SACRAMENTO, September 18 – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed several measures to strengthen California’s cannabis laws, expand the legal cannabis market and redress the harms of cannabis prohibition.
Among the bills signed were AB 2188 by Assemblymember Bill Quirk (D-Hayward), a Cal NORML-sponsored bill that protects Californians from employment discrimination based on their use of cannabis off-the-clock and away from the workplace.
The Governor also signed:
• AB 1706 by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) ensures that Californians with old cannabis-related convictions will finally have those convictions sealed. This and AB 2188 were signed to “further unwind California’s failed history of cannabis prohibition,” a press release from the Governor’s office said.
• SB 1186 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) preempts local bans on medicinal cannabis delivery, expanding patients’ access to legal, regulated cannabis products. Cal NORML testified in favor of the bill at its hearings.
• SB 1326 by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced), which creates a process for California to enter into agreements with other states to allow cannabis transactions with entities outside California.
• AB 1885 by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) to allow veterinarians to recommend cannabis for pets.
• AB 2210 by Assemblymember Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) to allow venues with liquor licenses to host cannabis events.
• AB 1894 by Assemblymember Luz Rivas (D-Arleta) – Integrated cannabis vaporizer: packaging, labeling, advertisement, and marketing.
The Governor formerly signed:
• AB 1954 (Quirk) to protect the right of patients to medical treatment if they use marijuana, and the right of physicians and clinics to treat them. The bill was sponsored by Cal NORML and co-sponsored by Americans for Safe Access.
• AB 2595 (Jones-Sawyer) would require the State Department of Social Services to treat a parent’s use of cannabis in the same manner as alcohol or legally prescribed medication.
• SB 988 (Hueso) to clarify “Ryan’s Law,” allowing terminally ill patients to use cannabis in healthcare facilities.
For the text of the bills, visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
Thanks to all of our supporters who sent thousands of letters in support of many of these bills, and those who lobbied with us at Lobby Day and throughout the year for reform. Please consider supporting Cal NORML in our work moving forward to implement these new laws.
The Governor’s release from today stated:
Though the state has made significant progress since the legalization of cannabis, local opposition, rigid bureaucracy and federal prohibition continue to pose challenges to the industry and consumers. The Governor is calling on legislators and other policymakers to redouble efforts to address and eliminate these barriers.
“For too many Californians, the promise of cannabis legalization remains out of reach,” said Governor Newsom. “These measures build on the important strides our state has made toward this goal, but much work remains to build an equitable, safe and sustainable legal cannabis industry. I look forward to partnering with the Legislature and policymakers to fully realize cannabis legalization in communities across California.”
These bills build on the Administration’s efforts to strengthen California’s cannabis legalization framework. As part of this year’s state budget, the Governor signed legislation to provide tax relief to consumers and the cannabis industry; support equity businesses; strengthen enforcement tools against illegal cannabis operators; bolster worker protections; expand access to legal retail; and protect youth, environmental and public safety programs funded by cannabis tax revenue.
To expedite policy reforms that prioritize and protect California consumers’ health and safety, the Governor has directed the California Department of Public Health to convene subject matter experts to survey current scientific research and policy mechanisms to address the growing emergence of high-potency cannabis and hemp products. The Governor has also directed the Department of Cannabis Control to further the scientific understanding of potency and its related health impacts by prioritizing the funding of research related to cannabis potency through its existing public university grants. [Cal NORML is working with a group of doctors and others to address this issue and provide recommendations for public education and policy.]
The post Gov. Newsom Signs Bill to Protect Employment Rights of Cannabis Consumers, Other Reform Measures appeared first on CaNorml.org.
“If no substantial countervailing concern is raised, judges must grant the petition for expungement,” justices on the Supreme Court concluded.
The post Massachusetts: Court Ruling Anticipated to Open the Door for the Mass Expungement of Prior Marijuana Convictions appeared first on NORML.
This page will be updated as we learn more about candidates and races.
