Blog

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

• News 

• Events 

• Take Action Now  
  

• Court Support 

• ASA Website Spotlight  

• Chapter & Affiliate Meetings 

NEWS      

National

Senators Grassley and Feinstein Introduce Bill to Exempt Certain Medical Cannabis Patients From Federal Prosecution

Senator Graham Urges Congress to Pick a Side on Medical Marijuana

If There's One Issue Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Agree On, It's This

Medical Marijuana Linked To Modest Budget Benefits For Medicare Part D, Study Finds

Rocker, activist takes stage on behalf of hemp, medical marijuana

You can lose out just being associated with marijuana

California

Don't make marijuana California's cash cow

California to Regulate Marijuana Farming Water Use

What happens to medical marijuana if recreational use becomes legal?

Local

LA County measure now on November ballot would tax marijuana to help homeless (Los Angeles County)

Former California prison to become trailblazing medical marijuana farm (Coalinga)

Cathedral City puts medical pot tax expansion on Nov. ballot (Cathedral City)

Cloverdale seeks to join growing number of California cities taxing marijuana (Cloverdale)

County adopts the first of the commercial medical pot ordinances (Monterey County)

Green rush: Grover Beach's changing stance on marijuana draws the attention of outside interests (Grover Beach)

Long Beach Council Makes It Official — Medical Marijuana Dispensaries On Ballot (Long Beach)

Coachella Approves the First Medical Marijuana Facility (Coachella)

More than 100 people pack cannabis policy forum (Calaveras County)

Does Upland want a total ban on pot? Yes and no (Upland)

PUBLIC MEETINGS & EVENTS 

July 18, 2016 - Marijuana Town Hall Meeting (Sonoma)

5:30 – 7:30 PM at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Building, 126 First Street West, Sonoma, CA 95476. Supervisor Susan Gorin will host this town hall meeting to receive input on marijuana regulation in unincorporated Sonoma County. Stakeholders can also complete an online survey. Click here for a list of all five town hall meetings in Sonoma County.

July 18, 2016 - Alameda County Transportation and Planning Committee Meeting (Oakland)

12:30 PM at Board of Supervisors Chamber – 5th Floor, County Administration Building, 1221 Oak Street, Oakland, CA. The committee will get an update from law enforcement and staff about a proposed medical cannabis ordinance. Download the agenda and documents online. 

July 19, 2016 – Berkeley City Council Meeting (Berkeley)

7:00 PM at 2134 Martin Luther King, Jr., Way, Berkeley, CA 94704. The Berkeley City Council will give final approval for expanding the number of legal dispensaries from four to six and may approve two new applicants. The Council will also consider whether or not to support Proposition 64, which will legalize adult use of cannabis. Download the agenda for details. Arrive early to complete a speaker’s card for the cannabis –related items. Email [email protected] for more information.

July 20, 2016 - Marijuana Town Hall Meeting (Petaluma)

6:00 – 8:00 PM, Petaluma Community Center, 320 N. McDowell Boulevard, Petaluma, CA 94954. Supervisor David Rabbit will host this town hall meeting to receive input on marijuana regulation in unincorporated Sonoma County. Stakeholders can also complete an online survey. Click here for a list of all five town hall meetings in Sonoma County.

July 21, 2016 –Cannabis Regulatory Commission Meeting (Oakland)

6:30 PM at 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612. The commission will discuss Oakland regulations, Proposition 64 and more. Download the agenda for details. Email [email protected] for more information.

July 21, 2016 - Berkeley Medical Cannabis Commission Meeting (Berkeley)

2:00 - 4:00 PM at Berkeley City Hall, 2180 Milvia St, (between Center and Alston), Redwood Room, 6th floor. The commission will be discussing the application process for a cultivation permit. Download the agenda online. Email [email protected] for more information.

August 1, 2016 - Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing on Six Medical Cannabis Bills (Sacramento)

10:00 AM in room 4203 in the State Capitol Building in downtown Sacramento. The committee will vote on six medical cannabis bills.

• AB 567 (Gipson) will create a tax amnesty program for medical cannabis businesses and organizations. ASA supports the bill.
• AB 1575 (Bonta) is a cleanup bill for the MMRSA. ASA supports the bill.
• AB 2243 (Wood) imposes a new tax on medical cannabis distributors. ASA opposes the bill.
• AB 2385 (Jones-Sawyer) allows Los Angeles dispensaries qualified under Measure D to obtain state licenses without a city license. ASA has no position on the bill.
• AB 2516 (Wood) creates a new "cottage cultivator" license under the MMRSA. ASA supports this bill.
• AB 2679 (Cooley) expands the reporting requirements and research rules under the MMRSA. ASA has no position on the bill.

You may testify in person at the hearing or send comments to committee members before August 26. The hearing will be broadcast live on CalChannel. 

TAKE ACTION NOW 

Tell Senator Grassley to Give the CARERS Act a Vote (National)

Right now the CARERS Act, the most important piece of legislation addressing medical cannabis is being held up by Senator Chuck Grassley. Senator Grassley needs to hear from medical cannabis patients and caregivers who can tell him how important it is that we pass the CARERS Act. Click here to read more about the CARERS Act.

Medical Cannabis Community Survey (Sonoma County)

California voters have authorized the use of cannabis for medical purposes since 1996. Recent legislation has been adopted to provide further regulation of commercial cultivation, manufacturing, distribution and sale of medical cannabis products. These new laws require legal cannabis operations to obtain local permits and state licenses. The following survey is anonymous and confidential and will be used by Sonoma County to evaluate local land use regulations to address cannabis cultivation and related industries.

COURT SUPPORT 

What is Court Support and how do I get involved? 

July 27, 2016 – Court Support for Matt Cyr and Fawn Block (Oroville)

8:30 AM at Butte County Superior Court, 1 Court St., Oroville, CA 95965. Motion to Dismiss. Dress in an appropriate manner and obey all courtroom rules to best help the defendants. 

Email requests for court support to [email protected] before 12:00 PM on Friday to be included in Monday's Roundup.

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

ASA WEBSITE SPOTLIGHT 

Resources for Patients

Discover how to talk to your doctor about medical cannabis, how to become a state-authorized patient, basic science and legal rights for patients, how to safely use medical cannabis, and how to get involved with medical cannabis advocacy. These free resources from ASA are useful for patients, caregivers and anyone else curious about medical cannabis. 

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.