Guide for more on cannabis candidates and measures. CA Norml

In our 2023 Membership Survey, 47% of respondents said their vote is “Always” strongly influenced by a candidate’s position on marijuana, and another 34% said it “Usually” is. Also, 63% said they consulted our 2022 voter guide.

If you appreciate getting voting information from Cal NORML, please consider supporting us with a personal or business membership​ or donation.​ Read more about Cal NORML.​

Read about all federal and state races, candidates’ voting records, and more at National NORML’s Smoke the Vote Guide.

…
A lively café with lush greenery hanging from the ceiling and walls. People are engaged in conversation, while others are seated at tables with food and drinks. The atmosphere is cozy and vibrant, mixing rustic décor and comfortable seating—a true haven reminiscent of a cannabis café bill envisioning community spaces. CA Norml

Cal NORML-Sponsored Cannabis Café Bill Becomes Law

A lively café with lush greenery hanging from the ceiling and walls. People are engaged in conversation, while others are seated at tables with food and drinks. The atmosphere is cozy and vibrant, mixing rustic décor and comfortable seating—a true haven reminiscent of a cannabis café bill envisioning community spaces. CA Norml

There’s been much enthusiasm about the new law, which will take effect on January 1, 2025. It’s a good time for supporters to join Cal NORML and get involved with local NORML chapters​ to ensure that local governments will allow cannabis lounges. Cal NORML has been tracking cannabis lounges​ and hopes to see more open. Also see our Local Activist Toolkit. 

9/30/24 – In a strong showing of support for the California cannabis industry and legal consumers, Governor Newsom has signed into law the Cal NORML-sponsored cannabis café bill AB 1775 (Haney), to allow licensed cannabis lounges to sell non-alcoholic food and drinks, as well as tickets to onsite concerts, with local government approval. 

…
A lively café with lush greenery hanging from the ceiling and walls. People are engaged in conversation, while others are seated at tables with food and drinks. The atmosphere is cozy and vibrant, mixing rustic décor and comfortable seating—a true haven reminiscent of a cannabis café bill envisioning community spaces. CA Norml

Cal NORML-sponsored Cannabis Café Bill on Governor’s Desk

A lively café with lush greenery hanging from the ceiling and walls. People are engaged in conversation, while others are seated at tables with food and drinks. The atmosphere is cozy and vibrant, mixing rustic décor and comfortable seating—a true haven depicting a cannabis café bill envisioning community spaces. CA NORML
UPDATE September 30, 2024 – Governor Newsom has signed the California NORML-sponsored “cannabis café” bill to allow California cannabis lounges to sell food and event tickets.  It will take effect on January 1, 2025. 
Cal NORML supporters sent in over 700 letters of support on the bill, nearly 200 of them to the Governor. Thanks to all who took action! 

Also see:
Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson urges Governor to sign bill for California’s cannabis cafes

Whoopi Goldberg Urges Governor to Sign Bill for California’s Cannabis Cafes

Comedian and cannabis entrepreneur Bill Maher has now joined Woody Harrelson and Whoopi Goldberg​ asking for Newsom to sign the bill.…

Gov. Newsom speaks at a press conference announcing emergency regulations on hemp products in California.

Cal NORML Asks For Change in CDPH Hemp Regulations to Allow Non-Intoxicating Medicinal Hemp Products

In a letter to the California Office of Administrative Law and Department of Public Health, Cal NORML has asked that Gov. Newsom’s proposed emergency regulations banning the sale of hemp products be modified to allow continued sale of non-intoxicating hemp CBD extracts that are widely used by medical patients in California.

The letter does not take issue with the regulations’ intent to block the sale of hemp products with intoxicating levels of THC in liquor stores, gas stations, smoke shops and convenience outlets, often with inadequate labeling and in a manner accessible to minors.…

Sacramento Capitol with leaf cloud

Patient Compassion Programs, Cannabis Cafés, and Tax Reform Among Cannabis Bills Signed into Law in 2024

Sacramento Capitol with leaf cloudCal NORML supporters have sent over 2500 letters in support of (or opposed to) cannabis bills in California this year, and our annual Lobby Day in May brought citizen lobbyists from across the state to meet with their lawmakers. Please support Cal NORML with a personal or business membership to help us to continue advancing cannabis consumers’ rights in California!

UPDATED 9/30/2024

Several bills that Cal NORML has sponsored or supported have passed through the legislature and have been signed into law. 

