Pubdate: Fri, 05 Feb 2016
Source: Ukiah Daily Journal, The (CA)
Copyright: 2016 The Ukiah Daily Journal
Contact: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/feedback
Website: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/581
Author: Adam Randall

BROWN SIGNS BILL CORRECTING MARIJUANA REGULATIONS

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 21 Wednesday, 
formally striking the March 1 deadline inadvertently included in the 
Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act.

Accordingly, the deadline was repealed immediately, allowing cities 
and counties to move forward in developing local rules and 
regulations without a timeline, according to North Coast Democratic 
Assemblyman Jim Wood's office. The deadline would have forced cities 
and counties to make its own rules for local enforcement by March 1, 
or allow the state to assume authority over local decision making.

The State Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation is scheduled to 
begin at the start of January 2018 in which all related medical 
marijuana stakeholders are expected to be in compliance.

Wood worked in recent months to move this legislation forward upon 
learning that the deadline was mistakenly entered into the final 
draft of the new law.

"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," Wood said in a statement Wednesday.

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors marijuana ad hoc committee 
will meet this Saturday at the Willits Senior Center for a town hall 
meeting from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. to discuss the local 9.31 medical 
marijuana ordinance with the public.

The ad hoc's timeline for February states it hopes to continue 
collaboration with county departments and stakeholders, draft a 
developed revised ordinance and pilot program, and work together with 
other regional counties on a marijuana summit.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom