By Noah White
The Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees will consider a total of 12 bills that address marijuana legalization. The discussion will take place in Sacramento on Friday, May 25, 2018. The hearing will convene upon adjournment of the floor session.
Drivers would face an infraction if caught using cannabis under SB 1273. Democratic state Sen. Jerry Hill introduced the bill, which would also make it an infraction for individuals younger than 21 to have any detectable quantity THC in their bodies.
Women, people of color, low-income individuals, veterans and those with criminal records would receive greater parity in the cannabis application process per SB 1294. If approved, the bill would require the California Bureau of Cannabis Control to establish a cannabis equity task force, and assist state and local applicants and licensees gain access to reduced-interest and interest-free loans and grants effective Jan. 1, 2019.
Republican State Sen. Scott Wilk introduced SB 1409, which would change the definition of industrial hemp under the California Uniform Controlled Substance Act, The bill, which has bipartisan support, would designate hemp as a fiber or oilseed crop and remove the requirements that industrial hemp seed cultivators be certified before January 1, 2013, in order to be included on the list of approved cultivators.
SB 930 would create the Cannabis Limited Charter Bank Advisory Board, which would include the treasurer, controller, and the Chief of the Bureau of Cannabis Control. The bill would allow the creation of state-licensed banks to handle deposits from California’s legal cannabis businesses.
California’s Justice Department would be required to review the records of those who were convicted of cannabis-related charges if AB 1793 passes. The bill allows the resentencing of past cannabis convictions and reduce or dismiss penalties unless challenged by a prosecutor.
State-compliant California cannabis businesses would be able to deduct business expenses on income taxes, effective immediately if AB 1863 passes.
Under AB 2058, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) would be required to report to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the number of arrests made monthly for individuals driving under the influence of marijuana. The proposed legislation would also require the DOJ to publish an annual report of the DMV’s data.
Assemblymember Rob Bonta introduced the Medical Cannabis Worker Protections Act, AB 2069, which aims to include medical cannabis patients in the protections offered for pharmaceutical prescriptions.
Assembly member Jim Cooper introduced AB 2520, which would create the California Illegal Cannabis Task Force to analyze existing marijuana statutes and ensure they provide adequate supervision and regulation of the state’s marijuana cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and sales. The Task Force would also be required to recommend specific revisions or create new provisions to address existing inadequacies.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife would be empowered to survey public lands to monitor for and remove illegal cannabis cultivation sites if AB 2525 is accepted. The bill is sponsored by Assemblymember Jim Wood.
Assemblymember Jim Wood introduced AB 2641, which is aimed at allowing cultivators to sell directly to consumers on a limited basis during a fair or similar event. Under this bill, the California Bureau of Cannabis Control and Licensing could issue temporary event licenses for cannabis at county fairs and district agricultural events.
Introduced by Assemblymember Rob Bonta, AB 3157 would suspend the cultivation tax rate for the first three years.