…
A diverse group of people stand in a lobby, some holding papers. At the center, a woman in a red pantsuit smiles. One person uses a wheelchair. The environment appears formal, with chandeliers and carpeted flooring, suggesting an official or celebratory event perhaps related to Compassion Programs. CA Norml

CANNABIS COMPASSION PROGRAMS AND TAXATION BILLS SIGNED, FARMER’S MARKET BILL VETOED BY GOVERNOR

A diverse group of people stand in a lobby, some holding papers. At the center, a woman in a red pantsuit smiles. One person uses a wheelchair. The environment appears formal, with chandeliers and carpeted flooring, suggesting an official or celebratory event perhaps related to Compassion Programs. CA NormlGOVERNOR SIGNS CANNABIS COMPASSION BILL

Governor Newsom has signed AB 2555, the cannabis compassion bill, as part of a package of bills supporting veterans in California.

The high cost of medical cannabis, particularly its taxation, has made it impossible for many patients who are financially challenged to obtain a sufficient and steady supply of their medicine.

SB 34 (Weiner, 2019), exempted cannabis donated to financially challenged patients from taxation. Provisions of that law will expire on March of 2025, and must be renewed, in order to continue to supply needy patients with cannabis.…

Image of a man with long hair and glasses, wearing a suit and smiling. Text reads "20th Emerald Cup," "R. Keith Stroup, Esq., Founder of NORML," "Lifetime Achievement Award Winner." Bottom text states he is a Washington, DC attorney who founded NORML in 1970. An array of glass trophies is displayed in the lower right corner at the prestigious Emerald Cup CA Norml

Emerald Cup Honors NORML Founder Keith Stroup with Lifetime Achievement Award on 60th Anniversary of First Pot Protest

Please support NORML’s work by donating to our
60th Anniversary – Keith Stroup Celebration fund

Photo of Keith Stroup

OAKLAND – The Emerald Cup will celebrate its 20th anniversary in Oakland by conferring its Lifetime Achievement Award to NORML founder Keith Stroup, sixty years after the world’s first marijuana freedom protest in San Francisco started a worldwide movement to end cannabis prohibition.

EGGEMIER’S “PUFF IN” SPARKS MARIJUANA REFORM IN U.S.

On August 16th, 1964, a lone crusader named Lowell Eggemeier marched into the San Francisco Hall of Justice, fired up a joint, and puffed it in the presence of the police inspector.…

A large cannabis bud sits on a white plate, adorned with a blue ribbon award attached to it. A small flag with the text "TRY ME" is planted in the bud, suggesting it is a winning or recommended strain from the California State Fair. The background is plain beige. CA Norml

California State Fair Allows Sales and Consumption of Cannabis For the First Time

A cashier hands a paper bag that reads "HIGH FROM California" to a customer across the counter. The customer prepares to pay with cash. Another employee works on a computer in the background, managing cannabis sales and consumption data. The store has a buzz reminiscent of the California State Fair. CA Norml

UPDATED August 4, 2024 – By all measures, the first-ever cannabis consumption space at the CA State Fair was a huge success, and augurs well for seeing more of such events and spaces in California.

AdWeek magazine reported that more than 100,000 people visited the cannabis exhibit, which this year included the opportunity to purchase and enjoy products from California’s cannabis farmers.

Overall attendance at the 17-day California State Fair was up 10% this year over 2023, even though the Fair suffered through 11 days of triple-digit temperatures.…

A woman in a light-colored blazer speaks while holding papers at an Assembly Labor and Employment Committee meeting on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. The text at the bottom of the screen reads "SB 1264" and "Grove," highlighting discussions about employment protections related to off-the-job cannabis use. CA Norml

Bill Excluding Law Enforcement Officers from Employment Protections for Off-The-Job Cannabis Use Fails in Committee

A woman in a light-colored blazer speaks while holding papers at an Assembly Labor and Employment Committee meeting on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. The text at the bottom of the screen reads "SB 1264" and "Grove," highlighting discussions about employment protections related to off-the-job cannabis use. CA Norml

On June 19, the SB 1264 (Grove), a bill to exclude law enforcement from employment rights protections for off-the-job cannabis use, failed to pass the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee, in a 3-2-2 vote. The bill would have amended AB 2188, the Cal NORML–sponsored bill banning job discrimination based on urine or hair tests for inactive THC metabolites.

Watch the committee hearing (starting about 2:15 in).

