Blog

ASA’s California Weekly Roundup is your way to stay on top of medical cannabis news, events, action alerts, court support, and more.

There are only 29 days left until the California Citizen Lobby Day in Sacramento. Get registered today!

Last week ASA…

• Testified in opposition to SB 987 (McGuire), which will impose an extra 15% tax on medical cannabis statewide.
• Testified in opposition to AB 2243 (Wood), which will impose a tax of $9.25/ounce on medical cannabis cultivation.
• Worked with local advocates to promote a new medical cannabis-licensing ordinance in Los Angeles.

This week…

• ASA will be working with local advocates in the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere to promote and improve medical cannabis licensing ordinances. 

Get all the news, events, action alerts, & more...

• News 
• Events 
• Take Action Now  
  
• Court Support 
• ASA Website Spotlight  
• Chapter & Affiliate Meetings 

NEWS      

National

Senate Approves Measure to Allow Veterans Access to Medical Marijuana

Why Is It So Hard to Get Clean Weed?

Multiple Nations Call for Reform in International Cannabis Policies at United Nations

California

A new urgency to find roadside test for drugged drivers

Calif. Cannabis Wholesaler Launches Ad Blitz

Meet the Woman Serving as California's First Marijuana Czar

North Coast legislator seeks new licensing for small medicinal marijuana growers

Assembly Public Safety Committee Passes DUID Bill on to Appropriations

Local

Monterey County’s marijuana boom: A look at two indoor Monterey County medical marijuana grow operations (Monterey County)

Catalina Island Medical Marijuana Campaign Meets Required Signature Goal (Catalina Island)

Going to Pot (Humboldt County)

South Nevada County couple sentenced in marijuana sales case (Nevada County)

Merced council says ‘yes’ to medical cannabis dispensaries, deliveries (Merced)

DHS residents hope medical marijuana will 'light ... city up' (Desert Hot Springs)

Marin IJ Editorial: Medical pot ruling ends wasteful prosecution (Marin County)

Ex-SJ Mayor Chuck Reed to Join Forces with Pot Clubs on 4/20 (San Jose)

New Marijuana Storage Business Causes Controversy (West Sacramento)

Cannabis Cup draws thousands to National Orange Show in San Bernardino (San Bernardino County)

Santa Cruz County poised to treat cannabis like any other crop (Santa Cruz County)

PUBLIC MEETINGS & EVENTS 

April 26, 2016 - Assembly Committee on the Judiciary Hearing on AB 2300 (Sacramento)

2:30 PM in room 126 in the State Capitol Building in downtown Sacramento, CA. The committee will vote on AB 2300 (Wood), which will prohibit smoking medical cannabis anywhere where a landlord prohibits smoking. ASA has no position on this bill, but regards it as unnecessary.

April 27, 2016 – Assembly Appropriations Committee Hearing on AB 2679 (Sacramento)

9:00 AM in room 4202 in the State Capitol Building in downtown Sacramento, CA. The committee will vote on AB 2679 (Cooley), which will add new reporting requirements for state licensing agencies and the University of California of the California Marijuana Research Program. ASA has no position on this bill.

April 27, 2016 – San Diego County Board of Supervisors (San Diego)

8:30 AM at 1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 335, San Diego, California 92101. The Board will be discussing restricting and limiting the current dispensary ordinance in San Diego County. Show up promptly at 8:30AM to fill out speaker slips and reserve your seat in the main room. Email [email protected] for more information.

April 28, 2016 - BMCC Cultivation Subcommittee Meeting (Berkeley)

3:00 PM Sitka Spruce Conference Room, Permit Service Center, 2nd floor, 2120 Center Street, Berkeley, CA. We will discuss primarily West Berkeley community concerns and review the MMSRA cultivation regulations in our attempts to license medical cannabis cultivation in Berkeley. The agenda packet for the meeting available at the BMCC’s website: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/medicalcannabis/

May 2, 2016 - Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation Informational Sessions (Santa Ana)

3:30 PM and 5:15 PM at Hall of Administration, 333 West Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana CA 92701. The Chief of the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation, Lori Ajax, and staff will be traveling to Orange County to provide information to the public about the Bureau and the regulatory process.  All members of the public are invited to participate in these informational sessions.  Please arrive early for registration purposes. Register in advance for 3:30 PM session or the 5:15 PM session. Email [email protected] for more information.

