NEWS      

Heads Up: California Governor Brown may sign AB 21 (Wood) today! That bill will remove the March 1^st deadline for local medical cannabis regulations, which has prompted city and county bans all over the state. Use these buttons to keep an eye on our social media sites and email discussion list for news.

National

New Report Evaluates Medical Marijuana Programs Nation-wide

ASA Blog: Bipartisan Congressional Asks V.A. to Allow Physicians to Recommend Cannabis to Veterans

Tax Code 280E: The Dagger Pointed at the Heart of Medical Cannabis

California

Bill to Halt Pot Bans in California Goes to Governor's Desk

California lawmakers send Brown bill to fix marijuana mistake

California Senate Bill Aims To Slow Bans On Medical Marijuana In Cities, Counties

Local

Can the cannabis ‘nuns’ of California save medical marijuana? (Merced)

Del Rey Oaks ready to lead the way on medical marijuana again (Del Rey Oaks)

Antonovich Seeks Evaluation of Medical Marijuana’s Impacts (Los Angeles County)

Hollister council weighs complexities of medicinal pot (Hollister)

Supervisors consider medical marijuana cultivation regulations (Yolo County)

Supervisors discuss medical marijuana policies (Napa County)

Several cities voted for increased regulations on medical marijuana this week (Contra Costa County)

Del Mar bans medical marijuana (Del Mar)

Calaveras County Tables Marijuana Discussion (Calaveras County)

Murrieta strengthens Marijuana prohibition ordinance (Murrieta)

Get Out of Jail for a Fee (Mendocino County)

City nips state pot regulations in the bud (Auburn)

Planning Commission suggests regulation, instead of prohibition (Mt. Shasta)

County approves medical marijuana cultivation ordinance (Humboldt County)

Gilroy Just Says No to Cannabis (Gilroy)

Applicants line up for medical pot permits (Ramona)

Police raid Kearny Mesa business suspected of illegally producing hash oil (San Diego)

Council defines who can deliver medical marijuana (Moorpark)

Cannabis prohibition causes stir in Inland region (Inland Empire)

PUBLIC MEETINGS & EVENTS 

February 2, 2016 - Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Meeting (Santa Rosa)
2:30 PM at the Board of Supervisors' Chambers, 575 Administration Drive, Room 102A, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. The Board will consider a ban on commercial medical cannabis cultivation and a change in personal cultivation regulations. This ordinance will expire when the Governor signed AB 21. Come early to sign up and speak in opposition the unnecessary urgency ordinance (item 39). Email [email protected]  for info.

February 2, 2016 – Alameda County Board of Supervisors (Oakland)
9:30 AM at Administration Building, Board Chambers, 1221 Oak Street, 5th Floor, Room 512, Oakland, CA 94607. The Supervisors are voting on a tobacco ordinance that might ban medical cannabis vape pens. Tell them to reject the Tobacco Retailers Ordinance, unless it is amended to remove medical cannabis devices. The agenda should be available online before the meeting. Email [email protected] for more information.

February 3, 2016 – Cultivators Alliance Meeting (Los Angeles)
12:00 PM at the Law Offices of Nelson Hardiman at 11835 Olympic Blvd., 9^th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90046. The meeting of medical cannabis cultivators is entitled “Politicking for Permits: How to Grow a Legit Business.” Guest speakers are Don Duncan from Americans for Safe Access and Dr. Jeffery Raber from the Werc Shop. $25 donation at the door.  Email [email protected] for more information.

February 4, 2016 – Berkeley Medical Cannabis Commission Meeting (Berkeley)
2:00 PM at Berkeley City Hall, 2180 Milvia St., between Center and Alston, Redwood Room, 6th floor.  The commission’s mission is to ensure that medical cannabis provision in Berkeley is conducted in a safe and orderly manner to protect the welfare of Qualified Patients and the community. Visit https://www.cityofberkeley.info/MedicalCannabis/ for more information.

February 8, 2016 – Martinez Public Safety Committee Meeting (Martinez)
6:30 PM at the Senior Center, 818 Green Street, Room 3, Martinez, CA 94553. The committee will consider several options related to medical cannabis, including bans on cultivation and delivery. Stakeholders should as the committee to license and regulate, not ban. Get all the details on the committee’s webpage.

February 9, 2016 – Nevada County Board of Supervisors Meeting (Nevada City)
9:00 AM at 950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City, CA 95959-8617. The Board will resume debate about regulating or banning medical cannabis. Visit the Board’s webpage for agenda details before the meeting. Arrive early to sign up to speak for local regulation and against a ban. Email [email protected] for more information.

February 24, 2016 - California, Congress, & Cannabis (Online)
8:00 PM PT online at https://plus.google.com/events/cn09m53ofe4m5eo9dmt322c94r4 Join ASA for another live Google Hangout, an interactive event you can join from your computer or mobile device. We will be talking about the consequences of and solution to the federal and state disconnect on medical cannabis. You may also watch live on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UlilUhC8hs

March 18-22, 2016 – National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference (Washington, DC)
All day at the Loews Madison Hotel, 1177 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005, and the US Capitol Building. The theme this year’s conference is “Our Medicine, Our Safety, Our Rights.” Our goal is to connect advocates, industry workers and leaders, researchers, doctors and others to effect real change for medical cannabis. Get signed up today so that you can be a part of it all. Here is the link to book your hotel: https://www.loewshotels.com/madison/Americans-for-Safe-Access?corpcode=NUC316 or call 1-855-325-6397 and use Reservation ID NUC316 to make your reservations. Be sure to mention the ASA Unity Conference to get the best rate. Make your reservation ASAP!

TAKE ACTION NOW 

Email Your State Representative ASA's Medical Marijuana Access Report

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) issued “Medical Marijuana Access in the US: A Patient-Focused Analysis of the Patchwork of State Laws,” this month. The annual report evaluates the array of differing state medical cannabis programs across the country from a perspective often overlooked in policy debates: the patients’ and provides policy makers with model legislation and regulations. With dozens of states already seeing legislative and regulatory proposals in 2016, this groundbreaking report will provide state lawmakers with timely tools they need to improve their medical cannabis programs to truly meet the needs of the patients they are meant to serve… 

Don’t Make CA Patients and Caregivers Get Licenses

The MMRSA requires a state and local license for individual patients who cultivate more than 100 square feet of medical cannabis or for primary caregivers who cultivate medical cannabis in more than 500 square feet (for up to five patients). The licensing requirements apply, even if all of the cannabis is for the patient’s personal medical cannabis use and not for sale. This is an unreasonable and unnecessary burden for legal medical cannabis patients and caregivers. Licensing is likely to be expensive and complicated. Businesses and organizations that work in the field of medical cannabis can be expected to adapt, jump over bureaucratic hurdles, and pay for the cost of licensing. Individual patients and caregivers cannot. Sign this petition asking lawmakers to remove the licensing thresholds for patients and caregivers cultivating medical cannabis for personal use.

COURT SUPPORT 

What is Court Support and how do I get involved? 

None this week. Send court support requests to [email protected] before noon on Friday to be included in Monday’s California Weekly Roundup.

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

ASA WEBSITE SPOTLIGHT 

ASA Blog: ASA Releases New Report on State Medical Marijuana Programs

With the release last year of the first detailed analysis and comparison of state medical marijuana laws, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) created a patient-focused tool to identify effective programs and problem areas. That groundbreaking report was followed today by the release of ASA’s new, far more detailed report on state programs, which reflects the many new states that have added programs as well as others that have improved their existing programs.

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.