Pubdate: Thu, 30 Apr 2015
Source: North Coast Journal (Arcata, CA)
Column: The Week in Weed
Copyright: 2015 North Coast Journal
Contact:  http://www.northcoastjournal.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2833
Author: Grant Scott-Goforth

STONED WILLIE

Pot's on a lot of minds in Sacramento these days. Our own state 
senator, Mike McGuire, announced on 4/20 that his proposed medical 
marijuana bill received the unanimous approval of the Senate Business 
and Professions Committee.

The bill would create a Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation under 
the state's consumer affairs department, which would "license and 
regulate dispensaries, cultivation sites, transportation systems and 
manufacturers of all marijuana products," according to a Press 
Democrat article.

"The state would have jurisdiction over how doctors advertise medical 
marijuana recommendation services and quality assurance testing for 
edibles and other products," the article continues. "Fees and 
penalties collected through the license program would go into a 
Medical Marijuana Regulation Fund that would support the program and 
its enforcement."

The bill has some ambitious goals - banning residential grows and 
requiring certified organic standards by 2022 - but it has support 
from a couple of notable marijuana advocates. Hezekiah Allen, 
executive director of the Emerald Growers Association, and Dale 
Gieringer, director of the California branch of the National 
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, both told the Press 
Democrat they support the medical regulations, though they will 
likely suggest some amendments.

The bill joins North Coast Assemblyman Jim Wood's proposed law that 
would bring marijuana under the purview of water agencies, as well as 
a "flurry" of medical marijuana bills surfacing in the capital.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom hosted the first of a series of 
hearings aimed at creating regulations for statewide legalization in 
2016. The forum, held at University of California Los Angeles, heard 
concerns from marijuana advocates and law enforcement officials, 
including former District Attorney Paul Gallegos, who was there to 
tell the Gav about environmental problems associated with 
cultivation, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"We need to see this problem as an opportunity to develop a 
regulatory scheme," Gallegos was quoted as saying.

Oregon lawmakers, meanwhile, are getting backlash for circulating a 
bill that would limit the number of plants that medical marijuana 
growers can cultivate. The measure is being proposed to limit black 
market dealings once Oregon's voter-approved recreational 
legalization goes into effect in July, but advocates are concerned 
that limits - 96 plants for established medical growers and 48 plants 
for new ones - will make it hard for patients to get cheap and 
reliable access to marijuana.

The rift extends to the marijuana industry. According to the 
Oregonian, an attorney for an industry PAC has praised the proposed 
law, saying it will "help Oregon develop a strong legal market."

Willie Nelson is riding the rising marijuana tide to a resurgence, 
recently releasing a memoir in which he talks about smoking a joint 
on the White House roof and discovering the hippie lifestyle. A new 
duet with outlaw country compatriot Merle Haggard, titled "It's All 
Going to Pot," dropped on 4/20. And, following in the footsteps of 
high musician icon Bob Marley (or, more accurately, Marley's 
still-living estate holders), the "On the Road Again" singer is 
launching his own personal brand of weed: Willie's Reserve. Here's 
hoping it comes with a bandana.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom