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July 1, 2016 – Californians will have the opportunity to vote on an initiative to legalize recreational use of marijuana this November 8th. The Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) has officially qualified for the ballot by collecting over 600,000 signatures and will appear as Proposition 64.

The major funder for AUMA is Napster founder and former Facebook president Sean Parker (pictured), and the measure is endorsed by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who convened a Blue Ribbon panel on legalization last year.…

Felony arrests for Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs reduced by 68.2% and 73.6% respectively in California between 2014 and 2015, while Felony Marijuana arrests reduced 33.3%—from 13,300 to 8,866—according to data released by the Attorney General’s office (see Table 2, p. 25 of the “Crime in California” report).

The reason given by the report is:

“In November 2014, California voters passed Proposition 47 which reduced numerous state statutes from felonies to misdemeanors. Caution should be used when comparing felony and misdemeanor arrest data to prior years.”…

Scrutiny increased on Placer county after officials released a video describing their process.

June 27 – Placer County, which had been leading the way among rural counties in codifying the new state MMRSA medical marijuana law at the local level, voted last week to restrict cannabis cultivation in its unincorporated areas to 6 plants or 50 square feet (whichever is less), grown indoors.

The move came after representatives from the offices of Congressman Doug LaMalfa and state Senator Jim Nielsen appeared before the board to present a letter warning of “great peril” from “a lax and broad marijuana ordinance that is contrary to Federal law.”…

Send a Letter to Sonoma County Officials in Support of CBD Guild and ABX

June 16, 2016 – Yesterday’s multi-agency raids on Sonoma County cannabis concentrate manufacturers Care by Design and AbsolutExtracts targeted industry leaders that produce CBD and THC extracts sold in medical marijuana dispensaries across the state.

According to a press release from Care by Design, the enforcement comes just days after the company hosted local and State public officials and regulators to walk through their new state-of-the-art facilities to discuss regulations for the emerging industry resulting from the newly passed Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA) passed by the California legislature last fall.…

June 8 – Advocates of liberalized medical marijuana rules fared poorly in local elections last night.

The one bright spot was Nevada County, where voters rejected a proposed ban on outdoor cultivation of medical marijuana, Measure W by 58%.

In contrast, Butte County voters approved a pair of restrictive ordinances, Measure G (“Right to Farm” repeal) by 59.5% and Measure H (Restrictions on Cultivation) by 58.4%

Siskiyou County voters likewise approved a pair of anti-marijuana measures, Measure T (code enforcement) by 63.6% and Measure U (12 plant limit) by 62.4% (amid charges of voter intimidation against the county’s Hmuong minority).…

Watch the hearing.

SACRAMENTO May 24th – The California legislature heard testimony from supporters and opponents of AUMA at a joint legislative hearing of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee, Health Committee, Revenue and Taxation Committee, and Senate Business, Professions and Economic Commttee. The hearing was held under a new law requiring that ballot initiatives be heard by the legislature before going to the ballot.

The hearings began with a non-partisan summary by Aaron Edwards of the Legislative Analyst’s Office, who accurately summarized the major provisions in AUMA and estimated it would result in enforcement savings of $100 million and several hundred million to one billion dollars in tax revenues.…

Take Action on This Bill

UPDATE 6/1/2016 – Lawmakers have added language to AB 2243 (Wood) making the bill an “urgency statue.” That means it takes effect immediately when the Governor signs the bill. It must be voted on by Friday, June 3.
Amended text

SACRAMENTO May 10 – The CA Assembly is expected to vote on Asm. Wood’s bill AB 2243 to impose a $9.25/ounce tax on cultivation of medical (only) marijuana in coming days.

Now is the time to call on your Assembly member to oppose AB 2243.…

May 4, 2016 – Sponsors have submitted more than 600,000 signatures for the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, an adult-use legalization initiative that is expected to appear on the California ballot this November.

AUMA is funded by internet billionaire Sean Parker with support from Lt. Gov Gavin Newsom and numerous reform groups. The petitions must still be certified by the state before a ballot number is assigned.

AUMA would make several notable improvements in California law:

(1) Make it legal for adults 21 years and older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and cultivate up to six plants for personal use;

(2) Regulate and tax the production, manufacture, and sale of marijuana for adult use; and

(3) Rewrite criminal penalties so as to reduce existing felony penalties for cultivation, transportation, sales, possession with intent, etc to misdemeanors and allow prior offenders to petition for reduced charges.…

UPDATE 5/31/16 – The bill has failed to win approval in the Assembly Appropriations committee.

Thanks to all the NORML supporters who wrote to their legislators against this bill. NORML’s online alert generated the following:

Unique Supporters Taking Action: 963
Total Actions Taken: 1267
Total Letters Sent: 1318

UPDATE 6/10/2016: AAA Study: No scientific basis for laws on marijuana and driving.

L to R: Former NIDA researcher Marilyn Huestis, Santa Clara DA Jeff Rosen, Asm. Evan Low

SACRAMENTO, April 19 – Today in the Assembly Public Safety Committee, AB 2740 (Low, Lackey) passed by a 4-2 vote, despite objections from activists and science on our side.…