Logo of the California Water Boards, featuring blue wave designs above the text. The text reads "California Water Boards," followed by "State Water Resources Control Board" and "Regional Water Quality Control Boards." Draft regulations on cannabis cultivation are managed by the State Water Board. CA Norml

State Water Board Issues Draft Regulations for Cannabis Cultivation

July 11 – The State Water Resources Control Board will accept public comments on a Draft Cannabis Cultivation Policy – Principles and Guidelines for Cannabis Cultivation (Cannabis Policy), a Draft Cannabis Cultivation Policy Staff Report, and Draft General Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges of Waste Associated with Cannabis Cultivation Activities (General Order). The Notice, draft …

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Map showing the estimated cannabis production in pounds by region in California, according to SRIA 2017. Key regions include North Coast with 4,150,000 lbs., Central Coast with 625,000 lbs., and Intermountain with 3,875,000 lbs. Other regions are also labeled in this Cannabis Cultivation report. CA Norml

California Releases Environmental Impact Report on Cannabis Cultivation

June 14 – The California Department of Food and Agriculture CalCannabis Licensing Program has issued a Cultivation Licensing Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for public review and comment. California is the first state to conduct a full Environmental Impact Report on cannabis cultivation. The Draft PEIR provides information about the potential environmental effects associated …

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A man in a suit stands at a podium, speaking to an audience seated at round tables in a large, elegant room with draped ceilings. A camera on a tripod is set up in the foreground to record the event as he discusses reform in the California Legislature. The attendees are listening attentively. CA Norml

Marijuana Reform Bills Advance in California Legislature

SACRAMENTO – The state Assembly voted 41-33 to approve a bill by Asm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer (AB 1578) barring California law enforcement officials from cooperating with federal officials seeking to interfere with California’s marijuana laws. The bill’s sponsor Asm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer spoke at the ASA / Cal NORML lobby day on June 5 and enjoined the …

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Logos of three organizations are shown from left to right: Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation (BMCR) with a leaf symbol, California Department of Public Health (CDPH) with abstract human figures, and California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) with a sun and wave design. These entities work under the Governor's regulations for medical marijuana in the state.
 CA Norml

DRAFT MEDICAL MARIJUANA REGULATIONS RELEASED • Governor, Legislators Push More Changes

Sign a Petition To Protect Patient Access from Burdensome Manufacturing Regulations California’s Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation has released a notice of rule making with hearing dates starting June 1 and draft regulations for retailers and distributors as well as laboratories. The California Department of Food and Agriculture has proposed regulations for cultivation, nurseries, and …

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A close-up of a person vaping with an electronic cigarette. The individual's hand is holding the black and silver e-cigarette, which emits vapor, and the mouthpiece is near their lips. A blue light is illuminated on the device. Public housing policies often discourage such activities. The background is blurred. CA Norml

ANTI-SMOKING BILL WOULD BAN CANNABIS VAPING IN PUBLIC HOUSING

SACRAMENTO, Apr 26th – The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee approved a bill to ban smoking and vaping of tobacco, cannabis and other medicinal herbs. The bill, AB 62 by Asm. Jim Wood, passed by a unanimous vote and now proceeds to the full Assembly. Cal NORML opposed the bill on the grounds that …

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A hand holding car keys with a blurred car in the background, perhaps ready to unlock or start the vehicle—highlighting the importance of awareness around DUI regulations, especially in light of recent discussions by the Senate Public Safety Committee. CA Norml

Senate Public Safety Committee Waters Down Marijuana DUI Bills

UPDATE 9/12/17: SB 65 was signed by the Governor. It reads: “A person shall not drink any alcoholic beverage or smoke or ingest marijuana or any marijuana product while driving a motor vehicle,” or “while riding as a passenger in any motor vehicle,” whether on a highway or off-road. Violations will be punished as infractions. …

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An older man in a dark suit and striped tie, possibly the Governor, is posing with his hand on his chin in front of a California state flag, which features a bear. CA Norml

Governor Releases Draft Language to Reconcile MCRSA and AUMA

UPDATE: The bill number is SB 94 April 4, 2017 – The Governor’s office has released a draft trailer budget bill, attempting to reconcile MCRSA (medical marijuana law passed by the legislature in 2015) and AUMA (passed by the voters as Prop. 64 in November 2016). Unlike Gov. Brown’s proposal of last year to merge …

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A person in a suit and tie stands at a podium with an American flag in the background. The text overlay reads, "Spicer foresees 'greater enforcement' of federal regulations on cannabis." There is a play button indicating a video with a duration of 2:04. CA Norml

Spicer Misspeaks on Cannabis and Opiates

February 24 – Asked about state marijuana laws yesterday, Press Secretary Sean Spicer said that while medical marijuana was “very different than recreational use,” he opined, “When you see something like the opioid addiction crisis blossoming around so many states … the last thing we should be doing is encouraging people.” It is widely understood …

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The image shows the California State Capitol building with a large cloud shaped like a cannabis leaf in the sky above it, hinting at discussions involving 2017 bills. The bottom portion displays the California NORML logo and the website address www.CaNORML.org, reflecting their involvement in the legislature. CA Norml

2017 Bills Submitted to Legislature

February 22, 2017 – The final bills for this year’s legislative session have been introduced in Sacramento. There are 44 bills that could affect cannabis law and policy in California. Cal NORML is consulting with our attorneys and others on positions and priorities on these bills, which we will be tracking and announcing hearings and …

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