The California General Election is on Tuesday, November 8. Register to vote. If you miss the deadline, you can also register and vote in person through Election Day using same-day registration.
Here are Cal NORML’s recommendations for pro-cannabis candidates in key or contentious races for the November 8 General Election in California. Send any input about these or other races for this guide here.
Read about more races at NORML’s Smoke the Vote Guide
Local Ballot Measures
https://ballotpedia.org/California_2022_local_ballot_measures
A few notes –
In some instances, the City Council will try to pass its own retail ordinance, in order to maintain control over the regulatory process. This illustrates how these ballot measures often force cities to finally pass ordinances, and can be an effective strategy in getting cities to finally respect the will of their voters and license cannabis businesses.
Many of these cities are concentrated in SoCal: LA County, Orange County, San Diego County. It shows these SoCal markets opening up further.
Some of these cities are very large population centers: RIverside (325k), Huntington Beach (200k), Ontario (200k), Lake Forest (100k) and so would significantly increase legal cannabis access for these residents, and the residents of nearby cities.
Similarly, LA County and San Diego County are the two biggest counties in the state and would help significantly contribute to the expansion of retail access in the state.
KINGS COUNTY
Avenal – Measure C
Seeks to tax cannabis businesses at $25/sq. ft. of business area or 15% of gross receipts; whichever is greater
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Baldwin Park – Measure CB
Shall the measure authorizing cannabis retailers to sell and deliver medical cannabis and cannabis products to adults, and adult-use cannabis and cannabis products to persons 21 years and older, with retailers paying a 0.5% tax and 4% tax on gross receipts from sales, respectively, providing $300,000 to $3 million annually for general government use, and authorizing City Council to modify rates up to 5%, until repealed by voters, be adopted?
Claremont – Measure CT
To fund City services, shall a measure establishing a tax on cannabis and hemp businesses of the following rates: 4%-7% of gross receipts for retail businesses; and the higher of 1 %-4% of gross receipts or $1-$10 per square foot for other businesses, with certain rates increasing annually, generating an estimated $500,000 annually if cannabis and hemp businesses were to be authorized in the future, until ended by voters, be adopted?
Cudahy – Measure BA
Cannabis Businesses Accountability Measure
To increase funding for parks, recreational programs, roads and sidewalks and other general governmental purposes, shall an ordinance authorizing and regulating storefront retail cannabis sales and other commercial cannabis activities be approved with prohibitions on retail operations within 600 feet of schools, churches, childcare facilities and other sensitive uses and with retailers required to pay a 15% gross receipts tax to raise approximately $3,581,952.75 annually until ended by Cudahy voters?
El Segundo – Measures Y & W
Measure Y – Shall an ordinance (a “yes” vote taxing cannabis does “not” make cannabis businesses legal in El Segundo; it creates a tax in case a cannabis business ever becomes legal) funding general municipal expenses such as police, fire, streets, and parks, by establishing taxes upon cannabis businesses not to exceed $20 per square foot for cultivation and 10% of gross receipts for other cannabis businesses, until ended by voters, generating approximately $600,000 to $1,500,000 annually, be adopted?
Measure W – Shall an ordinance be adopted to repeal the City’s current prohibition on commercial cannabis activities to authorize commercial cannabis retailers east of Pacific Coast Highway in the Multimedia Overlay District by right, if no less than 1,750 square feet, with sensitive receptor buffers and away from major arterial frontages, subject to a City permitting process; and authorize the City Council to subsequently regulate non-retail cannabis businesses?
Hermosa Beach – Measures M & T
Measure M – Shall an ordinance proposed by initiative petition be adopted that repeals the City’s existing ban on cannabis businesses and allows by City-approved permit up to two cannabis retail storefront businesses, including home delivery from those stores?
