California marijuana legalization

May 7, 2016

Marijuana Legalization Divides California Law Enforcement

Most in California are ready to say “Yes” to legalization of recreational marijuana. It’s been more than 20 years since we were the first state to allow medical marijuana. But at least one group has historically sided firmly against legalization of the drug: Law enforcement. police

Today, law enforcement groups and individuals are divided.

As The Los Angeles Times reports, many in law enforcement do still staunchly oppose making the drug available for recreational use, others recognize it could be a benefit to the state. Continue reading

April 30, 2016

DEA Moves to Recognize Smoking Marijuana as Medical Research

By Cannabis Law Group

While it may seem to odd to most people that U.S. law considers medical marijuana and cannabis in general to be among the most dangerous and addictive drugs available, much of that has to do with fact that Congress was (and still is) able to rely upon the fact there are no federal government recognized studies that marijuana is not addictive, not dangerous or that it has many medical uses.

you-are-ill-1-1246058 The reason for this is not because scientists are unwilling to do the work. Rather, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) makes it extremely difficult for medical uses to be subject to testing and medical evaluation. The DEA makes it very difficult for researchers to obtain marijuana in any quantity to be used in conducting these tests United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is claiming they need to see before there is any discussion about whether it Is actually medicinal and whether it should be approved for use as a medicine. This of course is the problem with not being able to do the research in the first place. Continue reading

April 26, 2016

Why LA County Banned Medical Marijuana Cultivation

By Cannabis Law Group

According to a recent news article from KPCC News, Los Angeles County has enacted legislation to ban the cultivation of medical marijuana within county limits. The ban is a temporary measure and requires that all growing of marijuana in the unincorporated areas of the county cease. It should be noted that this ban is not effective in the incorporated areas of the county, including the City of Los Angeles.

wietplant-497934-m Given the fact that California was the first state in the nation to legalize medical marijuana when the very bold initiative was taken back in 1996, the question is why would Los Angeles County not want medical marijuana being grown within its borders. Continue reading

March 17, 2016

Medical Marijuana Being Studied as Treatment for MS

By Cannabis Law Group

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a truly devastating illness. The disease involves destruction (technically a demyelinating) of the covers that insulate nerve cells. Once these covers a destroyed, the underlying nerve cell is damaged, and this leads to an injury to spinal cord and brain.

This degenerative condition leads to a loss of motor control, double vision, mental illness and in some cases severe psychiatric illness as well.

Despite ongoing research, there is currently no cure for multiple sclerosis, but there are some treatment options. These treatment options involve taking powerful pharmaceuticals that do work in some cases to prevent new attacks, but will not repair damage already done.

Now, there is research to suggest marijuana may help.
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February 9, 2016

What Will Legalization Mean for Medical Marijuana Doctors?

By Cannabis Law Group

The medical community has had a tumultuous relationship with marijuana.

Decades ago, they warned of the many supposed dangers, particularly when it came to consumption by younger people. The failed War on Drugs was fueled at least partially by claims the drug was a “killer narcotic.”

There has been a significant shift in recent years as doctors and other health care workers have seen first-hand the positive effects of medicinal use. Legislative changes followed. Now in California, the very first state to pass medical marijuana laws, there are questions about how the introduction of legal marijuana for recreation might affect those doctors who have carved out an important niche in their respective field.

A ballot initiative slated for a vote in November will ask whether we should legalize a drug which, up until now, has required a prescription from a legitimate doctor. And there were physicians who rose to meet that challenge, recognizing that many sick Californians who desperately needed the relief that cannabis provided. Some have been here since the beginning, despite threats of government prosecution, medical license sanctioning and more. But for all that, where will they be left if the recreational marijuana ballot measure passes?

If patrons can simply walk into a store and plunk down there money, as opposed to checking into a doctor’s office and requesting a medical marijuana card, will the profession of medical marijuana doctor simply go up in smoke?
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February 3, 2016

New Statewide Regs Push for Local Bans on Medical Marijuana

By Cannabis Law Group

Since medical marijuana was legalized in the State of California back in the mid 1990s, there has been a lack of statewide regulation for the most part. The state did not want to get involved, so, for that reason, people often compared the emerging industry to the gold rush of mid 1800s, where there was very little regulation and people were fighting each other (and sometimes the law) in hopes of making as much money as possible.

