Voters in several Texas cities – including Austin, Denton, Elgin, Harker Heights, Killeen, and San Marcos – have approved similar ballot measures.
The post Texas: San Antonio Voters to Decide on Marijuana Depenalization Ordinance appeared first on NORML.
Last night, the Ukiah Planning Commission unanimously passed an amendment to city code allowing for cannabis consumption at licensed retailers in the city. The amendment is limited in that it would allow for smoking or vaping only at outdoor sites, due to the city’s anti-smoking ordinance. It will allow for edibles or drinks to be consumed indoors.
At the meeting during the staff report, a slide was shown indicating that cities currently allowing on-site consumption include San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Rosa, West Hollywood, Palm Springs, Ojai, Port Hueneme, Coalinga, Lompoc, and National City.
Monique Ramirez of the Mendocino Cannabis Alliance, a business group with 100+ members, read a memo in support of the measure, noting, “This amendment will incentivize customers to frequent retail locations, which in turn will create a benefit for everyone, including local farms that supply products to retailers in our County.”
She continued, “Customers having places to consume cannabis safely should be promoted. Just as there are designated places for alcohol consumption, cannabis businesses with the proper zoning should have the same opportunities. Giving tourists a real taste of what Mendocino County producers have to offer will help promote our small businesses across the county and promote economic development. Medical patients especially need safe places to consume cannabis, whether for dried flower, edibles or cannabis drinks. Some patients do not have the ability to smoke/vaporize cannabis in the comfort of their own homes because they may be renters and their landlords disallow it.”
As did Cal NORML, MCA recommended that the Planning Commission expand the indoor use to include inhalable products. Paul Hansberry of Loving and Legally spoke in support, have been to SF where have inside consumption lounges have been “a savior for businesses, and for medical patients esp. because of smoking ordinances.” In a letter to the commission, Cal NORML wrote, “Inhalation is a safer mode of consumption than ingestion for on-site consumption areas. This is because inhalation acts promptly, allowing users to calibrate their dosage in accordance with its effects. There is no reason to believe that indoor smoking or vaping of cannabis presents an undue public safety hazard.”
The Ukiah ordinance was advanced by Kyle Greenhalgh of Heritage Mendocino, who spoke as the meeting, as did a representative from Cannavine. Todd Harp of Fish Peddler, the nearest business to Heritage Mendocino, also testified in support, saying that the business has beautified the neighborhood, increased his business.
Local farmer Susan Tibbon spoke in support, as did farmer John Casale, who said he has a tourism license. Casale spoke about being helped by Heritage Mendocino, where it’s explained and demonstrated, “Why the Emerald Triangle farmers are the Napa Valley of weed.” Nick Caston, director of public policy for Solful, a partner with Heritage Mendocino, spoke of the ability of consumption rooms to innovate and connect with producers, and prevents lawlessness, due to restrictions on places where people can consume cannabis. The sole opponent speaking was an elderly MD concerned about the effect of cannabis on drivers, and the brain.
Public comment was re-opened for a question from commissioner Michelle Johnson for questions about the ventilation system in the ordinance. Greenhalgh clarified that he was not intending to allow indoor consumption, but was open to allowing it elsewhere. Johnson said she could see both sides of the issue, noting that many parts of the city smell like weed these days, and she understood the need for having spaces to consume in “a regulated, safe environment.”
Commissioner Rick Johnson tried to compare it to a tasting room at winery. Greenhalgh said that California has a strict guideline that everything consumed must be purchased, so no sampling is permitted, unlike with wine. It was clarified that under state law, someone can’t bring in cannabis purchased from another sort, like you can pay a corkage fee at a restaurant. (Yet another way that cannabis businesses are penalized in CA.)
Commissioner Alex de Grassi fretted that despite public noticing and an article in the UDJ, and pending city council approval, the public might not be fully aware of the proposal. He proposed an amendment requiring that any modifications to existing businesses for the purposes of consumption be reviewed by the planning commission. Johnson asked about the difference in cost between taking modifications to the planning administrator and taking it before the commission; was told that the cost was $900 to go before the administrator and $2000-$3000 for a planning commission review, to pay for staff time, and possibly more (at $100/hour) due to heavy regulations, e.g. security requirements, for cannabis businesses. The development director can always defer projects to the planning commissioner. DeGrassi’s motion then died for lack of a second.
The original motion that passed with aye votes from all four commissioners present. It will now head to Ukiah City Council for approval.
The post Ukiah Planning Commission Unanimously Passes Ordinance Allowing Cannabis Consumption appeared first on CaNorml.org.
The DCC Cannabis Advisory Committee (CAC) will be holding the inaugural meeting of its Medicinal Use subcommittee on Monday, February 13th at 1 pm. The public is invited to testify at the meeting, which will be held virtually. The meeting will be devoted to defining the subcommittee’s scope, and identifying and prioritizing of topics for discussion in 2023. See meeting notice and agenda.
This is a chance for patients, doctors and medicinal cannabis advocates to express their views about what should be done to improve medicinal cannabis regulation in California. Expect for the committee to allow two minutes per speaker at the meeting. Written comments can also be submitted in advance by emailing CAC@cannabis.ca.gov
California scored only a C+ on Americans for Safe Access’s yearly “State of the State” report, scoring states on their medical marijuana laws.
