Press Release - Marijuana Legalization Effort in California Moves Forward for 2016

Marijuana Legalization Effort in California Moves Forward for 2016

Advocates Build Consensus on Initiative Language, Open Call for Proponents

San Jose, CA (March 11, 2015) Efforts to legalize marijuana in California in 2016 are gaining momentum. Americans For Policy Reform (AFPR), the group behind the Marijuana Control, Legalization and Revenue Act of 2014 (MCLR), is announcing the opening of the MCLR 2016 language for input from the community. The initiative will establish clear guidelines for Medical Marijuana and Adult-use Marijuana in addition to allowing for the production of industrial hemp in the state. 
  

“We have heard a resounding cry from leaders in the cannabis community saying they want MCLR in 2016,” stated John Lee, Director of AFPR. “We feel obligated to help.” 

In 2013, MCLR was developed as the first “open-source” or “crowd-sourced” method for advocates and experts everywhere to contribute directly to the language of California’s marijuana legalization law. It received an impressive fiscal analysis from the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO), in addition to a highly favorable Title & Summary from California Attorney General Kamala Harris.
  

“MCLR 2016 is now open for community input. We want to ensure everyone has another opportunity to address any concerns and contribute to the initiative,” said Mr. Lee. “We also encourage all serious supporters interested in signing on as a Proponent to contact us immediately.”

What MCLR Would Achieve

According to Attorney General Kamala Harris, MCLR would, “reduce costs potentially exceeding one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) annually to state and local governments,” related to enforcing certain marijuana-related offenses, handling the related criminal cases in the court system and incarcerating marijuana offenders. Harris also reported MCLR would add “a few hundred million dollars annually” from additional tax revenues. 

How To Get Involved

The initiative language can be reviewed and ideas can be submitted at www.bit.ly/mclr2016. Hundreds of advocates, legal experts and concerned citizens have contributed to the draft so far. Anyone with questions or wishing to sign on as a Proponent can reach John Lee at John@AFPR.us

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Why California Can’t Seem To Get Its Marijuana Act Together

California has long been known for its progressive attitude, free spirit and social experimentation.  It’s why it comes as much surprise to many that California has struggled to regulate medical marijuana and has failed so far at legalization.  As of the November 2014 Election 23 states and the District of Columbia have voted to legalize marijuana in some form but California still fails to reach consensus on the issue.

The problem is exclusion.  The California State Legislature and well-funded, national policy organizations have shut out local grassroots advocates and authentic compassionate providers from the policy-drafting table for many years.  Ironically, these excluded voices are those of local advocates successful in getting marijuana regulations implemented in cities throughout California, and have significant experience in the cannabis industry, unlike most Sacramento politicians and DC policy org. directors. 

The result has been flawed bills and initiatives ultimately abandoned or unsupported by their own peers and constituents.  Examples of this include former Assemblymember Tom Ammiano withdrawing his bill AB 2312 and the defeat of the voter initiative Proposition 19.   As these experienced advocates toil for a seat at the table, national policy organizations use ‘unity’ as a shield for closed-door deals with legislators and funders to create severely restrictive and unaffordable policies that benefit only a few rich players and force out ‘mom and pop’ collectives and cultivators. 

This exclusion appears in the form of classism, sexism and racism in California’s elite marijuana policy movement.  Take a look at the speaker line-up of any marijuana related conference or panel in California.  You will see no people of color, very select women, and no one that represents low-income, disabled patients invited to speak despite their expertise.   You will find many middle-class, self-proclaimed experts with maybe moderate experience, taking credit for the years of hard work by tireless, grassroots advocates operating with little to no budget. 

Though, this is nothing new in our American society; those with more money and influence proclaim to be in-charge due to status and political relationships, excluding good players because they are lower-income, women or people of color.   However, while political bullying by the elite works most of the time, it has only stymied progress for cannabis legalization in California.  Maybe those controlling the purse strings for 2016 will choose to truly unite the community.  As long as the marijuana elite continues to disguise exclusivity as unity in California, they may continue to be defeated at the polls.  

by Degé Coutee – President, PAN

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Related Articles

State Marijuana Laws Map

http://www.governing.com/gov-data/state-marijuana-laws-map-medical-recreational.html

California bill to regulate medicinal marijuana put on hold

http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/06/california-bill-to-regulate-medicinal-marijuana-stalls.html

California bill regulating medical marijuana fails in Assembly

http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2014/05/bill-regulating-medical-marijuana.html

California’s Historic Medical Pot Bill Killed

http://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/2014/08/14/session-over-californias-historic-medical-pot-bill-killed/

California Medical Marijuana Bill Fails, Leaving Pot Industry Largely Unregulated

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/03/california-medical-marijuana_n_3381122.html

'Resounding' defeat for Proposition 19

http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Resounding-defeat-for-Proposition-19-3167744.php

Marijuana Legalization Efforts Fail in California, Thanks to Money and The Feds

http://www.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2012/04/24/marijuana-legalization-efforts-fail-in-california-thanks-to-money-and-the-feds

Medical Marijuana Activists Occupy the Capitol

http://www.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2012/05/22/medical-marijuana-activists-occupy-the-capitol

It's Time for Unity in the Marijuana Reform Movement

http://www.mpp.org/media/op-eds/its-time-for-unity-in-the.html

California NORML Backs CCPR Unity Initiative for Marijuana Legalization 2016

http://www.canorml.org/news/California_NORML_backs_CCPR_unity_initiative_for_marijuana_legalization_in_2016

Contact The California Legislature - Bills In Committee

California Bill Watch

Assembly Bill 1894 and Senate Bill 1262 will be heard in committee starting Monday next week.  Advocates that wish to raise concerns about these bills must do so by Friday afternoon for SB 1262 and Monday morning for AB 1894.

Legislative and committee offices have different rules regarding how they receive comment from the public.  In order to be heard on either of these bills you must:

1.)   FAX a SIGNED letter to the committee office or

2.)   Email a SIGNED letter as an attachment and

3.)   SUPPORT bill# or OPPOSE bill# (or SUPPORT bill# WITH AMENDMENTS) must be the topic of your letter and appear in the body of your letter. 

SB 1262 will be heard by the California State Senate Standing Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 21, 2014.  Their fax number is (916) 266-9343 and email addresses to the committee chair, vice chair, staff and the consultants for the committee are:  senator.lieu@sen.ca.gov, senator.wyland@sen.ca.gov, theodate.cline@sen.ca.gov, gv.ayers@sen.ca.gov, bill.gage@sen.ca.gov.

SB 1262 greatly restricts doctors and will make it difficult to get a medical cannabis recommendation.  Read the bill here: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/13-14/bill/sen/sb_1251-1300/sb_1262_bill_20140221_introduced.htm

AB 1894 will be heard by the California State Assembly Committee on Public Safety at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2014.  Their fax number is (916) 319-3745 and email addresses to the committee chair, vice chair, staff, and counsel for the committee are: assemblymember.ammiano@assembly.ca.gov, curtis.notsinneh@asm.ca.gov, assemblymember.melendez@assembly.ca.gov, Joshua.Hoover@asm.ca.gov, Sandy.Uribe@asm.ca.gov, gregory.pagan@asm.ca.gov.

AB 1894 treats medical cannabis collectives like bars and night clubs and puts enforcement under Alcohol Beverage Control; expensive fees, fines and taxes expected.  Read the bill here: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/13-14/bill/asm/ab_1851-1900/ab_1894_bill_20140401_amended_asm_v98.htm