On Wednesday, State Assemblyman Jim Wood announced that Assembly Bill 21 was signed by Governor Jerry Brown. The bill repeals a March 1 deadline that was mistakenly included in the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act has been removed 26 days before it would have gone into effect.
Due to the March 1 deadline included in the original bill, California Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, cities rushed to push for local ordinances that banned medical marijuana cultivation outright due to fear of the state providing control and policy.
In total, more than 180 entities had considered or passed regulations before the deadline became law including Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Livermore, San Ramon and Contra Costa County.
With the signing of AB 21 the March 1st deadline is repealed effective immediately. Cities and counties will now be able to develop their own rules and regulations for the medical marijuana industry indefinitely.
“Now that we have given local officials the time to take a thoughtful approach to regulating medical marijuana, I hope they will maximize that time by engaging with the public and having thorough discussions,” said Assemblyman Wood. “In 1996 the people of California voted to have a medical marijuana industry, but, frankly, state representatives dropped the ball. Years of apathy led to black markets, unsafe neighborhoods, environmental damage, and a culture of criminality. The historic regulations we passed last year put us on the path to fixing that and pushing the medical marijuana industry into the light. But to succeed, we need our local elected officials—both those who voted for outright bans because of deadline pressure, and those who are just now looking at the issue—to deliver solid policies that make sense for their communities.”
The State Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation is scheduled to come on-line January 1st 2018.
2 comments
I’m so tired of the “medical” guise still having to take take precedent when it should just be legal and decriminalized. State reps didn’t drop the ball that led to black markets etc. it’s because prohibition doesn’t work, especially if it’s been over 75 years, over an herb, and obviously (scientifically and common sense bullshit). In 2016, cannabis is projected to make upwards of $6 billion. Yet here in California were still twiddling our thumbs. It still amazes me that we are talking about this.
Modern man is infantilized by its political masters, forever told by those in power that they know what’s best for your body and mind. They advertise alcohol at every turn. Prescription pills on every other commercial as promises to cure all ills. Nicotine, sugar, caffeine: the sanctioned chemicals of the elite class. Yet an herb that predates mankind’s arrival on the planet is shunned, a plant that is proven to be safer than any other drug on the planet is demonized. Fear-mongered by media outlets to keep this reefer-madness mentality alive. Why? Because we have been programmed in this country since birth to accept the status quo. Think for yourself, your consciousness is your own.
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