Landmark hearing in California legislature sheds light on failure of prohibition
Last update: October 30, 2009
On October 28, 2009, the California Assembly's Committee on Public Safety held a first-of-its kind informational hearing on the "legalization and regulation of marijuana." The hearing included testimony from experts who told members of the legislature that arresting adults for marijuana is a gross waste of police resources and that the only way to control marijuana is to end prohibition and institute regulations for its sale.
Witnesses advocating for reform included retired superior court judge James P. Gray and former San Francisco District Attorney Terence Hallinan — both of whom have seen the futility of marijuana prohibition first-hand from inside the criminal justice system.
The Chairman of the Public Safety Committee — Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) — is the author of A.B. 390, legislation that would tax and regulate marijuana in California. This hearing helped to set the stage for a future hearing on A.B.390 which is expected to take place in January 2010.
If you live in California, please contact your legislators and ask them to support this sensible legislation so we can finally end the nightmare of marijuana prohibition in the Golden State.
To e-mail your legislators, just click here and follow the simple instructions provided. You can also use our call action center to help you make a brief phone call.
Make sure you are signed up for MPP's California e-mail alerts so that we can keep you informed about this important bill.
If you're interested in doing more to advocate for sensible marijuana policy in California, please contact MPP's California policy director, Aaron Smith at asmith@mpp.org.
Medical marijuana still under fire despite massive public support
Although it has been 13 years since California voters approved Proposition 215 — the Compassionate Use Act — allowing patients to use marijuana for medical purposes, there is still fierce opposition from law enforcement in some parts of the state.
In Los Angeles, where upwards of 1,000 medical marijuana dispensing collectives now operate and the city is working to regulate them, L.A. District Attorney Steve Cooley has determined that all medical marijuana storefronts are illegal and has vowed to close them down and prosecute their operators. Several collectives have already been raided by local law enforcement and state charges have been filed in at least one case. Cooley's determination that all medical marijuana sales violate state law contradicts the California Attorney General's guidelines on medical marijuana issued in 2008.
Further, Los Angeles voters overwhelmingly support medical marijuana. A Mason-Dixon poll, commissioned by MPP in October 2009, found that 74% of Los Angeles County voters support the state's medical marijuana law. Seventy-seven percent said that they prefer regulating L.A.-area medical marijuana facilities over closing them all down. The poll can be downloaded here.
This wrong-headed approach to state law isn't confined to Los Angeles. San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has carried out shocking raids on many of the county's medical marijuana facilities. An October poll, commissioned by drug addiction recovery group KeepComingBack.com, also found supermajority support for medical marijuana access in San Diego.
If you live in a community where law enforcement is disobeying California's compassionate medical marijuana laws, please contact MPP's California policy director, Aaron Smith, at asmith@mpp.org to find out how you can help.
California's medical marijuana ID card program
Visit our FAQ page to learn more about California's medical marijuana ID card program. If your county isn't issuing the state ID cards, contact MPP's California policy director, Aaron Smith to find out how you can help bring this important program to your area.
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