Pubdate: Thu, 14 Jan 2016
Source: Sacramento News & Review (CA)
Column: The 420
Copyright: 2016 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://newsreview.com/sacto/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/540
Author: Ngaio Bealum

PREEMPTIVE PROHIBITION

What's with all of these new cultivation bans popping up all over the place?

- -Russ Tick

You can thank the state Legislature for this. In the zeal to pass 
some sort of statewide comprehensive medical cannabis regulations 
last year, it somehow overlooked a provision stating that if cities 
and counties didn't have their own laws in place by March 1, the 
state would assume control. So now we have a flurry of bans, and not 
just for growing pot. Cities are banning all sorts of cannabis 
business, from storefronts to delivery services.

This is ridiculous and an affront to the people who need cannabis as 
a medicine. These bans will also place an undue burden on cities and 
counties that allow cannabis businesses. The Legislature has already 
started to address this issue, but it may be too late. Your best bet 
is to find out when your city council is meeting and go talk to them 
about their fear and shenanigans. Be polite. There is a group page on 
the Facebook (www.facebook.com/groups/ calicityandcountybanwatch) 
that has up-to-date listings for just about every city and county in the state.

I am fundamentally opposed to allowing cities and counties to ban 
legal cannabis businesses. Cities can't ban bars or liquor stores or 
strip clubs. Marijuana is safer than just about anything in the 
world, so why do cities insist on treating it like a scourge or 
plague? Banning weed doesn't make weed disappear, just like keeping 
homeless people from begging does nothing to eliminate homelessness. 
Prohibition is never the answer. I hope this new Adult Use of 
Marijuana Act will do something to address this-and it looks like 
Facebook billionaire Sean Parker's initiative will at least make the 
ballot seeing as he just put up $750,000 to start getting 
signatures-but it probably won't. California is not Texas. We don't 
need "dry" counties. We need statewide access to medical marijuana.

If you're interested in getting involved, there are a few things on 
the calendar: On January 19, the California Cannabis Industry 
Association will hold a roundtable panel discussion about these new 
rules and proposals at the Crest Theatre before heading over to the 
state Capitol for a joint public hearing for multiple Assembly 
committees, where attendees will see an informational presentation 
called "Medical Marijuana Regulation: The Plan for Statewide 
Implementation." Later that night, there will be a benefit concert 
featuring the Sons of Champlin. The discussion and the meeting are 
free, and you can get tickets for the concert here: www.calheritage.com/events.

Next month, the International Cannabis Business Conference returns to 
San Francisco on February 13 and 14. Andrew Sullivan, Tommy Chong, 
Jessica Billingsley and just about every ganjaprenuer ever will be at 
this event. Full disclosure: I will be the emcee for this event, but 
that just means it will be more entertaining. Find more information 
at http://internationalcbc.com.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom