In California, "Some cannabis bills advance, while
Post# of 5949
Posted On: 06/01/2014 10:17:57 PM
In California, "Some cannabis bills advance, while others stall in committee
Several bills introduced in the California Legislature last year continue to be considered this year, while others have been proposed more recently. Assembly Member Tom Ammiano’s, AB 604, took a somewhat new form this year under bill number AB 1894. This bill would protect and regulate medical marijuana businesses, although the bill contains some significant flaws that should be amended before passage. A bill to protect cultivators and dispensaries is particularly important in light of persistent federal law enforcement activity in the state and an August 2013 memo by the U.S. Department of Justice advising federal prosecutors not to pursue marijuana businesses in states that have clear regulations in place. Please ask your legislators to support this long-overdue measure to regulate and protect California’s medical marijuana industry.
A new bill introduced this year by Sen. Lou Correa, SB 1262, would serve a similar role to AB 1894 by directing the Department of Public Health to regulate and license medical marijuana businesses. It would also impose quality assurance standards and testing requirements. While this bill originally contained many offensive provisions, particularly those related to doctors, the bill's sponsor made several significant amendments, and the bill appears to be taking shape in many positive ways and now shows good promise. As with Asm. Ammiano's bill, it is still not a perfect solution and needs further work. Please take a moment to encourage your senator to amend and support this bill.
Another new bill this year, AB 1588, introduced by Assembly Member Connie Conway, failed to advance. This bill would have increased the distance between storefront businesses and schools from the 600 feet limitation to 1,000 feet. Meanwhile, a harmful bill introduced early in the session this year was AB 2500, which also died in committee. This bill would have established a “per se” DUI law, in which it would have been illegal for any person — including medical marijuana patients — to drive with two ng/mL of THC, including its metabolites, in his or her system.
Finally, a bill we tracked last year, SB 1029, has been re-introduced this year. This positive bill would restore state food stamp eligibility for those individuals who are currently denied access to the state assistance program because of a history of one or more marijuana-related offenses."
http://www.mpp.org/states/california/
Several bills introduced in the California Legislature last year continue to be considered this year, while others have been proposed more recently. Assembly Member Tom Ammiano’s, AB 604, took a somewhat new form this year under bill number AB 1894. This bill would protect and regulate medical marijuana businesses, although the bill contains some significant flaws that should be amended before passage. A bill to protect cultivators and dispensaries is particularly important in light of persistent federal law enforcement activity in the state and an August 2013 memo by the U.S. Department of Justice advising federal prosecutors not to pursue marijuana businesses in states that have clear regulations in place. Please ask your legislators to support this long-overdue measure to regulate and protect California’s medical marijuana industry.
A new bill introduced this year by Sen. Lou Correa, SB 1262, would serve a similar role to AB 1894 by directing the Department of Public Health to regulate and license medical marijuana businesses. It would also impose quality assurance standards and testing requirements. While this bill originally contained many offensive provisions, particularly those related to doctors, the bill's sponsor made several significant amendments, and the bill appears to be taking shape in many positive ways and now shows good promise. As with Asm. Ammiano's bill, it is still not a perfect solution and needs further work. Please take a moment to encourage your senator to amend and support this bill.
Another new bill this year, AB 1588, introduced by Assembly Member Connie Conway, failed to advance. This bill would have increased the distance between storefront businesses and schools from the 600 feet limitation to 1,000 feet. Meanwhile, a harmful bill introduced early in the session this year was AB 2500, which also died in committee. This bill would have established a “per se” DUI law, in which it would have been illegal for any person — including medical marijuana patients — to drive with two ng/mL of THC, including its metabolites, in his or her system.
Finally, a bill we tracked last year, SB 1029, has been re-introduced this year. This positive bill would restore state food stamp eligibility for those individuals who are currently denied access to the state assistance program because of a history of one or more marijuana-related offenses."
http://www.mpp.org/states/california/
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