Ellen Komp

On June 19, the SB 1264 (Grove), a bill to exclude law enforcement from employment rights protections for off-the-job cannabis use, failed to pass the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee, in a 3-2-2 vote. The bill would have amended AB 2188, the Cal NORML–sponsored bill banning job discrimination based on urine or hair tests for inactive THC metabolites.

Watch the committee hearing (starting about 2:15 in).

Beth Malinowski of SEIU (Service Employees International Union) testified against the bill, saying, “Employers, including law enforcement, are free to test for recent use of cannabis by means of oral swab, blood or breath tests, which detect recent exposure to THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, or by performance tests that detect actual impairment.…

Also see: DCC’s AB 1894 and new requirements for packaging, labeling, advertising, and marketing.

Beginning on July 1, 2024, Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 26152.1 will take effect, requiring:

• Advertisement and marketing of an integrated cannabis vaporizer, defined in Section 26122,  shall prominently provide in a clear and legible fashion: “An empty integrated cannabis vaporizer shall be properly disposed of as hazardous waste at a household hazardous waste collection facility or other approved facility.”

• Advertisement and marketing of a cannabis cartridge shall prominently provide in a clear and legible fashion: “A spent cannabis cartridge shall be properly disposed of as hazardous waste at a household hazardous waste collection facility or other approved facility.”…

The California NORML/Americans for Safe Access Citizen Lobby Day on Monday, May 6, 2024 in Sacramento brought dozens of supporters from across the state to meet with their state representatives and make our voices heard on pending legislation affecting the rights of cannabis consumers in California.

A survey sent to lobby day participants found that 81% of respondents found the experience “empowering”; 88% found it “educational/interesting” and 77% thought it was “enjoyable/fun.” Of the respondents, who were adult use and/or medical marijuana consumers and/or cannabis business people, 69% responded yes to, “I felt my voice was heard regarding cannabis legislation in California” and 77% agreed, “Cal NORML made it easy for me to be a citizen lobbyist.”…

Read about all federal and state races, candidates’ voting records, and more at NORML’s Smoke the Vote Guide

Every registered voter in California will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the March 5 primary election. Ballots can be returned as soon as they are received. Vote-by-mail drop boxes opened on February 6 and in-person voting will be available in all California counties.

The deadline to register to vote online was February 20th. You can check your voter status online. If you need to register after February 20, you can do so at your county elections office or polling place on the day of voting.…

In California, the cannabis excise tax is set at 15% of gross receipts from licensed retail cannabis sales in California. 

Cal NORML spearheaded an effort to roll back the tax from 19% in 2025, but more reform is needed. That rollback will expire on July 1, 2028 unless further action is taken.

Cannabis is heavily overtaxed relative to comparable goods in California.

According to the state legislative analyst’s office, state excise tax on a glass of wine is one cent, and on a 12-oz.…

An analysis by the SJ Mercury News found that California has earned more than $5.7 in tax revenue since California legalized recreational cannabis sales in 2017, and the only significant negative result of legalization is an increase in medical emergencies attributed to cannabis.

“It’s possible that people are much more likely to go to the ER (or take their kids in) for cannabis-related issues when they think they won’t be arrested (or lose custody) for doing so, or are less likely to be stigmatized by the medical professionals they encounter,” posits NORML’s Political Director Morgan Fox.…