In a victory for cannabis consumers, the San Jose City Council Neighborhood Services and Education Committee voted 5-0 on 12/9/2021 to exempt cannabis from a proposed Smoke-Free Housing Ordinance. The ordinance would have banned smoking and vaping of all kinds in multi-unit dwellings. California NORML joined forces with the Silicon Valley Cannabis Alliance, MPP, ASA and other advocates in urging the council to exempt cannabis from the ban, thus limiting it to tobacco only. Advocates have previously succeeded in defeating cannabis smoking bans in West Hollywood and San Francisco. In testimony to the council, Cal NORML argued that cannabis smoking

November 22, 2021 – Results of an online survey of cannabis users that California NORML is conducting indicate: – 30% of respondents (with another 15% unsure) indicated they had been denied employment for testing positive for marijuana – 8% have been terminated because of a positive marijuana test – 65% are looking for a job and afraid of discrimination due to their marijuana use – 37% have increased their use of opioids or other drugs, or alcohol, because of drug testing – 60% have stopped using marijuana because of drug testing by their employer or doctor It is stunning that such

Artwork: Ruth Frase Get a commemorative poster featuring the conference artwork for $25.  Cal NORML’s 25th Anniversary of Prop. 215 Celebration Online ticket sales for the conference have closed. You can still get tickets at the door, and Get AfterParty Tickets.  Join us to celebrate California’s historic 1996 medical marijuana law on the date it passed 25 years ago. Friday, November 5 CONFERENCE: 10 AM – 6 PM The General’s Residence Ft. Mason, San Francisco AFTERPARY: 6:30 – 10:30 PM The Patio at The Midway The event can be reached via SF municipal transit lines Directions, transportation and parking information.

Please donate to Cal NORML to support our advocacy work, or join as a regular or business member: Cal NORML regular membership Business Membership with Free Listing $20.00 – $100.00 / year $50/month – $500/year UPDATE 9/28/2021 – Gov. Newsom has signed into law SB-311 by Sen. Ben Hueso, to require hospitals to allow terminal patients to use cannabis. Cal NORML supporters sent in 750 letters to Gov. Newsom in support of SB-311. Thanks to all who took action! UPDATE 9/16/2021 Highway Billboards: Cal NORML supported a bill by Asm. Bill Quirk, AB 1302, to allow billboard ads for cannabusinesses

It’s unlikely that any possible replacement candidate will be as favorably attentive to cannabis policy as Governor Newsom.  For that reason, California NORML recommends voting NO on the gubernatorial recall and encourages cannabis supporters to make sure you are registered to vote, and do vote against the recall in the election. The sponsors of this year’s recall election are no friends of marijuana or criminal justice reform. Whatever else might be said about Gavin Newsom, no governor has been so supportive of legal marijuana. When other politicians were ducking the issue, then-Lieutenant Governor Newsom became the highest-ranking state official to

By Dale Gieringer and Geoffrey Lawrence Federal laws against marijuana are outdated and counterproductive.  Polls show that nearly seven in ten Americans favor legalizing adult use of marijuana, and 90% favor medical use.   Eighteen states have now legalized adult use of marijuana, and 36 have laws allowing medical use. Nonetheless, federal law remains stuck in the past, strictly prohibiting  marijuana as an illicit “Schedule 1”  substance like heroin, treating it more stringently than cocaine or methamphetamines.  As a result, it remains federally illegal for Americans to possess, grow, distribute, or transport marijuana, even for medical use and even where state

UPDATE 10/12/21: LA City Councilmember Raman has introduced a resolution in support of AB 1256. “California has long had a progressive stance on the consumption of cannabis — but it has fallen short in protecting its workers who use cannabis off the job,” said Councilmember Raman. “Each day we neglect removing these outdated drug testing requirements is another day we are erecting roadblocks to ensuring a truly robust and equitable workforce.” UPDATE JULY 27: The San Francisco Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved a resolution in support of Assembly Bill 1256 by Assembly member Bill Quirk, to prohibit employers from

    UPDATE 7/10/21 – The LA Times editorialized, Sha’Carri Richardson’s suspension was fair, but the marijuana rule isn’t, noting that, “WADA isn’t the only arena in which marijuana rules are anachronistic; the U.S. government’s attitude is practically medieval. Marijuana is legal in most states of this country, if you count medicinal use, but the federal government continues to place cannabis in its most restricted category of drugs, up there with heroin…..It’s also worth considering that marijuana is detectable in drug tests for up to weeks after it was most recently used, long after its effects have subsided.” Former ONDCP “czar” Barry

 UPDATE 6/26/21: A judge has scheduled oral arguments via zoom regarding Luke’s release motion on June 30th at 10am PST. There is a telephonic link for the public to listen to the proceedings: 1-877-402-9757, Access Code 6966236# then press #. Each attorney gets 15 mins. Luke’s hearing is scheduled last of five hearings. A decision could come within days of the hearing.  On September 27, 2006, the DEA raided California Healthcare Collective, a medical marijuana dispensary in Modesto that had been operating and paying taxes for more than a year. A 2007 Fresno Bee story revealed that the focus

CALIFORNIA PERSONNEL BOARD RULES THAT FAILING A URINE TEST FOR MARIJUANA IS NOT PROOF OF EMPLOYEE’S IMPAIRMENT OR GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL June 17, 2021 – The California State Personnel Board (SPB), established in the state constitution, provides direction to departments about civil service laws, rules, and policy, and also investigates and adjudicates alleged violations of civil service law which are filed by employees, applicants, and members of the public. Darrin Harper brought such an allegation against the California Department of Transportation, which refused to reinstate him on his job after he failed a urine test for marijuana use. The SPB ruled that