Another Marijuana Initiative enters circulation
According to a press release from the office of the California Secretary of State, dated Feb. 15, 2012:
Secretary of State Debra Bowen today announced that the proponents of a new initiative may begin collecting petition signatures for their measure. The Attorney General prepares the legal title and summary that is required to appear on initiative petitions. When the official language is complete, the Attorney General forwards it to the proponents and to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State then provides calendar deadlines to the proponents and to county elections officials, and the initiative may be circulated for signatures. The Attorney General’s official title and summary for the measure is as follows:
MARIJUANA. REGULATION AND TAXATION OF MEDICAL USE INDUSTRY. REDUCED CRIMINAL PENALTIES. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Establishes new government agency to regulate medical marijuana cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale. Imposes agency fees, and 2.5% tax on medical marijuana retail sales. Allocates new revenues to agency administration, any remainder primarily to medical marijuana research and grants. Preempts local regulation of medical marijuana, except for zoning of medical marijuana dispensaries. Requires one dispensary per 50,000 residents unless limited or banned by local initiative. Bars state and local assistance to federal enforcement against medical marijuana. Reduces criminal penalties for marijuana possession, cultivation, transport, or sale. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Savings potentially up to several tens of millions of dollars annually to state and local governments from reductions in various criminal justice costs related to enforcing marijuana crimes. Additional state tax revenues in the low tens of millions of dollars annually from a new supplemental tax on medical marijuana sales, used for various regulatory, research, education, and health care purposes generally related to medical marijuana. Increased costs to regulate medical marijuana potentially in the tens of millions of dollars annually, offset by fees and/or taxes authorized by the measure. (11-0098)
The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is 1571 and the Attorney General’s tracking number is 11-0098.
The proponents for this measure, Don Duncan and Ron Lind, must collect signatures of 504,760 registered voters – the number equal to five percent of the total votes cast for governor in the 2010 gubernatorial election – in order to qualify it for the ballot. The proponents have 150 days to circulate petitions for this measure, meaning the signatures must be collected by July 13, 2012. The initiative proponents can be reached at (916) 456-0100.
Listen to KMUD 6 PM news tonight, Tues., Feb. 21, 2012 as Terri Klemetson interviews: Dale Gieringer with NORML, Alison Sterling-Nichols, Executive Director of Humboldt Grower’s Association & the Emerald Grower’s Association, and Humboldt County Sheriff Mike Downey.
Several other Marijuana Initiatives have also previously entered circulation. These are listed below in choronogical order:
October 28, 2011:MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Decriminalizes marijuana sales, distribution, possession, use, cultivation, and transportation. Dismisses pending court actions inconsistent with its provisions. Retains laws forbidding use while driving or in workplace. Establishes regulation of commercial marijuana trade to match regulation of wine and beer. Allows noncommercial production up to 24 flowering plants per household, or more with local approval. Authorizes retail sales of marijuana with THC level of .3% or more to persons 21 or older; if less, no age limit. Directs state and local officials to not cooperate with federal enforcement of marijuana laws. Bans development of genetically modified marijuana. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: The fiscal effects of this measure are subject to considerable uncertainty depending on: (1) the extent to which the federal government continues to enforce federal marijuana laws and (2) the specific taxes applied to marijuana. Savings of potentially several tens of millions of dollars annually to state and local governments on the costs of incarcerating and supervising certain marijuana offenders. Potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in net additional tax revenues related to the production and sale of marijuana products. (11-0039)
The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is 1516 and the Attorney General’s tracking number is 11-0039.
The proponents for this measure, James P. Gray, William McPike, Stephen Collett and Steve Kubby, must collect signatures of 504,760 registered voters – the number equal to five percent of the total votes cast for governor in the 2010 gubernatorial election – in order to qualify it for the ballot. The proponents have 150 days to circulate petitions for this measure, meaning the signatures must be collected by March 26, 2012. The initiative proponents can be reached at (415) 830-6070.
