UPDATE 9/22: Asm. Mia Bonta’s bill AB 1706 to expedite clearing of marijuana records in California has passed and was signed into law. Thanks to all who took action on this bill!

California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued an information bulletin to all district attorneys, chief justices, and court executive officers across the state calling for all prosecuting agencies and courts to “prioritize implementation of the cannabis resentencing process provided under Health and Safety Code Sec. 11361.9 so Californians can promptly obtain the relief to which they are entitled under the law.”…

In a victory for cannabis consumers, the San Jose City Council Neighborhood Services and Education Committee voted 5-0 on 12/9/2021 to exempt cannabis from a proposed Smoke-Free Housing Ordinance. The ordinance would have banned smoking and vaping of all kinds in multi-unit dwellings.

California NORML joined forces with the Silicon Valley Cannabis Alliance, MPP, ASA and other advocates in urging the council to exempt cannabis from the ban, thus limiting it to tobacco only. Advocates have previously succeeded in defeating cannabis smoking bans in West Hollywood and San Francisco.…

November 22, 2021 – Results of an online survey of cannabis users that California NORML is conducting indicate:

– 30% of respondents (with another 15% unsure) indicated they had been denied employment for testing positive for marijuana

– 8% have been terminated because of a positive marijuana test

– 65% are looking for a job and afraid of discrimination due to their marijuana use

– 37% have increased their use of opioids or other drugs, or alcohol, because of drug testing

– 60% have stopped using marijuana because of drug testing by their employer or doctor

It is stunning that such a large number of Californians living in a state with legal marijuana have experienced job discrimination, and are turning to more harmful drugs or alcohol because of drug testing by their employers or doctors.…

Oakland, CA — Today, November 9, 2021, the Oakland Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to forward the proposed ordinance introduced by Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan (pictured) and co-authored by Council President Fortunato Bas, Councilmember Kalb, and Pro Tem Thao, creating a Prohibition Against City Employees Cannabis Metabolites Testing.

Currently, the city tests employees for cannabis metabolites. This substance can show in a test for weeks after use, and is not an accurate indication of impairment. New York City and Philadelphia have ordinances that protect all employees, with the exception of federal employees from cannabis testing.…

Artwork: Ruth Frase

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UPDATE 9/28/2021 – Gov. Newsom has signed into law SB-311 by Sen. Ben Hueso, to require hospitals to allow terminal patients to use cannabis. Cal NORML supporters sent in 750 letters to Gov. Newsom in support of SB-311. Thanks to all who took action!

UPDATE 9/16/2021

Highway Billboards: Cal NORML supported a bill by Asm.

By Dale Gieringer and Geoffrey Lawrence

Federal laws against marijuana are outdated and counterproductive.  Polls show that nearly seven in ten Americans favor legalizing adult use of marijuana, and 90% favor medical use.   Eighteen states have now legalized adult use of marijuana, and 36 have laws allowing medical use.

Nonetheless, federal law remains stuck in the past, strictly prohibiting  marijuana as an illicit “Schedule 1”  substance like heroin, treating it more stringently than cocaine or methamphetamines.  As a result, it remains federally illegal for Americans to possess, grow, distribute, or transport marijuana, even for medical use and even where state law allows it. …

UPDATE 10/12/21: LA City Councilmember Raman has introduced a resolution in support of AB 1256. “California has long had a progressive stance on the consumption of cannabis — but it has fallen short in protecting its workers who use cannabis off the job,” said Councilmember Raman. “Each day we neglect removing these outdated drug testing requirements is another day we are erecting roadblocks to ensuring a truly robust and equitable workforce.”

UPDATE JULY 27: The San Francisco Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved a resolution in support of Assembly Bill 1256 by Assembly member Bill Quirk, to prohibit employers from discriminating against potential or current employees who have tested positive for inactive cannabis metabolites in their urine or hair.…

UPDATE 7/10/21 – The LA Times editorialized, Sha’Carri Richardson’s suspension was fair, but the marijuana rule isn’t, noting that, “WADA isn’t the only arena in which marijuana rules are anachronistic; the U.S. government’s attitude is practically medieval. Marijuana is legal in most states of this country, if you count medicinal use, but the federal government continues to place cannabis in its most restricted category of drugs, up there with heroin…..It’s also worth considering that marijuana is detectable in drug tests for up to weeks after it was most recently used, long after its effects have subsided.”…

CALIFORNIA PERSONNEL BOARD RULES THAT FAILING A URINE TEST FOR MARIJUANA IS NOT PROOF OF EMPLOYEE’S IMPAIRMENT OR GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL

June 17, 2021 – The California State Personnel Board (SPB), established in the state constitution, provides direction to departments about civil service laws, rules, and policy, and also investigates and adjudicates alleged violations of civil service law which are filed by employees, applicants, and members of the public.

Darrin Harper brought such an allegation against the California Department of Transportation, which refused to reinstate him on his job after he failed a urine test for marijuana use.…

Join us on June 1 & 2 for Cal NORML’s Fourth Legal Seminar covering criminal and business law in California with top cannabis attorneys. This year’s seminar will be held virtually via Zoom.

Attorneys can earn up to 8.5 hours CLE (pending) by attending the full seminar ($250) or attend individual sessions ($50 each).

Members of the cannabis industry and the general public are welcome, and can purchase tickets (without CLE credits) for individual sessions for $25 each or full days for $75.…

By Sarah Russo

The Society of Cannabis Clinicians (SCC), the first and oldest medical organization in the USA to advocate for the therapeutic use of cannabis, is pleased to announce the launch of a new Medical Cannabis Clinical Training Curriculum. This curriculum will enable clinicians to provide the best possible treatment to their patients while bridging the education gap between healthcare providers and the communities they serve. These courses provide the most comprehensive cannabinoid education for medical professionals to date.…