Calif. Bill Seeks To Create Regulations for Medical Marijuana Industry
A new bill (AB 266), by Assembly member Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova), would establish a statewide framework for the regulation of medical marijuana, while maintaining some local authority, the Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" reports.
Details of Bill
If approved, AB 266 would establish a two-tier system for medical marijuana licensure. Specifically, the bill would give:
- The state the responsibility of issuing conditional licenses, depending on background checks and fee collections; and
- Local governments the authority to issue the actual operational licenses for growers, transporters and dispensaries (White, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 2/11).
Cooley said that the bill is "designed to let local governments have some say on where the businesses are placed and how the business is conducted" (Adler, "KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 2/11).
He noted that the bill -- which is supported by state law enforcement officials -- would create a regulatory framework before rules would be determined by voters under a 2016 ballot measure ("Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 2/11).
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