Measure T – Shall an ordinance be adopted enacting a local business tax on cannabis/hemp businesses up to $20.00 per square foot for cultivation and up to 10% of gross receipts for all other cannabis/hemp businesses, estimated to generate $700,000 – $1,500,000 annually (assuming two retail stores operating and taxed at maximum rate), until ended by voters, for general governmental use, subject to independent audits, to be effective only if cannabis business operations are allowed in the City?
Lynwood – Measure TR
Shall the City adopt Ordinance No.1752 establishing a 5%, but not to exceed 10% tax on businesses selling cannabis products at retail stores in the City to help fund City general fund services such as senior citizen programs, City beautification efforts, enforcement of illegal cannabis operations, public safety, housing programs, recreation services, infrastructure, and homeless reduction and other City efforts? Estimated revenues are $3 to $6 million annually until terminated by the City Council.
Manhattan Beach – Measures MB & V
Measure MB – Shall a measure repealing Manhattan Beach’s existing prohibition of all commercial cannabis activity; allowing three cannabis retailers within city limits; allowing Manhattan Beach City Council discretion to legalize other cannabis uses; and imposing operational, design, and location requirements on such businesses, be adopted?
Measure V – Shall a measure readopting Manhattan Beach’s existing: (1) prohibition of all commercial cannabis activities in the City; and (2) allowance of limited indoor cannabis cultivation consistent with state law, be adopted?
Santa Monica – Measure HMP
Shall the measure to establish a business tax on every licensed cannabis business (including adult-use nonmedicinal cannabis retailers, distribution, manufacturing, cultivation, laboratory testing, or any other licensed cannabis business) and retailers of products containing psychoactive cannabinoids including derived from industrial hemp, up to 10% of gross receipts on cannabis and/or hemp-derived psychoactive products sold in the City, which all together could generate an estimated $3-5 million annually until repealed be adopted?
South El Monte – Measures CM & X
Measure CM – Shall the measure, permitting and thoroughly regulating limited cannabis retail businesses (1 adult-use/medical with option of up to 3 total after the measure’s 1st year), establishing a general tax at a maximum 8% of noncultivation cannabis business proceeds and $25/square foot of cultivation space (with CPI increases) applicable to permitted/unpermitted businesses, generating approximately $720,000 annually until ended by voters, for general City services (e.g., police, maintenance), be adopted?
Measure X – Shall the measure, permitting/regulating limited cannabis businesses (5 dispensaries, 2 cultivation, 1 testing facility, 2 manufactures/distributors); regulating personal cannabis use; establishing a maximum 6% special excise tax on retail cannabis/edibles sales generating approximately $126,000 annually until ended by voters for implementation costs, clinical trials, municipalities where cannabis business are located, senior/youth programs, infrastructure (streets/roads/sidewalks), public safety (sheriffs/fire department), existing/future commercial, industrial, and affordable housing developments, be adopted?
ORANGE COUNTY
Huntington Beach – Measure O
Shall the City adopt an Ordinance that taxes cannabis businesses up to 6% of gross receipts for retailers and up to 1% of gross receipts for all other cannabis businesses if they were to be permitted in the City; which is expected to generate an estimated $300,000 to $600,000 annually to fund general municipal services for Huntington Beach and will be levied until repealed by the voters?
Laguna Woods – Measure T
To fund City services, shall a measure establishing a tax on cannabis businesses of the higher of the following rates: 4%- 10% of gross receipts or $5-$35 per square foot for retail businesses; and 1%-10% of gross receipts or $1-$35 per square foot for other businesses, with certain rates increasing annually, generating an estimated $750,000 annually if cannabis businesses were to be authorized in the future, until ended by voters, be adopted?
MARIN COUNTY
Sausalito – Measure K
Shall the measure repealing the existing ban on cannabis sales in the City of Sausalito, establishing an application process for retail cannabis businesses; giving preference to local applicants that expressed interest in operating a cannabis business before April 1, 2021; authorizing one storefront and one delivery-only cannabis business; regulating the operations and location of cannabis businesses; and requiring payment to the City of the greater of 7.5% net profits or $50,000 per year, be adopted?