Beth Malinowski of SEIU (Service Employees International Union) testified against the bill, saying, “Employers, including law enforcement, are free to test for recent use of cannabis by means of oral swab, blood or breath tests, which detect recent exposure to THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, or by performance tests that detect actual impairment.…

A close-up of a person vaping with an electronic cigarette. The individual's hand is holding the black and silver e-cigarette, which emits vapor, and the mouthpiece is near their lips. A blue light is illuminated on the device. Public housing policies often discourage such activities. The background is blurred. CA Norml

New Requirements for Vaporizer/Cartridge Labeling and Advertising

A close-up of a person vaping with an electronic cigarette. The individual's hand is holding the black and silver e-cigarette, which emits vapor, and the mouthpiece is near their lips. A blue light is illuminated on the device. Public housing policies often discourage such activities. The background is blurred. CA Norml

Also see: DCC’s AB 1894 and new requirements for packaging, labeling, advertising, and marketing.

Beginning on July 1, 2024, Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 26152.1 will take effect, requiring:

• Advertisement and marketing of an integrated cannabis vaporizer, defined in Section 26122,  shall prominently provide in a clear and legible fashion: “An empty integrated cannabis vaporizer shall be properly disposed of as hazardous waste at a household hazardous waste collection facility or other approved facility.”

• Advertisement and marketing of a cannabis cartridge shall prominently provide in a clear and legible fashion: “A spent cannabis cartridge shall be properly disposed of as hazardous waste at a household hazardous waste collection facility or other approved facility.”…

A burlap sack labeled "RED HAIR SINSEMILLA MARIJUANA," featuring a large green cannabis leaf illustration. Text reads "SUPERIOR QUALITY SEEDLESS," "50 KILOS," and notes that it is "Organically Grown in California U.S.A." on a beige background. Perfect as a Thank You Gift for joining Cal NORML! CA Norml

4/20/25 Specials from Cal NORML: Gifts and Discounts for Personal and Business Memberships

Image of an empty 50 kilo burlap bag for RedHair Sinsemilla

Join Cal NORML now through the end of April with a discounted $42 membership and get a free thank-you gift: Our popular burlap sack printed with a “California Red Hair Sinsemilla” design (shown).

Usually available only at Cal NORML information tables at events, this 22″ x 36″ bags parodies classic agricultural storage sacks. They look great as wall art, and are useful as laundry bags and more. And they make great gifts!

Join Cal NORML through 4/30 and we will send your gift to you by mail (in a plain envelope — sorry, the bags won’t be stuffed with weed!).…

A diverse group of people, including individuals with mobility aids, stands smiling on steps in front of a grand building. Many wear lanyards, hinting at a Cal NORML conference or event gathering. The backdrop features large, decorative doors celebrating their accomplishments. CA Norml

May 6 Lobby Day in Sacramento a Success

The California NORML/Americans for Safe Access Citizen Lobby Day on Monday, May 6, 2024 in Sacramento brought dozens of supporters from across the state to meet with their state representatives and make our voices heard on pending legislation affecting the rights of cannabis consumers in California.

A survey sent to lobby day participants found that 81% of respondents found the experience “empowering”; 88% found it “educational/interesting” and 77% thought it was “enjoyable/fun.” Of the respondents, who were adult use and/or medical marijuana consumers and/or cannabis business people, 69% responded yes to, “I felt my voice was heard regarding cannabis legislation in California” and 77% agreed, “Cal NORML made it easy for me to be a citizen lobbyist.”…

A diverse group of people, including Mayor Breed, smile and pose for a photo outdoors. Some hold a large belt that appears to be an award. The backdrop showcases greenery, a white wall, and a small structure, all under the sunny skies of SF Weed Week. CA Norml

Mayor Breed Kicks Off SF Weed Week

Mayor Breed at SF Weed Week kickoff

San Francisco Mayor London Breed stopped off before attending the Giants home opener today to welcome participants in the first SF Weed Week, to be held throughout the city on April 13 – 20th. 

The kickoff press conference was held in conjunction with a Cannabis Mylar Art Exhibit, showcasing over 1,000 commercial mylar product packages from the legal and illicit market, at the Mirus Gallery & Art Bar at 540 Howard Street. It was organized by cannabis journalist David Downs and attended by about 100 supporters from the Bay Area and beyond.

