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California tries to clarify its marijuana rules

June 16, 2017

As part of the state budget bill, the California Legislature passed a new set of marijuana rules that includes allowing marijuana samplings, according to the new rules that passed the state Senate and moved onto Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk on Thursday.

In accordance with Proposition 64, the state plans to begin issuing licenses for medical marijuana businesses next year. When that occurs, individual dispensaries will be allowed to sell marijuana to both medical patients and recreational users.

Dispensaries, though, will have to obtain separate licenses for medical and recreational sales, according to a legislative analysis published by the Senate. Additionally, cities and counties reserve the authority to ban medical and/or recreational dispensaries.

The state’s new cannabis rules also address delivery services, which will continue to be permitted, as well as numerous other issues, including taxation, marijuana sampling, impaired driving and carrying open containers.

Under Prop. 64, the state will collect taxes on both marijuana cultivation and sales. Farmers will pay $9.35 per ounce of flowers and $2.75 per ounce of leaves. Marijuana buyers will pay a 15 percent sales tax.

California’s new rules will allow the distribution of samples of marijuana and pot-related products at county fairs and district agricultural associations. Only individuals 21 years and older will be allowed to try the samples.

In order to begin addressing the expected problem of impaired driving, the state will contract a marijuana research agency to conduct a study on pot’s impact on motor skills. Additionally, the state budget bill allocates $3 million for CHP training on drug recognition.

As for transporting marijuana in vehicles, suspects found with open marijuana or marijuana products inside a car will receive an infraction. However, patients carrying a state medical ID card or doctor’s recommendation will be exempt from the open marijuana container rule.

One issue the state has largely yet to resolve is marijuana safety. The state budget bill says medical pot growers and caregivers urge the Department of Pesticide Regulation to provide guidance on whether pesticides currently used at most medical grow sites are safe for use on marijuana that is intended for human consumption.


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Trump told Sessions go shut all this down. He will proscecute all the State government officials that had any part in licensing along with the sellers and growers. About time!


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The cannabis movement has attained critical mass; big money is involved as well. I sure hope Mr. Sessions has the backing of the military, as that’s what it will take to continue that particular portion of the war on drugs.


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These are State rules too. Superseding lesser jurisdictions.


Kinda puts the kibosh on all the cities and counties overly restrictive rules regarding distribution, doesn’t it?


No one is complaining about the taxes. They are happy to pay when you consider prior to this they could be put in jail for the same activity.


Besides since it is now legal, wouldn’t you be upset if you representatives didn’t seek the tax revenue?


If it is going to be as horrible as some claim we might want some dough on hand to pay for these yet to be realized calamities.


It is all good braugh.


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Great! Now when we have day in the park, the county fair, concerts at different venues there will marijuana sampling centers. Wow! Where are we going? I still don’t get how these government agencies are jumping on the tax bandwagon for this. If they have made it legal why the excessive taxation if it is no different than beer, wine and liquor? I think that ex mayor from Grover Beach when he made his statement to the city council. Amazing how low some will stoop for money.


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Because beer, wine and liquor ARE excessively taxed. Sin Tax. So, by your own argument, you have answered your own inquiry.


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No not really. They are going to impose a additional tax on top of the normal sales tax. In Oregon it is currently 17% for recreational and 3% for medicinal. Do you think that there are additional taxes equal to this on beer, wine, liquor and now ciders? I don’t think so because they draw tourism.

If the government handles this to their satisfaction we may be lucky again to see Atascaderstock at the late park. Will be interesting to see how the mayor and his sidekick will handle that photo op and whether they will take credit for bring this new industry to town?


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