UPDATE (4/23): The group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) has posted a call for action - see it at the end of this article.
Today, activists celebrated a significant victory in Sacramento, California, as the Assembly Public Safety Committee passed a bill to create state oversight for its marijuana industry.
The bill, Assembly Bill 2312 would create a Bureau of Medical Marijuana Enforcement in the Department of Consumer Affairs to collect fees, set rules and police dispensaries. According to the Sacramento Bee, "the board would approve licenses for businesses selling, growing or transporting marijuana for use by people with physicians' recommendations."
AB 2312, by San Francisco Democrat Tom Ammiano, was passed along party lines with a vote of 4-2.
Ammiano said at the that "the worst public policy choice for California is to sit idly by doing nothing and let this failed war on medical cannabis continue unchecked."
The League of California Cities and the California Police Chiefs Association both oppose Ammiano's bill, as it takes power away from cities, counties and their respective law enforcements.
The bill still needs to clear another panel, and reportedly has a long road before getting to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk.
ASA Call for action:
Take action today! Tell Members of Assembly Appropriations Committee to Support AB 2312, a bill to establish a regulatory body to develop and implement statewide standards for medical cannabis (marijuana) cultivation and provision, and authorize local jurisdictions to adopt reasonable regulations of their own.
TARGETS + CONTACT INFO:
We are targeting all the democrats on the Appropriations panel
(except Asm. Mitchell)
Assemblyman Fuentes 916-319-2039
Assemblyman Blumenfield 916-319-2040
Assemblyman Bradford 916-319-2051
Assemblyman Calderon 916-319-2058
Assemblywoman Campos 916-319-2023
Assemblyman Davis 916-319-2048
Assemblyman Donnelly 916-319-2059
Assemblyman Gatto 916-319-2043
Assemblyman Hall 916-319-2052
Assemblyman Hill 916-319-2019
Assemblyman Lara 916-319-2050
Assemblyman Solorio 916-319-2069
TALKING POINTS:
* Statewide regulation of MCDs will bring stability and accountability to the field of medical cannabis while ensuring all Californians have safe access.
* AB 2312 is worth-while investment for CA and worth the costs
* Sales tax generated from the legal sale of medical cannabis generates close to $100 million/year for CA
* Regulated MCDs create good paying jobs, often with full benefits.
* Effective regulation is good for everyone - patients, providers, doctors, and even law enforcement.
Thank you,
Americans for Safe Access
