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NEWS 

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National

With Medical Marijuana Laws Murky, U.S. Prosecutors Pursue California Cases

NFL News On Marijuana Ban: Former Players Want Medical Marijuana Off The List

California

Lawmakers scramble to fix problems with marijuana regulation law

Here Come the Weed Bans

Schools mull medical marijuana policies over student use

Marijuana Roadside Breathalyzer: Is It On the Way - And Will It Work?

Local

Peninsula cities take a look at medical marijuana regulation (Monterey County)

City to rethink El Camino Real: Marijuana and Docktown on Redwood City Council’s early agendas (Redwood City)

Merced bans medical marijuana sales and cultivation (Merced)

San Diego rushes to establish rules on marijuana cultivation (San Diego)

Sacramento may allow medical-pot growers inside city limits (Sacramento)

County supervisors target medical marijuana delivery services (Shasta County)

Placer approves placeholder medical marijuana ordinance (Placer County)

Supervisors Look to Advance Limited Marijuana Ordinance to Beat Looming (if Questionable) State Deadline (Humboldt County)

SLO County cities approve marijuana cultivation bans (San Luis Opisbo County)

Indian Wells toughens medical marijuana ordinances (Indian Wells)

City Revises Marijuana Ordinance It Approved Last Month (Coronado)

Los Banos bans all medical pot sales, cultivation (Los Banos)

Coalinga to allow marijuana dispensary; other Valley cities, counties analyzing ordinances under new state law (Coalinga)

Board of Supervisors appoints ad hoc committee to consider new state medical marijuana rules (Lake County)

PUBLIC MEETINGS & EVENTS 

January 11, 2016 – Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee Hearing on AB 821 (Sacramento)
1:30 PM in room 126 in the State Capitol Building in downtown Sacramento. AB 821 (Gipson) will allow legal medical cannabis businesses and organizations to pay their sales tax in cash without a penalty. ASA supports the bills. Get more information at http://www.safeaccessnow.org/2016_legislation

January 12, 2016 - Assembly Business and Professions Committee Hearing on AB 26 (Sacramento)
9:00 AM in room 447 of the State Capitol Building. The committee will vote on AB 26 (Bonta), a bill that will require applicant for a commercial medical cannabis license to have a staff training program. You can comment on the bill in advance. Find the committee members’ contact information here: http://abp.assembly.ca.gov/membersstaff  Visit http://www.safeaccessnow.org/2016_legislation  for more information.

January 12, 2016 – Nevada County Board of Supervisors Meeting (Nevada City)
9:00 AM in the Eric Rood Administrative Center, 950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City, CA 95959. Sheriff Royal is to announce his new medical cannabis regulations. Check the agenda for details and the time. Email [email protected] for more information.

January 13, 2016 - Senate Governance and Finance Committee Hearing on AB 21 (Sacramento)
9:30 AM in room 112 of the State Capitol Building. The committee will vote on AB 21 (Bonta), which will remove the March 1, 2016, deadline for cities and counties to adopt ordinances related to cultivation. ASA is asking the author to also remove limits on square footage for cultivation for patients and caregivers. You can comment on the bill in advance. Find the committee members’ contact information here: http://sgf.senate.ca.gov/  Visit http://www.safeaccessnow.org/2016_legislation  for more information.

January 19, 2016 - Joint Hearing of the Assembly Business and Professions, Agriculture, and Health Committees (Sacramento)
1:30 PM in room 4202 in the State Capitol Building. The committees will be discussing implementation of the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act. You can listen to the hearing online here: http://assembly.ca.gov/listen/4202-audio

January 19, 2016 - CCIA and Cal Heritage Roundtable Discussion, Lunch and Benefit Concert (Sacramento)
9:00AM - 9:30 PM at the Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Experts will discuss new medical cannabis laws and adult use legalization in California. Get Tickets: http://www.calheritage.com/events/ Details: Call (916) 910-9769 or visit http://www.calheritage.com/events/

January 27, 2016 - Protecting Access in Your Community: California Local Access Project (Online)
8:00 PM PT at https://plus.google.com/u/1/b/109193897924528499034/events/ceuqac5qrafph57fkrjd1tuql84  Log in early to install software, if this is your first live Google Hangout event. Cities and counties are rushing to ban commercial medical cannabis activity all over the state. ASA California Director Don Duncan will talk about what you can do to stop or overturn a ban in your community. Other topics include proposed changes to state licensing and regulation, other bills on the table this year, and building local support. Use the Google Hangout link above to ask questions and make comments. You can watch the broadcast live without interactive features at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9bpBwavBQ8 Be sure to invite friends and loved ones who care about medical cannabis in California.

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! 

COURT SUPPORT 

What is Court Support and how do I get involved? 

No requests this week.

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

ASA CHAPTER & AFFLIATE MEETINGS 

January 14, 2016  - San Francisco Brownie Mary Democratic Club  (San Francisco)
The meeting starts at 6:00 PM at 948 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103. 

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See all California ASA Chapter Meetings here:
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/california_advocacy 

ASA WEBSITE SPOTLIGHT 

2016 Legislation
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/2016_legislation

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) tracks legislation related to medical cannabis in California. We work with lawmakers, staff, and other stakeholders to support beneficial bills and amendments and stop legislation and amendments that erode patients' rights. Use the links on this page to locate the most up-to-date versions of bills, ASA position letters, and related documents. Bookmark this page and check back often.

ACTION ALERTS 

Contact Your Local Representatives About Medical Cannabis Licensing (California)
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/contact_your_local_representatives_in_california

Some California cities have moved forward with licensing for commercial medical cannabis activity since Governor Brown signed the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA) earlier this year. Unfortunately, others have reacted by banning some or all medical cannabis businesses and organizations. Most cities and counties have yet to act. Your local representatives need to hear from you whether they have licensed medical cannabis, banned it, or have done nothing at all. 

Vote for ASA: National CannAwards (National)
http://www.canneconomy.com/cannawards/finals

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) recently won the regional award for “Best Effort on Affecting Policy, Regulations & Industry Standards” from CannAwards. Hosted by Cannabis Economy, the CannAwards honor and celebrate leadership and innovation in Cannabis. Use this link to vote for ASA in the national finals. Be sure to share the link with your friends who believe in the work we do! 

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.