…
A graphic illustration depicting a series of voting machines with hands inserting ballots, each featuring an image of a cannabis leaf. The overall color scheme is green and black, emphasizing the significance of Cannabis Candidates in the upcoming June 2022 primary election. CA Norml

March 2024 Primary Election Guide to Cannabis Candidates and Measures

 A graphic illustration depicting a series of voting machines with hands inserting ballots, each featuring an image of a cannabis leaf. The overall color scheme is green and black, emphasizing the significance of Cannabis Candidates in the upcoming June 2022 primary election. CA Norml

Read about all federal and state races, candidates’ voting records, and more at NORML’s Smoke the Vote Guide

Every registered voter in California will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the March 5 primary election. Ballots can be returned as soon as they are received. Vote-by-mail drop boxes opened on February 6 and in-person voting will be available in all California counties.

The deadline to register to vote online was February 20th. You can check your voter status online. If you need to register after February 20, you can do so at your county elections office or polling place on the day of voting.…

A large group of people posing for a group photo in a conference room. Behind them, a projected slide reads "California Citizen Lobby Day in Sacramento 5/8/2023," along with other text. The group appears to be at an event or meeting, with a diverse range of attendees smiling at the camera. CA Norml

Sponsor Lobby Day – May 6, 2024 in Sacramento

A large, diverse group of people is posing for a group photo in front of a screen displaying "Citizen Lobby Day in Sacramento 5/8/2023." The slide mentions "Equal Rights, Fair Elections, Sensible Regulation" and notes the event date as May 10, 2023, in Sacramento, CA. CA Norml

Read more about Lobby Day

BECOME A SPONSOR TODAY!

California NORML and ASA (Americans for Safe Access) are pleased to announce Citizen Lobby Day, taking place May 6, 2024 in Sacramento, CA. Our members and coalition partners will host a lobby day and training in support of state legislation to better regulate cannabis and protect consumers in California.

The California Citizen Lobby Day offers an exciting and unique opportunity to reach out to the medical and adult-use cannabis community. Becoming a sponsor of the Citizen Lobby Day is an excellent way to maximize your visibility to full or targeted groups of conference attendees.…

A large, diverse group of people is posing for a group photo in front of a screen displaying "Citizen Lobby Day in Sacramento 5/8/2023." The slide mentions "Equal Rights, Fair Elections, Sensible Regulation" and notes the event date as May 10, 2023, in Sacramento, CA. CA Norml

Join Us at Lobby Day on May 6, 2024 in Sacramento!

Thank you to our sponsors!

A large, diverse group of people posing for a photo in a conference room. A presentation screen behind them reads "California Citizen Lobby Day: Equal Rights, Fair Taxation, Sensible Regulation, May 4, 2023, Sacramento, CA." Everyone is smiling and celebrating the event and their 2023 accomplishments with Cal NORML. CA Norml

All Californians are invited to attend the California NORML/Americans for Safe Access Citizen Lobby Day on Monday, May 6 in Sacramento. The event will bring supporters from across the state to meet with their state representatives and make our voices heard on pending legislation affecting the rights of cannabis consumers in California.

Lobby Day Ticket 2024

Lobby Day Ticket 2024

$25.00 – $50.00

Buy now

Our past lobby days have helped bring about reforms such as employment rights for cannabis consumers, medical rights for pain patients who use cannabis, among other ongoing issues. 

…
A chart comparing California excise taxes—1¢ for 5 oz wine, 2¢ for 12 oz beer, 8¢ for 1.5 oz liquor, 14¢ per cigarette, and $1.22 for a cannabis pre-roll—illustrates the need for fair taxation of cannabis, as noted by Cal NORML. Ca NORML

Join Cal NORML’s Fight for Fair Taxation of Cannabis in California

A chart comparing California excise taxes—1¢ for 5 oz wine, 2¢ for 12 oz beer, 8¢ for 1.5 oz liquor, 14¢ per cigarette, and $1.22 for a cannabis pre-roll—illustrates the need for fair taxation of cannabis, as noted by Cal NORML. Ca NORML

In California, the cannabis excise tax is set at 15% of gross receipts from licensed retail cannabis sales in California. 

Cal NORML spearheaded an effort to roll back the tax from 19% in 2025, but more reform is needed. That rollback will expire on July 1, 2028 unless further action is taken.

Cannabis is heavily overtaxed relative to comparable goods in California.

According to the state legislative analyst’s office, state excise tax on a glass of wine is one cent, and on a 12-oz.…