Pubdate: Wed, 18 Mar 2015
Source: Signal, The (Santa Clarita, CA)
Copyright: 2015 The Signal
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/942n6o2y
Website: http://www.the-signal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4221
Author: Jason Schaff

LOCAL DELEGATION HEARS FROM MARIJUANA INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Community Leaders Told California Needs to Get Ready for Legalization

SACRAMENTO - Two experts on the marijuana industry told a delegation 
of Santa Clarita Valley business and community leaders Tuesday that 
the state needs to be ready for the possible legalization of 
recreational marijuana use in the next few years.

Nate Bradley of the California Cannabis Industry Association and 
Randy Perry of the Peace Officers Research Association of California 
said they are sorting through issues that should be addressed if 
marijuana legalization is on the ballot in November 2016, as it is 
expected to be.

They spoke to the Santa Clarita Valley group during its trip this 
week to Sacramento to talk with legislators and other state officials 
about important local and statewide issues.

The trip is hosted and sponsored by KHTS AM-1220 and Assemblyman 
Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, of the 38th District.

"Right now we have no regulation," Perry said in reference to the 
management of medical marijuana, which is currently legal in the state.

The duo said the state will need to monitor recreational marijuana at 
its growth spots to see who is growing it and to protect consumers on 
issues such as pesticide use.

Distribution of the product also needs to be tracked with searchable 
databases, Perry said.

"It's the only way to get cartels out of this," he said.

A taxation and permitting system also needs to be put in place. Perry 
said some of the money received from taxes and permits should go 
toward law enforcement training.

Uniform business rules are desperately needed in the sale of 
legalized marijuana, whether for medical or recreational purposes, 
Bradley said. He said Prop. 215 legalized medical marijuana in the 
state in 1996 but did not set up tight enough rules governing it.

"It is like going to a flea market to get an antibiotic," Bradley said.

Perry said local governments should also be able to opt out of 
allowing growers to operate in their jurisdictions.

Other issues discussed during the delegation's trip included 
education, the effect of Proposition 47 and the state economy and budget.

Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, of the 36th District discussed 
his bill to toughen the penalties for the possession of so-called 
date-rape drugs following the passage of Proposition 47, which 
reduced the penalty for possession of many drugs to misdemeanors.

"There have been some consequences (of Prop. 47) that were not 
advertised, not foreseen," Lackey said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom