Articles Posted in California Marijuana

California voters may have declined a single proposal of marijuana reform in 2010, but next year, it seems likely they will have their pick of four alternatives for legalization of recreational use and sale.

Last year, the Marijuana Control, Legalization and Revenue Act of 2014 failed to generate enough signatures to make it onto the ballot. However, the same group that introduced that measure is seeking public feedback on a proposal it wants to initiate next year. The advocates have granted open access to a Google Document in an effort to generate input.

That announcement follows the efforts of another group, the California Cannabis Hemp Initiative, to introduce a new measure that would legalize up to 12 pounds of marijuana for personal use. That group also attempted to promote ballot measures in 2010, 2012 and 2014, but, like the other group, was unable to garner enough signatures to get the measure on the ballot. The group’s latest effort involves appearing in several spots on HashBar TV.
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Marijuana advocates are fighting back in court against a ban on medical marijuana cultivation in Clearlake.

Plaintiffs in Spittler and Farnham v. City of Clearlake, before the Superior Court of California for Lake County, allege the ban is illegal under California law, which legalized the drug for medicinal use.

The litigation is supported by Cal NORML, which is the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Although the lawsuit contains three plaintiffs, it was filed on behalf of all the city’s medical marijuana patients.
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The marijuana reform bill introduced by a trio of high-profile U.S. senators is being called “historic” for the way in which it would pave a path toward the drug’s legitimacy nationwide.

It’s a first for the Senate, and advocates are praising it for the fact that it is comprehensive. Even the Drug Policy Alliance was one of several groups consulted prior to drafting. The bill is being unveiled as a joint effort by Democrats Cory Booker and Kirsten Gillibrand and Republican Rand Paul. It wouldn’t legalize marijuana nationwide, but it would save patients from the threat of federal prosecution in states where the drug is legal.
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As legalization of marijuana rapidly expands throughout the country, it has opened the doors to a host of questions and areas of concern regarding insurance coverage. It’s not just about the possibility of civil forfeiture action or criminal arrest so long as the drug remains illegal at the federal level.

Among the areas in limbo: Commercial coverage, workers’ compensation, product liability, healthcare insurance and more.

Right now, we’re looking at 27 states that have either legalized or decriminalized marijuana possession and sale. Four states allow it for recreational purposes, and many others are expected to do so in the coming years. In fact, within the next four years, it’s expected the marijuana industry is going to balloon to more than $15 million. There is great concern about liability issues, so there is a demand for insurance coverage. However, it can be difficult to secure because so long as there is a widely varying patchwork of laws, it’s considered a high-risk venture.
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There was a time when conservatives were among the most vocal in terms of blocking access to marijuana – regardless of the purpose.

That dynamic is changing, and the evolution has been rapid in recent years, evidenced again recently with the introduction of a Republican-drafted bill to end marijuana prohibition in Texas. Rep. David Simpson’s bill would remove all language on marijuana from Texas statute. He says his support of such a move is rooted in his Christian faith.

Recently, he wrote in an opinion-editorial piece he didn’t believe God made a mistake requiring government intervention when he created marijuana. This kind of attitude is growing among the conservative base, who not only cite faith but government overreach in support of marijuana legalization.
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The patchwork of state laws pertaining to marijuana continues to be subject to even more stitching.

When California passed its medical marijuana law in 1996, it was historical and revolutionary. Now, nearly two decades later, nearly half of all states have followed suit, four states plus the District of Columbia have allowed for the legalization of personal possession and consumption by adults and several more states have pending legislation. (There remains a ban on sales in D.C. amid Congressional interference.)

Among those currently weighing big changes are Ohio and Vermont, which are both considering legalization. It’s worth noting that medical marijuana has been approved in Vermont since 2004, but it’s still outlawed for all purposes in Ohio.
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