Kharla Vezzetti

October 15, 2014 – Federal District Court Judge Thelton Henderson ruled yesterday that medical marijuana patients have demonstrated a strong likelihood of prevailing at trial on their claim that law enforcement raids in Lake County unconstitutionally violate their Fourth Amendment rights. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed earlier this year in San Francisco federal court, challenging Lake County’s enforcement of Measure N, an ordinance that restricts medical marijuana cultivation in the county.

Judge Henderson ordered that, “Defendant County of Lake, its officers, agents, and employees, and any other persons acting in active concert or participation therewith, are enjoined from enforcing Ordinance No.…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2014
Contact: Ellen Komp, Deputy Director CaNORML 415-563-5858

Statewide Reform Group Endorses “No on A” in Shasta County

California NORML, the state chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, has endorsed the No on Measure A campaign in Shasta county.

Cal NORML deputy director Ellen Komp, who has been tracking local ordinances across the state, has seen a trend towards cultivation bans. “Everyone agrees the problem lies in large grows that are already noncompliant with state and local zoning laws,” Komp said.…

The California Attorney General’s office has released its 2013 Crime Report.

According to the report, there were 13,779 felony marijuana arrests in California in 2013, up slightly from 13,434 in 2012. Hispanics were the most-arrested ethnic group, with 5,419 felony arrests, followed by whites (4,516) and blacks (2,538).

The largest age group for arrestees was 20-29, which accounted for 5,876 of the felony arrests, in sharp contrast to arrests for “dangerous drugs,” which were up to over 85,000 in 2013 and remained high for all age groups.…

Plans are afoot for a unity initiative to legalize marijuana in California in 2016. A statewide coalition of advocates, including California NORML, has formed the Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform (CCPR), to help lead the effort under the banner of ReformCA.com. Besides NORML, members of CCPR include the California Cannabis Industry Association, Emerald Growers Association, LEAP, ASA, UFCW, NAACP, GLACA, and William C.…

See video of the press conference, from Harm Reduction Productions

September 8, 2014 – The disastrous legacy of the war on marijuana will be addressed at a press conference to mark the 100th anniversary of the nation’s first “marihuana” raid in LA’s Mexican Sonoratown neighborhood (pictured) on Thursday, Sept 11 at 10 am. at LA City Hall, Spring Street Steps.

The raid was the opening shot in a hundred years’ war that has seen over 2.7 million Californians arrested for victimless marijuana crimes, with a disproportionately great impact on minorities.…

UPDATE August 14 – The bill has been held in the Appropriations committee, meaning it won’t see a floor vote this year. Read more and more.

August 12 – Cal NORML remains opposed to SB1262, pending amendment. See our revised letter to the Appropriations committee.

August 8 – SB1262 is still in play. Police Chiefs met with CCIA, EGA and Small Growers Assn. yesterday, won some concessions (allowing deliveries, removing cultivation cap) in new mock up. Cal NORML is working on suggested changes to protect H&SC 11362.775 and amend transportation codes, felony language etc.…

July 21 – A successful Emerald Unity Coalition event was held on Saturday, July 19 in Lake County to kick off the MMCA (Medical Marijuana Control Act), an initiative that will be on the November ballot to establish better regulations in Lake for marijuana gardens.

About 50 enthusiastic Lake County residents and others attended the party, featuring a delicious BBQ and groovy tunes from the B Side Blues Band. Out-of-area attendees were heard to comment that the largely undiscovered county, nearer to the Bay than the Emerald Triangle, is as beautiful as Tahoe and as hip as Mendocino.…

l to r: Marcia Blount of Sacramento Brownie Mary Club; Prop. 215 Proponent Anna Boyce RN; Lanny Swerdlow RN, founder of the Brownie Mary Democratic Club; & Cheri Sicard of LA NWA at the Democratic Convention.

Thanks to the efforts of the Brownie Mary Democratic Clubs and the NORML Women’s Alliance, the California Democratic Party added to its platform a plank expressing support for “the legalization, regulation and taxation of pot in a manner similar to that of tobacco or alcohol,” at its March 2014 convention in LA.…

*** Cal NORML Action Alert ***

Click here to call on Senators Feinstein and Boxer to support the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment, which would prohibit the US Department of Justice from spending resources to interfere with California’s marijuana laws.

Cal NORML director Dale Gieringer congratulates Rep. Dana Rohrabacher on his legislative success.

June 2, 2014 – In a historic vote, the House of Representatives approved an amendment by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Newport Beach) and Sam Farr (D-Monterey) denying the Department of Justice funding to prevent states from implementing their own marijuana laws.…