Kharla Vezzetti

Sacramento, May 2nd – Senator Lara’s bill SB 1302 to disallow local bans on cannabis deliveries squeaked by the Senate Governance and Finance committee today on the understanding that further amendments will be needed to address opponents’ concerns.

The bill was sponsored by WeDrop and ASA, with strong support from Weed for Warriors (pictured) and pro-cannabis groups, including Cal NORML. Advocates stressed the lack of legally licensed facilities in most California cities and counties.

SB 1302 would disallow local governments from banning home deliveries of cannabis to residents in their district from state-licensed delivery services headquartered elsewhere.…

Take Action To Protect Workers’ Rights in California

Sacramento, April 25th – The CA Assembly Labor Committee approved a bill to curb employment discrimination against workers who use medical cannabis to treat a disability or medical condition.

The Medical Cannabis Worker Protections Act, AB 2069 by Asm. Rob Bonta, would treat medical cannabis in the same way that current law treats prescription opiates and other drugs, by according it “reasonable accommodation” under the state Fair Employment and Housing Act. The bill exempts employers who are subject to federal regulations, such as the transportation industry, and further disallows any impairment on the job during hours of employment.…

April 20, 2018 – The National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws has filed a petition with the FDA calling for the international rescheduling of cannabis.

The World Health Organization Expert Committee on Drug Dependence is reviewing the status of cannabis for the first time this year. The cannabis plant was orginally placed in UN Schedules I and IV when the International Single Convention Treaty was signed in 1964. Under the treaty, Schedule I is for medical drugs with a high liability for abuse or addiction, such as cocaine and opiates, while Schedule IV, or the “prohibition schedule” is for drugs deemed so dangerous as not to be usable in medicine, such as heroin.…

UPDATE 5/25/18 – The bill has failed to advance in the legislature.

March 15, 2018 – Assemblymembers Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) and Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) have introduced AB 3157 to reduce existing state taxes on cannabis for three years as California implements Proposition 64, which legalized cannabis for adult use.

Assembly Bill 3157 will reduce the state’s excise tax from 15% to 11%. It will also suspend the state’s cultivation tax, which currently charges a flat tax of $148 per pound. Both tax reductions are temporary and would sunset in June 2021 after California’s regulated market has matured and has been fully implemented.…

February 25, 2018 – Cal NORML is opposing a bill, SB 1273 by Sen. Jerry Hill (San Mateo), that would authorize police to test any drivers under 21 for marijuana and automatically suspend their licenses for one year if any detectible amount of THC is found in their systems.

Cal NORML denounced the proposal as a misuse of enforcement resources. “SB 1273 will do nothing to make the roads safer or reduce youth drug abuse,” remarked Cal NORML Director Dale Gieringer.…

February 5, 2018 – The sale and consumption of cannabis at temporary special events could soon become legal with a bill introduced today by Assemblymember Bill Quirk (D-Hayward). AB 2020 will allow greater flexibility for cities that seek to host cannabis related special events.

“Asm. Quirk’s bill to ease restrctions on special marijuana events is a step in the right direction,” said Cal NORML director Dale Gieringer. “It allows local governments to apply for special events permits at places other than county fairgrounds, which we support.…

UPDATE May 18, 2018: The bill was held in the Assembly Appropriations committee this year. We hope to advance it in the next session.

April 25, 2018: The bill passed the Assembly Labor committee.

Take Action To Protect Workers’ Rights in California

February 7, 2018 – Asm. Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) today introduced AB 2069, to protect employment rights for medical cannabis patients in California. The bill would specifically bar employers from discriminating against workers because of their status as a medical cannabis patient, or a positive drug test for medical cannabis use.…

TAKE ACTION: Support State Legislation To Allow Automatic Expungement Of Past Marijuana Crimes

February 1, 2018 – San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón has announced that his office plans to retroactively apply Proposition 64 to past marijuana convictions by expunging and sealing all related records dating back to 1975. That measure, which California voters passed in November 2016, legalized recreational cannabis use and allowed those with marijuana convictions to petition courts to dismiss their cases. But many are unaware that they quality for resentencing or expungement, or are unable to afford to bring such a petition.…