Kharla Vezzetti

California NORML Press Release – Nov 7, 2011

Prop. 215 supporters from around the state will be protesting the federal government’s attack on medical marijuana at the U.S. Courthouse in Sacramento, 501 I Street, this Wednesday, Nov. 9th at noon. The protest is sponsored by a coalition of organizations including California NORML.

This week marks the 15th anniversary of California’s landmark medical marijuana law, Prop. 215. Since 1996, sixteen states and three foreign countries have followed California’s lead in legalizing medical marijuana; dozens of scientific studies have confirmed the medical value of marijuana; and thousands of patients and doctors have found marijuana to be uniquely beneficial for a growing list of maladies including nausea, appetite loss, chronic pain, muscle spasticity, auto-immune diseases, psychiatric disorders, etc.…

California NORML Press Release – Oct 7, 2011

           SACRAMENTO – Medical marijuana supporters are rallying to protest the Obama administration’s crackdown on medical cannabis dispensaries outside a press conference by U.S. Attorneys at the Sacramento Federal Court House this Friday, Oct. 7th from 10 AM to 1 PM.

           US Attorneys in California have begun sending letters to landlords of dispensaries threatening them with property forfeiture and criminal penalties for violating federal law.

            In a letter to the landlord of the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana, the longest-operating dispensary in California, the US Attorney of Northern California warned that MAMM was operating within “a prohibited distance of a park.”  …

RALLY AGAINST DOJ CRACKDOWN ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA – SACTO FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, Friday Oct. 7, 11 am – 3pm

Cal NORML Release – Oct 5, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO – In yet another attack by the Obama administration on medical marijuana, US Attorneys in California have sent out a series of letters threatening landlords with property forfeiture for renting their property to dispensaries deemed too close to “sensitive areas” such as schools and parks.

Prominent among the targets is the state’s longest-operating dispensary, the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Fairfax, which enjoys official support from the city and has been operating without complaint since July 3rd, 1996.…

Cal NORML Release – Sep 21, 2011

California NORML and Project CBD release the results of the first “Ring Test” to assess the accuracy of analytical laboratories

Mixed findings show strengths and problems among analytic testing services

In the winter of 2010/11, California NORML and Project CBD initiated a “Ring Test” to assess the accuracy of analytical cannabis testing laboratories that have recently emerged to serve medical marijuana collectives, breeders, growers and patients.

Coauthored  by California NORML director Dale Gieringer and Dutch chemist Dr.…

September 21, 2011 – Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed Sen. Correa’s bill SB 847 to ban medical cannabis dispensaries within 600 feet of residential areas.

In his veto message, the Gov. noted that he has already signed AB 1300, giving cities and counties authority to regulate dispensaries, and that this bill would go in the opposite direction by preempting local control. “Decisions of this kind are best made in cities and counties, not the State Capitol,” declared the Governor.

California NORML thanks the Governor for standing firm against excessive and heavy-handed state interference in local government.…

September 14, 2011 – California reported a moderate decline in marijuana arrests in 2010, according to the latest figures from the Criminal Justice Statistics Center.

There were 16,585 felony and 54,849 misdemeanor marijuana arrests, down from 17,008 and 61,164 respectively in 2009. This marks the second year in a row that arrests have declined, after posting a recent high in 2008.

Hispanics accounted for 35% of felonies and 42% of misdemeanors; blacks for 25% of felonies and 16% of misdemeanors; and whites for 33% of felonies and 36% of misdemeanors.…