Believe it or not, in 2011, Cheech and Chong predicted the 2016 presidential race. "Somewhere, the extreme ends of the political spectrum meet," Cheech Marin told a reporter in Davenport, Iowa, where the comedians were performing. Marin was talking about marijuana legalization and the unlikely coalition that supported it. In addition to the duo's longtime fans, "the Tea Party wants marijuana legal, too," he said. This November, California voters may very well have the opportunity to vote for that. Supporters of a ballot initiative, the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act, have submitted more than 600,000 signatures to the Secretary of State's Office. The measure needs only 365,880 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. [continues 501 words]
California's medical marijuana industry may soon be craving pain relief instead of selling it. The state Legislature recently passed the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, a combination of three laws that together will impose a massive, multi-agency regulatory framework on the cultivation, distribution and sale of cannabis. Nate Bradley, executive director of the California Cannabis Industry Association, said his group lobbied Sacramento for "sensible regulations." In a panel discussion presented by the Republican Liberty Caucus of California at the recent state GOP convention, Bradley said he tells his members it's better than "having your doors kicked in." [continues 481 words]
U.S. prosecutors are presently informing marijuana dispensaries in California that they have 45 days to cease operations or face criminal charges and confiscation of their property. The dispensaries are operating legally under state law, but according to a letter sent to at least a dozen marijuana dispensaries in San Diego and obtained by the Associated Press, federal law "takes precedence over state law and applies regardless of the particular uses for which a dispensary is selling and distributing marijuana." There's only one problem with this assertion. The U.S. Constitution doesn't give the federal government any authority whatsoever to ban marijuana that's grown, sold and used within the state of California. [continues 434 words]
