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CaNORML 2012 Accomplishments and Plans for 2013
In 2012, CalNORML fought off bad bills in Sacramento, advanced good ones, protested federal involvement, and continued to work at local levels on policy. We will kick off 2013 with a conference to mark the 100th anniversary of cannabis prohibition in California and plan for the end of that failed and unjust policy.

Reported Drop in CA Marijuana Arrests: Less Than Meets the Eye
December 11 – Reported marijuana arrests dropped sharply as California’s new decriminalization law took effect in 2011, but the apparent decline is deceptive because it doesn’t count thousands of minor possession offenses that are no longer reported under the new law.

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LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO FILES OF THE CONFERENCE,
HOSTED BY KMUD RADIO

Hear Ann Lee’s speech. Hear John Gilmore’s speech.

Read more about the conference.

Michael Aldrich: Cannabis Pioneer CalNORML Director Dale Gieringer speaks on the Origins of Cannabis Prohibition in California Author Mike Gray on how the country went Drug Crazy. Graham Boyd presents poll numbers and what they mean for California in 2016. Senator Mark Leno on his work for reform in Sacramento. Daisy Bram and her attorney Michael Levinsohn on her fight for custody of her children.

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UPDATE January 29, 2014 – The Board voted in an outdoor ban, to take effect in 30 days, overriding the Planning Commission’s recommendation to allow outdoor grows on larger parcels. Read more.

UPDATE January 16, 2013 – The Shasta Board has established a medical marijuana advisory committee, and expects to take up the issue again sometime in mid-February.

January 15, 2013 – This morning at its Board of Supervisors meeting, Shasta county’s board will consider a resolution setting in motion a ban of outdoor cultivation of medical marijuana, as well as making violations of the ordinance a $1,000 misdemeanor fine instead of a $100 infraction.…

January 3, 2013 – For years,  law enforcement officials have been blaming Mexican “cartels” for illegal marijuana growing in California’s national forests. For years, Cal NORML has told the press that there is no evidence of any organized “cartel” involvement  in domestic MJ production.  Rather, production is highly disorganized, with many teams of Mexicans – as well as non-Mexicans – working independently as hired growers for smaller scale, competitive, decentralized groups.

Finally, the Drug Czar’s office has acknowledged that the “cartel” narrative is a myth devised by law enforcement to help secure federal funding.…

January 3, 2013 – For years,  law enforcement officials have been blaming Mexican “cartels” for illegal marijuana growing in California’s national forests. For years, Cal NORML has told the press that there is no evidence of any organized “cartel” involvement  in domestic MJ production.  Rather, production is highly disorganized, with many teams of Mexicans – as well as non-Mexicans – working independently as hired growers for smaller scale, competitive, decentralized groups.

Finally, the Drug Czar’s office has acknowledged that the “cartel” narrative is a myth devised by law enforcement to help secure federal funding.…

Jan 1, 2013: This New Year marks the 100th anniversary of the war on cannabis in California. In 1913, the state Board of Pharmacy led the legislature to pass a bill outlawing possession of “Indian hemp.” The law was the opening shot in a century-long prohibitionist campaign that has cost the state millions of arrests and billions of dollars in enforcement costs even while cannabis has increased in popularity and public acceptance.

California NORML is holding a conference to mark the occasion, “Cannabis in California: Ending the 100-Year War” January 26th and 27th at the Ft.…

California NORML Release — December 11, 2012

Reported marijuana arrests dropped sharply as California’s new decriminalization law took effect in 2011, but the apparent decline is deceptive because it doesn’t count thousands of minor possession offenses that are no longer reported under the new law.

Newly released data from the state Criminal Justice Statistics Center show that misdemeanor arrests for marijuana possession plummeted 86% from 54,849 in 2010 to 7,764 in 2011.

However, these figures don’t include citations for possession of less than one ounce, which used to be counted as misdemeanors up through 2010 but are no longer counted under the new law, because they have been downgraded to infractions.…

December 7 – A California Appellate Court has reversed a trial court decision declaring a child to be a dependent of the court, as well as an order that the father undergo drug testing and parenting courses because of his medical marijuana use.

In re Drake A. case# B236769, Division Three of the Second Appellate District ruled on 12/5/12 that, “Although father uses medical marijuana pursuant to a physician’s recommendation, there is nothing in the record to indicate that he has a substance abuse problem.”…