ORANGE COUNTY
Huntington Beach – Measure O
Shall the City adopt an Ordinance that taxes cannabis businesses up to 6% of gross receipts for retailers and up to 1% of gross receipts for all other cannabis businesses if they were to be permitted in the City; which is expected to generate an estimated $300,000 to $600,000 annually to fund general municipal services for Huntington Beach and will be levied until repealed by the voters?
Laguna Woods – Measure T
To fund City services, shall a measure establishing a tax on cannabis businesses of the higher of the following rates: 4%- 10% of gross receipts or $5-$35 per square foot for retail businesses; and 1%-10% of gross receipts or $1-$35 per square foot for other businesses, with certain rates increasing annually, generating an estimated $750,000 annually if cannabis businesses were to be authorized in the future, until ended by voters, be adopted?
STATEWIDE OFFICES
Rob Bonta for Attorney General
Bonta has long been a strong friend and supporter of and reasonable voice for cannabis law reform. In 2015, he was one of the Assemblymembers who drafted a set of bills that licensed and regulated medical cannabis, and he repeatedly worked to lower taxes on cannabis in the legislature. In 2018, Asm. Bonta authored Cal NORML’s employment rights for medical marijuana users bill, and introduced AB 1793, which passed into law, creating an automatic pathway for Californians to have criminal convictions for cannabis-related offenses removed or reduced from their records. As AG, Bonta has worked with county officials to expedite the expungement process and announced his office would conduct a six-month review of the interagency CAMP (Campaign Against Marijuana Planting) program in October 2021.
In the nonpartisan primary, Bonta is running against Republicans Eric Early, who is for gun rights and against critical race theory, and Nathan Hochman, an Assistant US Attorney who prosecuted “narcotics traffickers and violent gang members.” Candidate Daniel Kapelovitz of the Green Party also ran in the Newsom recall; Sacramento DA Anne Marie Schubert, who is running as an Independent, is a former Republican who has been cozy with the police unions and opposed legalization. Schubert supports repealing Prop 47, which defelonized drug possession offenses, arguing that a repeal will provide offenders the treatment they need.
Alex Padilla for Senator
LEGISLATIVE RACES
California is in the process of redistricting, and these candidates are running in newly drawn districts, which will be finalized once they are elected and inaugurated in 2023.
Kermit Jones for Congressional District 3 (Placer County and portions of Sacramento, El Dorado and Yuba counties, including Rocklin, Roseville and Folsom, Lake Tahoe and much of the Eastern Sierra Nevada, including Plumas, Sierra, Nevada, Alpine, Mono and Inyo counties)
Trump-endorsed Kevin Kiley voted against all pro-cannabis measures in the Assembly in 2018 (except SB 829, to protect cannabis compassion programs for indigent patients), while opposing expansion of cannabis events, veterinary use, and medical access for schoolchildren.
Moderate Democratic candidate Dr. Kermit Jones has the Sac Bee endorsement, which says that the former Navy flight surgeon and Iraq veteran “brimming with thoughtful proposals on health care, wildfire resilience and more.” Dr. Jones is also a lawyer, and was a White House fellow during the Obama administration. His Health Care Plan would “decriminalize certain drug offenses and encourage rehabilitation programs as an alternative to incarceration.”
Ami Bera for Congressional District 6 (Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights, parts of Sacramento)
Beri is a medical doctor who worked with AIDS patients and supports medical marijuana. He opposed Prop. 64 to legalize recreational use in California in 2016, but has voted twice in favor of the MORE Act to legalize recreational cannabis at the federal level, as well as co-sponsoring the SAFE Banking Act, and voting to allow VA doctors to recommend medical cannabis for veterans, and preventing the Justice Department from prosecuting medical cannabis patients and providers.
Kevin Mullin for Congressional District 15 (South San Francisco, Redwood City)
Mullin has an “A” Rating on NORML’s “Smoke the Vote” guide and a great voting record on cannabis in the state legislature. His opponents are David Canepa, a San Mateo County supervisor, and Emily Beach from Burlingame City Council for this seat being vacated by Rep. Jackie Speier.
