Title:
Marijuana policy voted on in committee; mixed bag results
Message:
The fates of four marijuana policy bills were altered yesterday with votes being taken on three and the fourth withdrawn by its primary sponsor.
Asm. Ammiano’s AB 2312 — which seeks to create a state regulatory program for medical marijuana providers — made the biggest splash when it was passed out of the Assembly Public Safety Committee. Please email your state assemblymember and senator today, and ask them to support this sensible proposal.
Another step forward was taken in the Public Safety Committee when Asm. Campos withdrew her bill that would have required all medical marijuana patients to obtain an ID card. No doubt the hundreds of letters received by the committee members from MPP supporters played a role in this decision.
On the other side of the legislature, the Senate Public Safety Committee passed Sen. Leno’s bill, SB 1506, that would defelonize simple possession of all drugs. Simple possession of marijuana is already decriminalized, but possession of hash, a marijuana concentrate, could still be charged as a felony.
Finally, and unfortunately, Asm. Norby’s bill that would have prohibited the DMV from revoking the driving privileges of someone convicted of possessing up to 28.5 grams of marijuana was voted down in the Assembly Transportation Committee. The bill was granted reconsideration. We’ll make sure to keep you posted if and when it is voted on again.