May 3, 2016 – Marin County Board of Supervisors Meeting (San Rafael)

10:00 AM at 3501 Civic Center Drive Room 330, San Rafael, CA 94901. The Board will discuss a new licensing ordinance to allow some medical cannabis businesses in the unincorporated areas of the county.  Check the Board’s website for and agenda and draft ordinance shortly before the meeting.

May 6, 2016 - Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation Informational Sessions (Sacramento)

9:00 AM and 10:30 AM at California State Capitol - 1315 10th St - Room 126, Sacramento, CA 95814. The Chief of the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation, Lori Ajax, and staff will be in Sacramento to provide information to the public about the Bureau and the regulatory process.  All members of the public are invited to participate in these informational sessions.  Please arrive early for registration purposes. Register in advance for 9:00 AM session or the 10:30 AM session. Email [email protected] for more information.

May 23, 2016 –ASA’s California Citizen Lobby Day 2016 (Sacramento)

8:00 AM Registration and Breakfast, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Lobby Day at the Hyatt Regency, 1209 L St, Sacramento, CA 95814. Registration is now open! Join us for the state’s largest medical cannabis lobby day. Special guest speakers, training, briefing materials, and more. ASA will make appointments for you to meet with your state lawmakers when you register. $40 requested donation. No one turned away for lack of funds. Click here to get more information and register today.

May 23, 2016 – ASA’s California Citizen Lobby Day VIP Reception (Sacramento)

7:00 PM at the Hyatt Regency, 1209 L St, Sacramento, CA 95814. Network and celebrate with elected officials, lobby day participants, and special guests. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. $20 suggested donation, free for lobby day participants. Click here to get more information.

TAKE ACTION NOW 

Download and Share the California Citizen Lobby Day Poster (California)

Help us spread the word about the state’s largest medical cannabis lobby day on Monday, May 23, in Sacramento. Download this 8.5x11 inch color poster (.pdf file, 3.9 MB) and print one or more copies to share. Ask if you can put one up at your local patients’ collective, doctor’s office, or other public place. Our goal is to get 300 people to the lobby day this year. This is one way you can help make it happen. Thanks!

COURT SUPPORT 

What is Court Support and how do I get involved? 

April 29, 2016 – Court Support for Shelby Lucero (Sacramento)

9:00 AM at 720 9th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Preliminary hearing. Dress in an appropriate manner and obey all courtroom rules to best help the defendant. 

Find more information and additional listings on The Human Solution Calendar: http://www.thsintl.org/calendar

ASA WEBSITE SPOTLIGHT 

California Citizen Lobby Day 2016

Join Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the nation’s leading medical cannabis patients’ advocacy organization, for our annual California Citizen Lobby Day on Monday, May 23, in Sacramento. You will be part of the state's largest medical cannabis lobby day - with more than 300 patients, advocates, providers, industry works, and other stakeholders. This is your chance to talk face-to-face with lawmakers and regulators about patients' rights, taxation, and commercial regulation. Special guest speakers include: Lori Ajax, Chief of the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation; An-Chi Tsou, Senior Policy Advisor at the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation; Steph Sherer, Executive Director of Americans for Safe Access; Don Duncan, California Director of Americans for Safe Access.

Have something to share?

The “California Weekly Roundup” is a once-a-week email for ASA Members and Friends that focuses on relevant news and important updates, action alerts, meetings and special events. Send items for the California Weekly Roundup to [email protected] before 12:00 PM on Friday to be included in Monday's distribution.