2016 Cannabis Initiatives in California

2016 Cannabis Initiatives in California

By Bradley Allen (@BradleySA)

In the state of California, there are numerous cannabis related initiatives that are currently active measures hoping to land a spot on the November 8, 2016, ballot.

In an effort to help people keep track of it all, the following is a chronological list of the cannabis related initiatives. Some of the initiatives are more serious contenders than others. While the list is certainly long already, rumors are swirling that yet another initiative or two is in the works.

On July 20, 2015, Californians for Safer Communities published a comparison of five of the initiatives, including their own. We are sure to see ongoing efforts to compare and contrast the initiatives.

Hopefully you find this list useful for conducting your own further research. Please contribute any comments, questions, additions, concerns, corrections and suggestions by submitting a comment to this article or sending an email to the author.

Cannabis Initiatives in California

Updated: October 22, 2015.

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California Craft Cannabis Initiative

Number: 15-0017 (Ballotpedia)

Proponents: Heather Burke; Omar Figueroa

Official summary:

"Retroactively legalizes, under state law, marijuana and hemp use, cultivation, possession, transportation, processing, distribution, and sale by persons 21 years and over. Creates commission to regulate and license marijuana industry. Bars commission from capping number of licensed businesses that grow less than 100 plants. Allows unlicensed cultivation for use, or sale at cost, of up to six plants per person. Applies general retail sales taxes to nonmedical marijuana sales. Permits additional taxes on nonmedical marijuana processing and sales totaling up to 30% of retail price. Allows certain local regulation, but not regulation inconsistent with measure’s policies."

Website: californiacannabis2016.com

Social Media: Facebook

News: First California Marijuana Legalization 2016 Initiative Filed

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The 2016 California Bipartisan Decriminalization of Cannabis Act (CBD Act)

Number: 15-0027 (Ballotpedia)

Proponents: Jason Porter Collinsworth and Lara Marie Collinsworth (about Jason and Lara)

Official summary:

"Legalizes cannabis plants and products under state law, including hemp. Releases nonviolent marijuana offenders from prison and erases their criminal records. Designates Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to regulate and license recreational marijuana industry. Imposes 15% tax on nonmedical marijuana and 3% tax on medical marijuana, and additional temporary taxes. Applies general retail sales taxes to nonmedical marijuana. Prohibits local governments from enacting taxes, fees, or bans targeting marijuana. Allows personal use of five pounds of dried marijuana, one pound of concentrated, and three gallons of liquid extracts; and private cultivation of 500 square feet per adult (1,500 per parcel)."

Website: cbd2016.org

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter

News: Fifth California Legalization 2016 Measure Filed

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Marijuana Control Legalization Revenue Act (MCLR)

Number: 15-0020 & 15-0039 (Ballotpedia)

Proponents: Marc Baylen, Jason Bennett, Jason Browne, Heather Burke, Gilbert Canedo, Dege Coutee, Lanette Davies, Denise Dorey, Omar Figueroa, Gregory Fuentes, Shona Levana Gochenaur, Russell Goodrow, Michael Grafton, Elihu Hernandez, Dave Hodges, Gregory Charles Ledbetter, John Lee, Edie Lerman, Jon Martinelli, Richard Miller, Ron Mullins, J David Nick, Teresa Randolph, Patricia Smith, Sandra Bacon Tercero

Official summary:

"Legalizes under state law marijuana use, growth, cultivation, possession, transportation, storage, or sale. Creates commission to regulate and license marijuana industry. Applies general retail sales taxes to marijuana, unless medical or dietary exemptions apply. Permits taxes on nonmedical marijuana sales, up to 10% of retail price. Prohibits discrimination against marijuana users or businesses. Prohibits Legislature from enacting marijuana laws. Imposes personal liability on law enforcement for wrongful marijuana destruction or assisting with certain marijuana investigations. Requires voter approval to zone beyond set limits. Nullifies other local regulations. Exempts medical marijuana collectives from licensing and local zoning."

Website: mclr.us

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter

News: How the State’s New Medical Marijuana Laws Affect San Jose

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California Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative

Number: 15-0041 (Ballotpedia)

Proponent: Clarence Phillip Snider

Website: not found

Social Media: not found

News: not found

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Compassionate and Sensible Access Act

Number: 15-0044 (Ballotpedia)

Proponents: Craig Beresh (California Cannabis Coalition), Marcia Blount, Jeffrey Byrne, Kimberly Cargile, Dege Coutee, Lanette Davies (Crusaders for Patients Rights), Richard Fenton, Shona Gochenaur, Kandice Hawes (Orange County NORML), Brook Hilton, Donna Lambert, Rowola Maharaj, Andrew Merkel, Richard Miller, Eric Salerno (Yuba Patients Coalition), Deborah Tharp, Van Ton, Randall Welty

Official summary:

"Bars state and local laws restricting patients’ ability to obtain, cultivate, or transport medical marijuana, including concentrated cannabis, in any way that does not apply equally to other plants, unless the activities are within 600 feet of a school. Bars state and local laws creating noncompetitive markets for medical marijuana. Broadens definition of marijuana under state law to include all parts of, and anything made from, the marijuana plant. Bars state and local laws restricting doctors’ ability to recommend marijuana to patients in any way that does not apply equally to herbal or therapeutic treatments."

Websites: compassionateandsensibleaccessact.org, californiacannabiscoalition.org

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter

News: Medical Marijuana Initiative Constitutional Amendment Proponents May Begin Collecting Signatures; First California Marijuana Legalization 2016 Initiative Filed

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The California Cannabis Hemp Initiative (CCHI)

Number: 15-0050 (Ballotpedia)

Proponents: Berton Duzy, Michael Jolson

Website: cchi2016.org

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

News: California Marijuana Legalization Supporters Worry Video From Smokers Promising Hash Bars Will Hurt Campaign

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The Safe Communities and Parks Act of 2016 (Version 3)

Number: 15-0036 (Ballotpedia)

Proponents: Chad Hanes, Marinda D. Hanes — Californians for Safer Communities

Website: saferca.org

Social Media: Twitter

News: "The Safe Communities, Parks and Schools Act of 2016" Filing Announced

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The Cannabis Legalization Act of 2016

Number: 15-0060

Proponent: Sam Clauder

Website: ccuc2016.com

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

News: not found

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The California Safe and Drug-Free Community Act

Number: 15-0069

Proponent: Roger Morgan of Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana (CALM)

Website: calmusa.org

Social Media: Facebook

News: Group aims to outlaw most marijuana use in California; Newsom’s Commission Drafts Road Map for Regulating Recreational Pot

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The Control, Regulate and Tax Cannabis Act of 2016 (ReformCA)

Number: 15-0075

Proponents: Dale Sky Jones, Alice A. Huffman

Website: reformca.com

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter

News: Here Comes The Big One: ReformCA Files Its California Pot Legalization Initiative

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