Mike Levin for Congressional District 49 (Dana Point)
Levin, who has an excellent voting record, faces a tough re-election campaign.
Anyone but Mike Garcia for Congressional District 27 (Santa Clarita)
Garcia has lead a campaign against illegal grows in his district, throwing medical and personal growers under his big bus. He also faces a tough race.
STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES
Dave Jones for State Senate District 8 (Richmond/Fairfield/Solano County)
Jones has been a strong supporter of cannabis reform since his days in the Assembly. As State Insurance Commissioner, he was one of the few public officials to endorse Prop 64.
Alex Lee for Assembly District 24 (Milpitas, Fremont, Newark and the Berryessa area in North San Jose)
Lee is a young Gen Z progressive. He is enthusiastically in favor of legal marijuana, social equity, employment rights for marijuana users, and more.
Esmeralda Soria for Assembly District 27 (Frenso)
As a Fresno City Councilmember, Soria pushed for opening dispensaries in Fresno.
Tom Lackey for re-election to Assembly District 34 (Apple Valley, California City, Barstow, Big Bear Lake, Twentynine Palms and parts of Hesperia, Highland, Lancaster, Palmdale, Victorville)
Lackey, a Republican and former CHP officer, co-sponsored legislation to license medical cannabis businesses in 2015. While supportive of medical access, in 2016 he opposed Prop. 64 to legalize recreational marijuana. Nonetheless, he has posted a good voting record in recent years. He sponsored bills to foster cannabis research, and worked with reform advocates to turn his DUI bill into a CHP task force, on which Cal NORML sat.
In this newly drawn district, Lackey will face Thurston Smith, who this year introduced a pair of bills to criminally or civilly penalize cannabis gardens as small as seven plants, a move seen as grandstanding in a region where Republican congressmen are making similar bluster. However, his office seems to have heard Cal NORML’s objections and his bill AB 2728 has been softened somewhat, removing the seven-plant mention.
Anyone But Steve Fox for Assembly District 39 (Palmdale)
Fox, who posted the worst voting record of any Democrat when he was in the legislature, is running for election in a new district.
Read about more federal and state races at NORML’s Smoke the Vote Guide
LOCAL RACES
Carl Tenenbaum for Sonoma County Sheriff
Tenenbaum is a member of LEAP (formerly Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, now the Law Enforcement Action Partnership) and has been endorsed by many progressive groups.
Caity Maple for Sacramento City Council
Maple worked to pass the cannabis Home Delivery Protection Bill SB 1302 (Lara – 2018). She now works as legislative director for the Perfect Union cannabis company.
Yesenia Sanchez for Alameda County Sheriff
In this anyone-but-Ahern race, Sanchez has the endorsement of the Brownie Mary Club of Alameda County, who tells us Sanchez understands and supports protecting cannabis businesses, saying they should have equal protection as other businesses, and is concerned about the nonaction of Oakland police during recent robberies. She has a focus on mental health, so that prison is not a continuous cycle as it is now. Sanchez has the endorsement of the East Bay Times, which opposes Ahern’s reelection. Ahern has been particularly obstructionist to cannabis businesses in Alameda county.
Terry Wiley for Alameda County DA
“Terry Wiley is a mensch,” writes Cal NORML Legal Director Bill Panzer. “I’ve had nothing but good dealings with him for many years. Very reasonable and compassionate.”
Rebecca Kaplan for Alameda District 3 Supervisor
Kaplan has been a leading advocate of cannabis reform measures during her tenure as an Oakland City Councilwoman and Vice Mayor, most recently sponsoring a resolution to support Cal NORML’s employment rights for cannabis users bill. Here election would create a cannabis-friendly majority on the Board of Supervisors.
Diana Becton for Contra Costa D.A.
