UPDATE May 5, 2020 – The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors voted today to approve an ordinance that limits cannabis cultivation to six plants per parcel, but exempts for 2020 existing personal medical gardens that have been planted under the old ordinance allowing 200, 400 or 600 square feet, depending on parcel size. The
4/20/20 – Thanks to all who took our advice to #FlattenThe420Curve and stocked up in advance for 420 celebrations this year, instead of crowding retailers on 4/20. There are lots of opportunities to celebrate online that support reform groups and/or COVID charities. Don’t Go to Hippie Hill This Year (or Gather Anywhere Else)
Shauna Blackburn, Risk Manager specialist at Cannabis Connect Insurance Services gives advice in this video about reducing risk and protecting yourself and your business during COVID-19. Topics include: • Safe money handling techniques • Holding safety meetings • Workers’ Compensation and EPLI insurance • Masks and Gloves; Hand Sanitizer • Sanitizing work stations • Building
Photo: Noah Friedlander / CC BY-SA READ A MESSAGE FROM NORML’S NATIONAL DIRECTOR ABOUT COVID-19, CANNABIS AND SAFETY THIS STORY WILL BE UPDATED AS DEVELOPMENTS HAPPEN. UPDATE 3/23/20: MONTEREY COUNTY AND AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS ENDORSE ADVISORY FOR AGRICULTURAL WORKER PROTECTION DURING COVID-19 CRISIS 3/21/20: California’s Dept. of Public Health has issued an order deeming cannabis retailer
Preliminary responses to our recent membership survey show that Cal NORML is on track with our legislative priorities for 2020. Respondents voted their top three priorities as: • 76% Lowering taxes on cannabis • 63% Employment rights for medical patients • 63% Opening local markets for marijuana businesses There’s still time to let us know
This page will be updated as more results become available. March 4, 2020 – In the Democratic presidential primary held yesterday in California, Bernie Sanders, who has an A+ rating from NORML based on his policy to deschedule marijuana and legalize it nationwide, is carrying California with 33.6% of the vote. Ex-VP Joe Biden, who
Cal NORML regrets to announce that the Cal NORML / ASA Lobby Day scheduled for June 1, 2020 has been cancelled due to safety concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic. As of now, the Legislature is not in session, and will only be considering emergency bills regarding COVID and a few other issues. We will be
A variety of vape products seized from highschool students in Sacramento. January 27, 2020 – Cal NORML has issued a White Paper titled, “Health Benefits and Risks of Cannabis Vaporizers and Vape Pens.” The paper contains several findings and recommendations, including: The California Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) has reported that not a single California-licensed
January 28, 2020 – Berkeley city council voted unanimously (with one member, Sophia Hahn, absent) to allow delivery services and vape lounges in the city, culminating a two-year process that gathered public input through its cannabis commission, public health commission, and planning commission, as well as from dozens of Berkeley residents, veterans, seniors and others
January 21, 2020 – For the third year in a row, a bill has been to lower taxes on licensed cannabis products in California. Announced at a press conference by Asm. Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) along with co-sponsors Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova) and Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), the bill (AB 1948) seeks to eliminate cultivation taxes for
NORML will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2020! Cal NORML keeps our members informed of cannabis news at the federal, state, and local levels through our newsletter, website, and weekly email alerts, as well as public outreach tables at events. Through NORML’s networks we generate thousands of constituent letters in favor of progressive bills, and
December 12, 2019 – The Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee of the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA; a branch of Cal EPA) voted at a hearing on Wednesday to classify both cannabis smoke and delta-9-THC as reproductive toxins under California’s Prop. 65 law, over objections from Cal NORML. Labeling requirements will take effect in
By Shauna Blackburn of Cannabis Connect Insurance Services It is important to know that every cannabis business in the chain of custody (cultivation, processing, manufacturing, distributing, wholesalers and retailers alike) is responsible for tracking and protecting against product tampering. Below are some policy forms, exclusions, or endorsements often found on a general liability insurance policy
November 22, 2019 – The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration has announced two cannabis tax hikes effective January 1, 2020. The perverse effect of this move will be to make legal, regulated cannabis even less economically competitive with the untaxed, unregulated legacy market. Cal NORML regards the moves as steps precisely in the
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
November 9, 2019 – 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
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
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 parodies of agricultural storage
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
UPDATE: THE LAW WILL TAKE EFFECT ON MARCH 1, 2020. 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
