CA Assembly Bill 2312 to Regulate Medical Marijuana Postponed

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) sponsor of AB 2312.

Assembly member Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) postponed a meeting for a Senate committee to vote on Assembly Bill 2312, which would have founded a nine member board tasked with creating, executing, and and enforcing consistent regulations across California.  According to the Sacramento Bee, Mr. Ammiano “has decided to allow the Businesses, Professions and Economic Development Committee to hold more committee hearings and issue a report on the issue after the legislative session adjourns.”

The bill had passed the state assembly on a 41-29 vote in the beginning of June, just one day before the deadline.  Its original aim was to provide a clear set of statewide rules and to help give some protection from the ever increasing Federal crackdown on marijuana dispensaries operating legally under state law.

When AB2312 first passed the state assembly vote, it faced opposition from many Republicans, saying it would remove power from local municipalities, undermine Federal laws and the usual myth of increasing reefer madness addicts across the state.  We’ll have to wait for additional details that go beyond generic political speak to better analyze what ground AB2312 to a halt.

As a Californian who’s treasured our Prop 215 history, it’s saddening to see Prop 19 and AB2312 shot down, while other states, such as Colorado and Washington, have picked up the ball and are running for the end zone. However, this is a national battle, so lets just keep knocking down more dominoes (states) until we win the war to end federal prohibition.