Pubdate: Wed, 02 May 2018
Source: Sacramento Bee (CA)
Copyright: 2018 The Sacramento Bee
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/0n4cG7L1
Website: http://www.sacbee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/376
Author: Taryn Luna

SENATE BILL WOULD EXPAND MARIJUANA DELIVERY TO ALL OF CALIFORNIA

There's a problem with access to legal weed in California, and a
Senate bill may help solve it.

A 2016 voter-approved measure to legalize marijuana in the state gave
cities and counties the authority to pass regulations outlining the
types of weed businesses that can operate within their borders. With
limited time to craft rules before the law took effect at the start of
the year, many towns approved outright bans of all marijuana businesses.

The patchwork of local laws have created vast "pot deserts" that will
remain until cities and counties opt to reconsider rules. A Bee
analysis in March found that 40 percent of the state is 60 miles or
more from a legal dispensary.

In theory, marijuana delivery companies willing to trek to outlying
areas might help fill that gap. But state law also allows cities and
counties to ban delivery companies headquartered elsewhere from
driving weed to consumers within their borders.

Senate BIll 1302, introduced by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens,
would permit operators licensed by the state and a local jurisdiction
to delivery weed anywhere in California.

The bill, sponsored by the delivery company WeDrop and Americans for
Safe Access, is expected to clear the Senate Governance and Finance
Committee Wednesday. The committee meets at 9:30 a.m. in Room 112.
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MAP posted-by: Matt