Political greenBrief
Friday, November 17, 2017“No matter what is decided, there will be problems. These regulations will disrupt a mature and robust marketplace. We are hopeful the disruption will be minimized and that the existing business community will have the time they need to transition their operations and businesses.”
Hezekiah Allen, President Of The California Growers Association
“I feel a big sigh of relief. It’s a big milestone for us to release these regulations, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. No rest for the weary.”
Lori Ajax, Chief Of The State’s Bureau Of Cannabis Control
Here Are The Rules For Legal Marijuana In California Once Law Goes Into Effect Jan. 1 (CA – Cannabis Rules)
The Orange County Register (November 16, 2017) Cannabis businesses in California can’t be within 600 feet of schools. Shops have to close by 10 p.m., and they need 24-hour video surveillance. Those regulations are in the new rule book for California’s cannabis industry, which state regulators released Thursday.
http://www.ocregister.com/2017/11/16/here-are-the-rules-for-legal-marijuana-in-california-once-law-goes-into-effect-jan-1/
New Rules With Hefty Fees Set For Growing And Selling Marijuana In California (CA – Cannabis Rules)
Los Angeles Times (November 16, 2017) California officials proposed new rules Thursday for the growing, transporting and sale of marijuana when the state begins issuing licenses in January, and industry officials said the regulations and hefty fees are a mixed bag. The regulations, which are subject to public hearings before they are finalized, do not limit the size of cannabis farms, but require every plant to be traced from farm to sale. Security will be required at farms, trucks and pot shops, and cannabis cannot be marketed toward minors.
http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-new-rules-with-hefty-fees-set-for-1510869828-htmlstory.html
California Issues Temporary Rules For Recreational Marijuana Businesses (CA – Cannabis Rules)
Capitol Public Radio (November 16, 2017) The state of California has released new, emergency rules governing the sale and production of recreational marijuana, just six weeks before businesses can begin selling cannabis under voter-approved Proposition 64. The rules are temporary, but apply to all aspects of the industry. Marijuana growers, manufacturers and sellers will have to pay the state and submit fingerprints to obtain annual licenses.
http://www.capradio.org/105637
California Releases Long-Awaited Cannabis Regulations, Will Allow Huge Farms (CA – Cannabis Regulations)
SF Gate (November 16, 2017) The state on Thursday released its long-awaited rules for medical and recreational cannabis which included everything from a ban on mixing cannabis and alcohol, to limits on the amount of psychoactive chemicals allowed in each cannabis product. The rules released by three licensing agencies — the Department of Health, Department of Food and Agriculture and the Bureau of Cannabis Control — come amid mass confusion among cities that haven’t put together their own regulations for the sale of recreational marijuana, which will be legal on January 1.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/California-s-releases-long-awaited-cannabis-12363619.php
California Finally Unveils Regulations For Setting Up A Recreational Cannabis Business (CA – Cannabis Regulations)
San Francisco Business Times (November 16, 2017) The State of California has finally released regulations that cannabis businesses must follow when they start selling recreational marijuana on Jan. 1. The release of the 276-page rule book has been eagerly awaited by the state’s marijuana industry, particularly after lawmakers in June tweaked legislation so that all regulations passed now apply to both medical marijuana and recreational marijuana businesses.
https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2017/11/16/california-unveils-recreational-cannabis-rules.html
California Regulators Propose Capping Cannabis Grows At 1 Acre (CA – Cannabis Regulations)
Ganjapreneur (November 16, 2017) According to cannabis industry environmental regulations proposed by the California Department of Food & Agriculture, cultivators would not be allowed to grow more than 1 acre of cannabis, regardless of municipal rules, until 2023, the Eureka Times-Standard reports. Operators expressed mixed reviews of the plan as some would have to completely overhaul their business plan, while others say it would protect small farms over large-scale corporate grows.
https://www.ganjapreneur.com/california-regulators-propose-capping-cannabis-grows-at-1-acre/
Corcoran Bans Commercial Cannabis Industry In Town (CA – Commercial Cannabis)
The Sentinel (November 16, 2017) This week, the Corcoran City Council considered dueling ordinances to either allow or ban commercial cannabis facilities in the city after public hearings saw substantial community opposition. Council, in a 5-0 decision Tuesday, voted to “ban it,” says City Manager Kindon Meik. “The Council carried out their due diligence and listened to the community.”
