News Archive 2008

December 2008

• California NORML Agenda for Reform in 2009
  December 18, 2008 – Buoyed by Obama’s election and the end of the Bush regime, California NORML will be pushing for meaningful changes in marijuana enforcement in the coming year.
• CALIFORNIA POLICE CHIEFS ASKED DEA TO CLOSE MEDICAL MARIJUANA CENTERS IN DISREGARD OF STATE LAW
  Dec 12, 2008 – The California Police Chief Association urged the DEA to close medical marijuana distribution centers, seize their profits and prosecute them in federal court, according to a letter to DEA administrator Karen Tandy. The letter, dated Oct 2, 2006, appears in testimony to the House Judiciary Committee.

November 2008

• Cal Supreme Court Rules Prop 215 Caregivers Must Do More Than Just Supply Marijuana
  November 24, 2008 – In a blow to medical marijuana providers, the California Supreme Court ruled that defendants are not entitled to a defense as Prop. 215 caregivers if their primary role is only to supply marijuana to patients.
• New War on Paraphernalia in Southern California
  November 14, 2008 – In an unusual development, two Imperial Beach paraphernalia shops were raided by San Diego County Sheriffs on October 22 after a several-months-long undercover investigation.
• CA Prop 5 Loses, But Marijuana Reform Measures Run Strong Nationwide
  November 4, 2008 – On a successful night for marijuana reform initiatives nationwide, Californians roundly rejected Prop. 5, the Non-violent Offenders Rehabilitation Act, by 40-60%.
• California Supreme Court Allows Medical Marijuana Ruling to StandOctober 2008
• October 16, 2008 – The California Supreme Court today declined to review a lawsuit filed by San Diego, Merced and San Bernardino counties claiming federal laws supercede California’s medical marijuana law. Read more.
• Fall 2008 Election Round-Up
  Background on federal and state races, plus California ballot initiatives.
• Governor Vetoes Employment Rights LegislationSeptember 2008
• September 30, 2008 – Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed Assemblyman Mark Leno’s bill to protect workers’ right to use medical marijuana. Read more.
• Record Jump in Marijuana Arrests in California
  September 19, 2008 – California posted a record surge in marijuana arrests in 2007, according to data from the state Criminal Justice Statistics Center.
• Feds Close Santa Barbara Medical Cannabis Coops
  September 18, 2008 – In response to federal threats of forfeiture, Santa Barbara’s medical marijuana coops are closing their doors as of this Friday, September 19th.
• Attorney General Brown Issues Medical Marijuana GuidelinesJuly/August 2008
• AUGUST 27, 2008 – The Attorney General’s office issued its long-awaited guidelines on medical marijuana. Read a preliminary analysis.
• Ca Senate Passes Fair Employment Rights Bill for Marijuana Patients
  AUGUST 20, 2008 – The State Senate approved Assemblyman Mark Leno’s path-breaking bill to prevent discrimination against medical marijuana patients by a vote of 21-14.
  Read more.
• Three Appellate Court Rulings on Medical Marijuana
  AUGUST 8, 2008 – Last week saw three significant California Appellate Court rulings on medical marijuana, most of them favorable to medical marijuana patients, but one with cautionary implications for “primary caregivers.” Read more.
• Appellate court strikes down SB 420 limits on medical marijuana possession and cultivation (People v. Kelly, May 2008). UPDATE 8/14/08: State top court to review medical pot limit
• Rep. Barney Frank introduces (1) federal decrim bill HR 5843 to remove penalties for possession of less than 100 grams (2) medical marijuana bill HR 5842 to let states legally regulate medical cannabis.
• Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act (NORA) will appear as Proposition 5 on California’s November ballot. NORA would reduce imprisonment for non-violent drug offenders, and make marijuana possession an infraction.
• June 2008
• Mendocino County anti-pot Measure B passes narrowly, faces court challenges. ( Cal NORML supports campaign against Measure B on June 3rd ballot).
• “Operation Southern Sweep” Hits Northern California
• May 2008
• Appellate court strikes down SB 420 limits on medical marijuana possession and cultivation (People v. Kelly, May 2008). UPDATE 8/14/08: State top court to review medical pot limit
• March 2008
• Cal NORML testifies to state Board of Equalization on sales tax benefits of legal medical cannabis dispensaries.
• February 2008
• NORML Testifies to UN NGO Consultation on Narcotic Drugs: No progress toward UN goal of eliminating illicit cannabis through prohibition – only solution is to eliminate its illicit status. (Vancouver, Feb 4-5, 2008).
• January 2008
• CA Supreme Court Rules Employers Can Discriminate Against Workers Using Medical MarijuanaNews Archive 2007
  News Archive pre-2007