In a major victory for the medical marijuana movement, the California State Assembly approved Assembly Bill 2312, a bill introduced by Assembly member Tom Ammiano, and backed by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, late Thursday. AB 2312 creates a statewide board designed to regulate medical cannabis. 

Assembly member Tom Ammiano introduced the bill, which creates a 9 member board whose responsibilities would include developing, implementing, and enforcing uniform statewide regulations, similar to the system that is in place in Colorado.

The bill would require medical marijuana businesses to register with the state, it would limit local taxation, and make banning legal patient associations more difficult. It also calls for cities and counties to authorize one dispensary per 50,000 residents. 

AB 2312 now heads to the state Senate, where medical marijuana advocates hope the momentum that got it through the Assembly will help get it through the Senate as well.