It was a different world when the federal government, including the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), was making it clear that medical marijuana was very much illegal under federal law, as marijuana was and still is the most dangerous controlled substance according to Congress, even though that classification as a Schedule One Controlled Dangerous Substance was much more political than based in science or even facts of any kind.
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January 7, 2016

California Counties and Cities Urged to License Cultivation

By Cannabis Law Group

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is an advocacy organization made up of medical professionals, patients using medical marijuana, scientists, researchers, and other concerned citizens who are focused on promoting safe and legal access to medical marijuana. It is a nationwide organization and has the largest number of members of any marijuana advocacy organization.

Recently, the California Chapter of ASA published both a memorandum and a model ordinance for California counties and cities. The model ordinance would create a framework for regulating cultivation of marijuana for medicinal use. In addition to development of the model ordinance, ASA also created a new online web portal called the Local Access Project (LAP) which makes it easier for supporters of marijuana reform to talk with the County Boards of Supervisors and with their local city councils to urge adoption of the model ordinance. California Assembly Members are working with ASA to urge adoption of the model ordinance.
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January 5, 2016

Studies Examine How Youth in California & Nationwide are Using Marijuana

By Cannabis Law Group

There are few effective arguments against legalization of marijuana for medicinal use, or even for recreational use. One of the biggest arguments people tend to make when trying to block legalization is related to concerns about whether legalization will prompt more kids to start using drugs. Those who are against legalization argue making marijuana legal is not only likely to prompt more young people to experiment with the drug, but is also likely to prompt more young people to begin to take harder drugs as marijuana serves as a gateway to the use of narcotics.

While this argument has been disproved in multiple studies, it continues to be made by those arguing against the science supporting marijuana legalization. Now, however, Washington Post reports on yet another recent study showing there is no basis for concerns about increasing use of marijuana among young people. The Post indicates the publication of this study means “the case for marijuana legalization just got stronger.”
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December 23, 2015

Local Municipalities Working to Ban Medical Marijuana after California Law Enacted

By Cannabis Law Group

When medical marijuana was first legalized in the state of California, it was left up to the towns, counties, and cities to decide whether dispensaries and delivery would be permitted. This was the case for nearly twenty years until the state passed legislation regulating the medical marijuana industry at the state level for the first time in our state’s history. This was done through the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, which was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown after the State Assembly and State Senate passed the legislation.

Colorado Lawmakers.jpg As discussed in a recent news feature from the Napa Valley Register, one of the aspects of the recent act is that the state now has the authority to issue licenses for cultivation, distribution and dispensing of medical cannabis anywhere in the state. This would include areas that previously did not allow medical marijuana businesses within their respective jurisdictions. The one caveat is that these local municipalities can ban medical marijuana if they adopt an ordinance (local law) that expressively prohibits medical marijuana. American Canyon Community is one of the local municipalities that plans to enact such an ordinance to keep the medical marijuana industry out.
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December 21, 2015

Legalization of Marijuana Expected in Five States

By Cannabis Law Group

According to a recent feature from High Times, next year is expected to be a major year in the fight to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes. California, Nevada, Arizona, Massachusetts, and Nevada are all expected to have ballot initiatives to legalize marijuana for recreational use. In addition, some other states may be legalizing marijuana through the legislative process.

The marijuana legalization initiative expected to be on the upcoming ballot in California is called the Adult Use of Marijuana and Taxation Act and is also called the Sean Parker Initiative. It is named after Sean Parker, who is the former president of Facebook. Parker has pledged financial support to help the Lt. Governor get the measure on the ballot. This took a lot of work, since there were various competing marijuana legalization initiatives being proposed by various stakeholders. Other proposed measures in California are the Marijuana Control, Legalization and Revenue Act, and the California Cannabis Hemp Initiative.
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