A new bill called AB1300 is headed upstream to senate in the state of California. If passed, the bill would allow individual cities to regulate medical marijuana collectives.
Another medical marijuana showdown has been seen in the Sunshine State – where medical marijuana was first made legal by voters and by the state, when they decriminalized it back in 2003 with the passage of a now famous bill called SB420.
In the eight years since that bill passed, the state has seen a flurry of medical marijuana collectives, growers, caregivers and dispensaries open. The cities were only required to issue permits at first, but over the past several years they have been at odds with the collectives over several issues, and some cities, like Long Beach, have been shutting them down, raiding them or revoking permits.
Now the ominous battle has reached a climax as the cities push for the state to allow them to self regulate the medical marijuana program inside of their borders. As opposed to relying upon state laws and guidelines, the cities want to be held to their own ordinances and laws for the operation of collectives, compassion clubs and dispensaries.
Democratic state Assemblyman, Bob Blumenfield, has introduced a bill called AB1300, which would allow for cities to regulate these medical marijuana entities at their discretion.
Proponents view it as the city stepping on state laws. Pundits say that the state is already stepping on federal laws, as marijuana is still a Schedule 1 drug.
The bill was cleared for a senate vote by 53-1, and now will be voted upon next week.
California hosts the largest medical marijuana program in the US. There are currently more than 1.1 million people who have valid California Medical Marijuana Cards.
The medical marijuana industry in California brings in more than $4.5 billion in taxable annual revenues.
