November 11, 2019 – At their meeting at the end of October in Los Angeles, the House of Delegates of the California Medical Association voted to adopt a recommendation stating, “That CMA oppose policies of health plans, health systems, and hospitals that have pain management programs that automatically eliminate patients who use therapeutic
California NORML called for state legislation to protect employment rights of cannabis consumers at an informational hearing on cannabis and employment held on Friday, November 8 in the Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement committee. Find audio and video recordings of the hearing “Even though cannabis is now legal for adult use, and has been
Arizona For the purposes of medical care, including organ transplants, a registered qualifying patient’s authorized use of marijuana must be considered the equivalent of the use of any other medication under the direction of a physician and does not constitute the use of an illicit substance or otherwise disqualify a registered qualifying patient from medical
Now through December 31, join Cal NORML as a sustaining member and get a free thank-you gift: your choice of one of two styles of our popular burlap sacks printed with “USA Homegrown” or “California Red Hair Sinsemilla” (shown). Usually available only at Cal NORML information tables at events, these 22″ x 36″ bags are
October 17, 2019 – Three California Assembly committees held a joint informational hearing on “Vaping Tobacco and Cannabis Products: Health Effects and Deficiencies in Regulation and Current Law” yesterday in Sacramento. Committee chairs Evan Low (Business & Professions), Jim Wood (Health), and Adam Gray (Governmental Organization) made opening remarks. Wood said that he was concerned
October 14, 2019 – Governor Newsom has signed SB 34 (Wiener), to exempt compassion programs that give away cannabis to needy patients from taxation. He also signed into law SB 223 (Hill) to allow parents to bring cannabis medicines to their children at school (if their school districts approve). Gov. Brown vetoed similar bills last
Sign up here and get 20% off registration with the code CANORML20. The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) is hosting the third annual California Cannabis Business Conference this October 8-9. The event, which will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center, will gather thousands of cannabis industry leaders, policymakers and entrepreneurs to discuss and
PHOTO: Jason Schwartzman and Jenny Slate vape in HBO’s “Bored to Death” (2011) Download CAL NORML’S Health Advisory on Cannabis Vape Oils UPDATE 11/14 – A fourth death has been reported in California tied to vaping, this one apparently related to e-cigarettes. CDPH continues to urge everyone to refrain from vaping and e-cigarette use,
UPDATE 9/7/2019 – The California Dept. of Public Health has put up a website page about Risks of Vaping. UPDATE 9/6/2019 – Los Angeles county has reported the first death in California related to the use of e-cigarettes. Officials are holding a press conference this afternoon. The Center for Disease Control has announced there have
Today, on International Overdose Awareness Day, we note with sadness the recent passing of Tyler Skaggs, a 27-year-old pitcher with the LA Angels of Anaheim, who had fentanyl and oxycodone in his system when he died, as well as alcohol. A new study published in the journal Economic Inquiry found that when state adult-use cannabis
The California Department of Justice has issued updated Guidelines for the Security and Non-Diversion of Cannabis Grown for Medical Use that are in keeping with the advice Cal NORML has been giving patients and collectives in the state. The DOJ guidelines give an overview of the state marijuana laws that have passed, starting with Prop. 215
August 8, 2019 – Today, California NORML announces a fundraising campaign to support its efforts to protect the employment rights of cannabis consumers in California. All donations made to the campaign through Labor Day (September 2 will be doubled by a matching donor. Please make a donation today to Cal NORML’s employment rights campaign! California
In the yearly Medical Cannabis Access Report Card from Americans for Safe Access, California still has only a B+ Grade. The report states: In 2019, medical cannabis cooperatives became illegal under state law, which is a devastating blow to low- or fixed-income patients. The state also released updated guidance on testing and carried out
UPDATE August 14 – Just Added! Counsel for the Bureau of Cannabis Control Tamara Colson will join us as our luncheon speaker. Read more and buy tickets to attend the workshop. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Steve Gross at CWCBE. August 5, 2019 – For the first time, California NORML is teaming with Cannabis World Congress
July 8, 2019 – Gov. Newsom has signed a little-noticed bill to ban drug-test masking aids such as additives and synthetic urine. The bill, AB 851 by Jim Cooper (Sacramento), passed quietly and unanimously through both houses with no debate or input from opponents. Cal NORML blasted the bill as a gift to the powerful
July 5, 2019 – The number of marijuana arrests in California continued to decline toward new lows in 2018 according to data released by the Criminal Justice Statistics Center. The total number of felony arrests was 1,617, down 22% from 2017 and the lowest since the 1950s. Misdemeanor arrests totaled 3,835, down 4% since 2017.
A 45-day emergency moratorium on hemp cultivation failed to carry by a narrow vote at a meeting of the in Plumas County Board of Supervisors on June 4. Cal NORML was contacted by members in the county and sent a letter to Supervisors asking them not to pass the moratorium. We also alerted supporters in the
June 6, 2019 – Yesterday, multijurisdictional force of more than 700 personnel from the Army National Guard, the FBI, US Drug Enforcement, and numerous other police and government agencies descended on the Anza Valley region in Riverside County at daybreak and worked throughout the day. Police and military helicopters, and trucks pulling trailers were spotted removing
About 100 people testified at a public hearing held on May 31 by the FDA “in order to inform the regulatory path forward” on CBD. Manufacturers, researchers, doctors, laboratory representatives, lawyers and advocates (pro and con) were among those who spoke. Speakers expressed concern over the lack of uniformity and purity of available CBD preparations,
UPDATE 5/30 – Assemblyman Ting could not muster the two-thirds vote of the Assembly required to alter the voter-approved initiative to prevent cities and counties from banning pot shops. Read more. A new report from Applied Development Economics (ADE) in Walnut Creek, CA estimates that the passage of AB 1356, a bill currently before the