http://hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/business/corcoran-bans-commercial-cannabis-industry-in-town/article_cecfa6ff-ea89-585f-8a4e-6057b7ab4352.html
Thousand Oaks Will Allow One Medical Marijuana Retailer, One Testing Facility (CA – Medical Cannabis)
VC Star (November 15, 2017) The Thousand Oaks City Council this week introduced an ordinance that will allow one medical marijuana retailer and one marijuana testing facility in an industrial-zoned part of town. The ordinance is scheduled to be adopted at the council’s Nov. 28 meeting and will become effective 31 days after that.
http://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/conejo-valley/2017/11/15/thousand-oaks-allow-one-medical-marijuana-retailer-one-testing-facility/860779001/
When California Needs Cannabis Laws, It Calls This Highway Patrolman (CA – Cannabis Laws)
Leafly (November 16, 2017) During his 28 years with the California Highway Patrol, Tom Lackey spent much of his career on the overnight shift, “working as other people were asleep.” He cruised highways near the Southern California desert communities of Palmdale and Lancaster, responding to accidents and arresting drunken drivers or others impaired by substances ranging from booze to prescription drugs to hard narcotics.
https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/when-california-needs-cannabis-laws-it-calls-this-highway-patrolman
Buds Of Recovery (CA – Cannabis Industry)
SF Weekly (November 16, 2017) Marijuana growers were burnt twice in last month’s Northern California wildfires. The fires did significant damage to at least 44 cannabis farms, burning down many of those operations entirely. Then, North Bay cultivators were hit with another demoralizing setback when a crowdfunding campaign to help cover their losses was shut down in a fit of marijuana prohibition, robbing them of more than $25,000 in relief-fund donations.
http://www.sfweekly.com/news/news-news/buds-of-recovery/
Op/Ed: Cannabis Industry Must Ensure Equal Opportunity (CA – Cannabis Industry)
San Francisco Examiner (November 16, 2017) We are proud that San Francisco was one of the first cities in the nation to create a model regulatory and comprehensive framework for medical cannabis use after California passed the Compassionate Use Act in 1996, which made medical use of marijuana lawful. Cannabis access has been a rallying cry for patients who have experienced its positive medicinal impact for a wide range of issues and illnesses ranging from anxiety and sleep deprivation to debilitating and even terminal illnesses, such as cancer.
http://www.sfexaminer.com/cannabis-industry-must-ensure-equal-opportunity/
San Jose, California City Council Approves Adult-Use Rules; Sales Expected Jan. 1 (CA – Cannabis Sales)
Ganjapreneur (November 16, 2017) According to cannabis industry environmental regulations proposed by the California Department of Food & Agriculture, cultivators would not be allowed to grow more than 1 acre of cannabis, regardless of municipal rules, until 2023, the Eureka Times-Standard reports. Operators expressed mixed reviews of the plan as some would have to completely overhaul their business plan, while others say it would protect small farms over large-scale corporate grows.
https://www.ganjapreneur.com/san-jose-california-city-council-approves-adult-use-rules-sales-expected-jan-1/
Why Recreational Marijuana Is Blocked While Medical Is Being Embraced (USA – Recreational Cannabis)
Newsweek (November 16, 2017) On the night of the 2012 presidential elections, the story of Barack Obama’s re-election ran head-to-head with news of the groundbreaking legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado. Memes abounded, most featuring a cloud of smoke over the city of Denver bearing the caption, “Meanwhile in Colorado…”
http://www.newsweek.com/medical-marijuana-embraced-recreational-marijuana-blocked-713431
Senator Seeks Legal Opinion On Doctors’ Certification Of Medical Marijuana To Patients (USA – Medical Cannabis)
Pacific Daily News (November 16, 2017) Sen. Dennis Rodriguez, D-Dededo, is seeking a legal opinion on whether it is acceptable for locally licensed doctors to recommend marijuana, which the federal government deems a Schedule I controlled substance, to their patients.
http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2017/11/16/senator-seeks-legal-opinion-doctors-certification-medical-marijuana-patients/869030001/
New Hampshire House Committee Rejects Adult-Use Cannabis Bill (NH – Cannabis Legislation)
Ganjapreneur (November 16, 2017) The New Hampshire House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee has rejected a bill to legalize cannabis for adult-use, citing conflicts with federal law and public health consequences, the Concord Monitor reports. The bill failed to pass out of the committee 13-7, with member of both parties voting not to recommend the bill move to the house.
https://www.ganjapreneur.com/new-hampshire-house-committee-rejects-adult-use-cannabis-bill/
