Legislative News

Legislative Action

SACRAMENTO - State Legislature

Current Bills

CA Assembly Approves Bill to Downgrade MJ Possession to an Infraction
Aug. 30. 2010: The California state Assembly voted 43-33 to approve Sen. Mark Leno's bill SB 1449 downgrading petty marijuana possession from a misdemeanor to an infraction. The bill passed thanks to support from the CA district attorneys and courts; similar legislation had been voted down by the Assembly three times in the past. Read more. Californians are urged to tell the Governor to sign SB 1449 into law

CA Assembly Rejects Medical Marijuana Resolution SJR 14
Aug. 30, 2010: In a disappointing display of legislative perversity, the California Assembly rejected State Senator Mark Leno's medical marijuana resolution SJR 14. The Assembly may still have a chance to revisit the resolution in the coming extraordinary session. Read more.

Watered-Down Dispensary Bill Passes Assembly
June 4, 2010 - The California Assembly has passed a bill, AB 2650, that bans dispensaries within 600 feet of schools. Thanks to lobbying by MMJ advocates, the bill was greatly watered down from an earlier version which would have banned them within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, libraries, religious institutions, child care or youth centers, or other dispensaries.

Marijuana Legalization Bill AB 2254 Submitted to Cal Legislature
Feb 18, 2010 - Assemblyman Tom Ammiano has re-submitted his bill to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana in California. The new bill, AB 2254, the Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act of 2010 is identical to its predecessor AB 390, which was approved by the Public Safety Committee in January. Ammiano has announced the bill is back-burnered, pending the outcome of the TaxCannabis 2010 ballot initiative in November.

Past Actions

AB 1811 (Ammiano) to legalize paraphernalia in California if used for medical marijuana
California NORML endorsed AB1811. Read endorsement letter.
The bill passed the Assembly Public Safety committee on March 23 by a vote of 5-2, with all Democrats voting yes and all Republicans no.

On June 2, 2010, Gov. Schwarzenegger's office announced its opposition to AB 1811, killing any chance that the bill will be passed by the Assembly this year. In a letter the Governor's Office of Planning and Research explained, "The bill is unnecessary, as current law already provides protections for people prescribed medicinal marijuana. Drug paraphernalia is currently equipment used only 'in violation of this division' and prohibits acts 'except as authorized by law.'" Despite this, however, Cal NORML continues to hear reports of medical marijuana patients cited for possessing paraphernalia.

Historic Legalization Vote in CA
Jan 12, 2010. In a historic vote, the Assembly Public Safety Committee voted 4-3 to approve Tom Ammmiano's bill to legalize and regulate marijuana, the first time a legislative body has ever voted to repeal MJ prohibition. Read more.

Ammiano Bill to Tax and Regulate Marijuana Would Raise Over $1 Billion for State
February 23, 2009 - At a press conference today, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-SF) announced the introduction of AB390, The Marijuana Control, Regulation and Education Act, a landmark bill to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol and tobacco. Read more.

July 21, 2009 - The State Senate Judiciary Commitee approved Mark Leno's resolution SJR 14 calling for federal recognition of Cal's medical marijuana laws by a vote of 7-3. The vote was along party lines, with Democratic Senators Alquist, Cedillo, DeSaulnier, Leno, Pavley, Wolk and Negrete-McLeod voting aye, and Repbulicans Strickland, Aanestad and Cox voting Nay. "Moderate" Republican Abel Maldonado was absent for the vote. As usual, the GOP remains stoutly in favor of big federal government over personal freedom and state's rights when it comes to drugs.

August 24, 2009 - The California Senate passed SJR14 by a vote of 23-15.

AYES: Alquist, Calderon, Cedillo, Corbett, DeSaulnier, Ducheny, Hancock, Kehoe, Leno, Liu, Lowenthal, Negrete McLeod, Oropeza, Padilla, Pavley, Price, Romero, Simitian, Steinberg, Wiggins, Wolk, Wright, Yee

NOES: Aanestad, Ashburn, Benoit, Cogdill, Correa, Cox, Denham, Dutton, Harman, Hollingsworth, HuffRunner, Strickland, Walters, Wyland

ABSENT, ABSTAINING, OR NOT VOTING: Florez, Maldonado

PAST CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE ACTION - pre-2009

VOTING RECORD of CA. DELEGATION 2003-4 - Past Congressional Action

WASHINGTON - US Congress