Becton is a progressive who has been proactive on issuing expungements for past marijuana convictions in Contra Costa county. She calls criminal justice reform a leading priority and was endorsed by George Soros’ progressive Real Justice PAC in her last election.
Eunisses Hernandez for LA City Council District 1
While at the Drug Policy Alliance, Hermandez worked on state ballot measures like Prop 47, which reclassified nonviolent crimes as misdemeanors, and Prop 64, which legalized marijuana use for adults. She was a mover and shaker in making expungements happen for past marijuana crimes. She is endorsed by the LA Times and former Sen. Holly Mitchell.
Steven Vargas for Orange County District 4 Supervisor
As a Brea city councilman, Vargas opposed a ban on medical marijuana cultivation in 2016, but opposed deliveries, citing a potential for theft.
Lori Saldaña for San Diego City Council, District 2
Saldaña was a strong advocate for marijuana law reform during her time in the state Assembly. She posted a solid pro-reform voting record, and in 2007 she sponsored a bill that would have made it state policy not to cooperate with DEA raids. In 2008, she co-authored Mark Leno’s Industrial Hemp bill and his Employment Rights for Medical Marijuana Users bill, which passed in the Legislature but was vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger.
Dave Myers for San Diego Sheriff
Myers has been openly critical of the county’s over-policing of the cannabis community. “I will enforce a sensible approach to marijuana that permits safe access over black-market options,” he said when he ran in 2018. “The Sheriff currently has only one full-time detective on opioid enforcement, but ten dedicated to marijuana enforcement. Have we ever seen an overdose death on marijuana?”
Gem Montes for Colton City Council
The post Election Guide to Cannabis Candidates and Measures: November 2022 appeared first on CaNorml.org.
“Judges have repeatedly ruled that it is the responsibility of federal lawmakers, not the courts, to repeal the federal prohibition of marijuana. Rather than expect relief from the federal courts, citizens need to continue to pressure their federally elected officials to repeal this admittedly ‘irrational’ and destructive policy.”
The post US Court of Appeals: Federal Scheduling of Cannabis “Irrational,” But Not Unconstitutional appeared first on NORML.
“With public support for marijuana policy reform reaching super-majority status in recent years, prohibitionists and other political opponents have largely abandoned efforts to try and influence public opinion. Rather, they are now relying on gamesmanship to prevent voters from weighing in on the issue.”
The post Missouri: Legal Challenge to 2022 Legalization Initiative Dismissed appeared first on NORML.
“It’s time for local officials to put an end to the NIMBYism and unwarranted fears surrounding the establishment of licensed marijuana retailers. Cannabis is here and here to stay. Municipalities need to embrace this reality and provide the necessary oversight in order to hold these businesses accountable and to make this marketplace safe, transparent and profitable for the community.”
The post Analysis: Legal Cannabis Businesses Associated with Increased Home Values appeared first on NORML.
At a time when few cultural influencers were willing to speak out publicly about the injustices of cannabis prohibition in America, Barbara Ehrenreich was an exception.
The post NORML Remembers Barbara Ehrenreich appeared first on NORML.
Those who wish to perpetuate the failed public policy of cannabis criminalization have lost the hearts and minds of the American public. And they know it.
The post NORML Op-ed: Prohibitionists Fear Democracy More Than Marijuana appeared first on NORML.
“Americans understand that no industry can operate safely, transparently, or effectively without access to banks or other financial institutions and it is self-evident that this industry, and those consumers that are served by it, remain severely hampered without this access.”
The post Survey: Most Voters Support Federal Banking Reforms for Licensed Marijuana Retailers appeared first on NORML.
“The passage of AB 1954 beings and end to the this long-standing and discriminatory practice. With dozens of studies showing that cannabis often leads to a reduction in pain patients’ use of potentially more harmful opioids, it made no sense for doctors engage in this sort of flagrantly discriminatory and destructive behavior.”
The post California: Governor Signs Bill Prohibiting Doctors from Discriminating Against Medical Cannabis Patients appeared first on NORML.