November 8, 2011:REDUCED MARIJUANA PENALTIES. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Limits punishment to $250 fine or community service for possession, cultivation, sale, or transportation of up to two ounces of marijuana; limits punishment to six months in county jail and/or $500 fine if violator is less than 21. Retains existing penalties for marijuana offenses on school grounds and for offenses involving sale to a minor, employment of minor in criminal marijuana enterprise, or driving under influence of marijuana. Makes property forfeiture laws inapplicable to marijuana offenses involving two ounces or less. Retains laws regarding marijuana in the workplace, driving under influence, and medical marijuana. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Unknown savings to state and local governments on the costs of enforcing certain marijuana-related offenses, handling the related criminal cases in the court system, and incarcerating and supervising certain marijuana offenders. (11-0040)
The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is 1518 and the Attorney General’s tracking number is 11-0040.
The proponent for this measure, Bill Zimmerman, must collect signatures of 504,760 registered voters – the number equal to five percent of the total votes cast for governor in the 2010 gubernatorial election – in order to qualify it for the ballot. The proponent has 150 days to circulate petitions for this measure, meaning the signatures must be collected by April 5, 2012. The initiative proponent can be reached at (310) 451-2522.
November 22, 2011:MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION. INITlATlVE STATUTE. Decriminalizes marijuana use, possession, cultivation, transportation, distribution, or sale for adults aged 19 and older. Creates California Cannabis Commission to regulate commercial cultivation, processing, testing, transport, distribution, sale, facilities for on-premises consumption, and smoking in public, but authorizes local governments to permit conduct otherwise prohibited by state law and regulations. Exempts from rcgulation or taxation up to three pounds of marijuana for personal use. Retains laws prohibiting marijuana-related conduct that contributes to the delinquency of a minor and driving while impaired by marijuana. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Dircctor of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: The fiscal effects of this measure are subject to considerable uncertainty depending on the extent to which the federal government continues to enforce federal marijuana laws and depending upon how, and to what extent, the state chooses to regulate the commercial production and sale of marijuana. Savings potentially in the low hundreds of millions of dollars annually to state and local governments on the costs of enforcing certain marijuana-related offenses, handling the related criminal cases in the court system, and incarcerating and supervising certain marijuana offenders. Costs potentially up to the low tens of millions of dollars annually to the state to regulate the commercial production and sale of marijuana. Potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in net additional tax revenues related to the production and sale of marijuana products. (11-0046)
The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is 1524 and the Attorney General’s tracking number is 11-0046.
The proponents for this measure, Joe Rogoway, Frank. H. Lucido, Pebbles Trippet, William Panzer and Omar Figueroa, must collect signatures of 504,760 registered voters – the number equal to five percent of the total votes cast for governor in the 2010 gubernatorial election – in order to qualify it for the ballot. The proponents have 150 days to circulate petitions for this measure, meaning the signatures must be collected by April 19, 2012. The initiative proponents can be reached at (707) 520-4205.
January 6, 2012:MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Decriminalizes marijuana and hemp use, possession, cultivation, transportation, or distribution. Provides persons arrested or serving time for non-violent marijuana offenses shall be immediately released from prison, jail, parole or probation, and arrest records and convictions for non-violent marijuana offenses shall be erased. Authorizes Legislature to adopt laws to license and tax commercial marijuana sales. Allows doctors to approve or recommend marijuana to patients, regardless of age. Limits testing for marijuana for employment or insurance purposes. Bars state from aiding enforcement of federal marijuana laws. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Savings potentially in the low hundreds of millions of dollars annually to state and local governments on the costs of enforcing certain marijuana-related offenses, handling the related criminal cases in the court system, and incarcerating and supervising certain marijuana offenders. Potential net additional tax revenues in the low hundreds of millions of dollars annually related to the production and sale of marijuana. (11-0073)
The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is 1544 and the Attorney General’s tracking number is 11-0073.
The proponents for this measure, Michael Jolson and Berton Duzy, must collect signatures of 504,760 registered voters – the number equal to five percent of the total votes cast for governor in the 2010 gubernatorial election – in order to qualify it for the ballot. The proponents have 150 days to circulate petitions for this measure, meaning the signatures must be collected by June 4, 2012.