Plan to regulate pot touted
March 25, 2013
Tom Ammiano
A new state bureaucracy to regulate medical cannabis is being proposed by a San Francisco Democrat who believes California “has been in chaos for years” over muddled marijuana laws. (Bay Area News Group)
Assemblyman Tom Ammiano’s bill would create the Division of Medical Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement within the existing Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). The lawmaker asserts his measure would monitor supply and sales of the weed to assure the product is free of toxins, and “eliminate” criminal behavior.
“Cities have been looking for state guidance, dispensaries feel at the mercy of changing rules and patients who need medical cannabis are uncertain about how their legitimate medical needs will be filled,” said Ammiano in a prepared release. “This is a concrete plan that will keep medical marijuana safe. We will get it into the right hands and keep it out of the wrong hands.”
Colorado has successfully used a similar model for the past three years, according to Ammiano.
A consultant who helped craft the Colorado regulatory plan, Matt Cook, said the ABC is experienced in areas necessary, such as education, compliance and enforcement.”
Cook added, “We’ve not had one federal intervention.”
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