We were given credit for passing SB 1186 (requiring locals to allow medical marijuana delivery services) and AB 2188 (protecting employment rights), while noting those reforms don’t reflect in our grade this year since the laws aren’t in effect yet (and won’t be until 1/1/2024).
Our state scored 0/10 in “allow patients to medicate where they choose” and 0/5 in “independent or third-party” laboratory operations; we’re penalized 10 pts. out of 20 on “gives regulatory preference for adult use.” Respondents noted the lack of available medicinal grade products, and that dispensary products are overly focused on THC content to the detriment of more therapeutic chemical profiles.
Other coming events:
Wednesday, February 15 – 9 a.m.
CAC Cultivation Subcommittee meeting
The subcommittee will hear presentations from the California Craft Brewers Association and California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control on opportunities and regulatory structures within the alcoholic beverage industries that support small producers.
Thursday, February 16 – 9 a.m.
CAC Laboratory Subcommittee meeting
Thursday, February 16 • 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 PM
Cannabis Law in California—An Overview of Federal and State Laws
The Witkin State Law Library, part of the California State Library, will explore the history of federal and state cannabis laws with guest speaker Robert Solomon, professor of law at the UC Irvine. Topics of this webinar will discuss the history of legal and illegal cannabis, and the agencies, laws, and regulations that govern cannabis in California.
Webinar Registration
The post Coming Events: Inaugural Meeting of Medical Use Subcommittee of CAC on 2/13/23, and more appeared first on CaNorml.org.
Highlights include: DE, GA, HI, IA, MD, MN, MO, NB, NH, NY, NC, ND, OH, SD, TN, WA, and WV.
The post State Policy Weekly Update 2/7/2023 appeared first on NORML.
“[T]he mere use of marijuana carries none of the characteristics that the Nation’s history and tradition of firearms regulation supports,” the Court determined. “The mere use of marijuana does not indicate that someone is in fact dangerous” or has a “proclivity for violence.”
The post Federal Court Rules Gun Ban for Marijuana Consumers Is Unconstitutional appeared first on NORML.
We will update this page as more bills are introduced, and alert supporters when it is time to take action on them as they advance through committees to floor votes, etc. The bills’ language may change as they move through the legislature, Cal NORML will be watchdogging!
Please support Cal NORML with a personal or business membership to help us advance cannabis consumers rights in California!
With the looming deadline of February 17 to introduce bills in California’s legislature, cannabis-related bills have begun to be proposed.
So far the top human rights proposal is SB 302 (Stern), which would extend Ryan’s Law, requiring specified health-care facilities to allow terminally ill patients to use nonsmoked (or vaped) forms of cannabis with a doctor’s recommendation. The Stern bill, if passed, would extend these protections to patients 65 and over with chronic diseases. Write A Letter to Your State Senator in Support of SB 302.
Two bills, AB 375 (Haney) and SB 285 (Allen), seek to expand on the activities that cannabis consumption lounges may engage in. The Haney bill states that a local jurisdiction may allow activities including, but not limited to, selling non-cannabis-infused food, selling nonalcoholic beverages, and selling tickets for live musical or other performances. The Allen bill would authorize a local jurisdiction to allow for the preparation or sale of noncannabis food or beverage products by a licensed retailer or microbusiness in the area where the consumption of cannabis is allowed.
AB 420 (Aguiar-Curry) would clear the way for licensed cannabis businesses to manufacture, distribute, or sell products that contain industrial hemp or cannabinoids, extracts, or derivatives from industrial hemp, if the product complies with all applicable state laws and regulations. The law would build on Asm. Aguiar-Curry’s prior hemp bills, one of which required the DCC to prepare a report on integrating hemp products into cannabis supply chain.
AB 471 (Kalra) would authorize the DCC to issue a state caterer license authorizing the licensee to serve cannabis or cannabis products at a private event approved by a local jurisdiction. A similar bill from Asm. Kalra stalled in committee last year.
SB 51 (Bradford) would allow the DCC to issue a provisional license for a local equity applicant for retailer activities, indefinitely, if the applicant meets specified requirements.
AB 351 (Chen) would allow for cannabis business license transfers.
Two budget bills, AB-221 (Ting) and SB-72 (Skinner) address the allocation of cannabis tax income, as does the Governor’s budget proposal. Read more.
Please support Cal NORML with a personal or business membership to help us advance cannabis consumers rights in California!
The post Cannabis Bills Introduced in California for 2023 appeared first on CaNorml.org.
“The option to grow for oneself is a fundamental right which has been part of legalization in the great majority of the 20 other states which have now taken the historic step of repealing the criminal prohibition of responsible adult marijuana use.”
The post Missouri: Adult-Use Cannabis Sales Begin, Regulators Accepting Home-Cultivation Applications appeared first on NORML.
I chose to work for NORML this spring because I believe that the destigmatization and legalization of cannabis is crucial to creating a more just, equitable, knowledgeable, and free society.
The post Why I’m Fighting for Cannabis Freedom appeared first on NORML.
State Question 820 permits adults to legally possess and home-cultivate personal use qualities of cannabis while also establishing a licensed, retail marketplace.
The post Oklahoma: Voters Still Have Time to Register Ahead of March Legalization Vote appeared first on NORML.
NORML Development Director JM Pedini, said that Tuesday’s vote represented “another stunning failure of leadership on cannabis policy.”
The post Virginia: House Republicans Reject Retail Cannabis Sales Plan appeared first on NORML.