Two bills that seek to develop a state regulatory scheme (albeit in very different manners) to address issues related to medical marijuana were considered in the Legislature this week. Assembly Bill 1894 by Assembly Member Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), and Senate Bill 1262 by Senator Lou Correa (D-Orange) - sponsored by the League of California Cities and California Police Chiefs Association - both gained passage and will advance through the legislative process. RCRC staff testified on both measures, providing concerns and amendment recommendations to both measures.
While AB 1894 follows the RCRC policy principles that were adopted last month, RCRC staff has called for revisions to the existing provisions as well as a need to add provisions to the bill. RCRC staff believes progress can be made and will continue working closely with Assembly Member Ammiano and the bill’s sponsors. SB 1262, on the other hand, takes a different approach, and in many respects runs contrary to the adopted policy principles. The bill places a number of new requirements on county entities, including environmental health, agricultural commissioners, and sheriff’s departments, to perform various regulatory activities. RCRC staff provided lengthy testimony to these points and offered to continue to work with Senator Correa and the bill sponsor’s to craft a more workable bill for California’s counties.
For additional information, please contact RCRC Senior Legislative Advocate Paul A. Smith at (916) 447-4806 orpsmith@rcrcnet.org.