Latest News from California

  • AB1811 Would Legalize Paraphernalia for Medical Use
    March 10 - A bill to legalize medical marijuana paraphernalia has been introduced by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-SF). The bill, AB 1811, modifies the existing drug paraphernalia law to exempt items designed or marketed for lawful purposes, notably medical use of marijuana.
  • Marijuana Legalization Bill AB 2254 Submitted to Cal Legislature
    Assemblyman Tom Ammiano has re-submitted his bill to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana in California. The new bill, AB 2254, is identical to its predecessor AB 390, which was approved by the Public Safety Committee in January.
  • California Studies Show Medical Marijuana Effective
    Feb. 17 - In a landmark report to the state legislature, the UCSD-based California Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research announced that its studies have shown marijuana to have therapeutic value (report at http://www.cmcr.ucsd.edu).
  • Medical Cannabis Report, Commissioned by State, to be Released
    Feb. 16 - The University of California will release findings of a $8.7-million medical marijuana research program mandated by the state in 1999.
  • Tax Cannabis 2010 Initiative Headed for November Ballot
    Jan. 28 - California voters will have the opportunity to vote for marijuana reform this November. The Tax and Regulate Cannabis Initiative or "TC2010" has submitted more than enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.
  • Obama Nominates Leonhart for DEA Administrator
    Jan. 26 - President Obama has signaled more of the same in drug policy by nominating Bush appointee Michele Leonhart as DEA administrator.
  • Ca Supreme Court Strikes Down Medical Marijuana Possession, Cultivation Limits
    January 21 - As expected, the court struck down the so-called SB 420 quantity limits in Ca Health & Safety code 11362.77 as applied to patients' right to grow, but upheld their application for other purposes, e.g. as a "safe harbor" guideline for protecting patients from arrest.
  • LA Finally Votes (But It's Not Yet Final)
    January 20 - By an 11-3 preliminary vote, the Los Angeles City Council moved to adopt a medical marijuana ordinance requiring collectives to locate outside a 1000-foot buffer from sensitive use properties.
  • California Public Safety Committee Passes AB390
    January 12 - The Assembly Public Safety Committee voted 4-3 to approve Tom Ammmiano's bill to legalize and regulate marijuana, the first time a legislative body has ever voted to repeal MJ prohibition.