California Assembly Member Reggie Jones-Sawyer will join advocates to hold a media teleconference briefing to discuss his legislation that would prohibit state and local agencies from using resources to assist federal law enforcement authorities with marijuana enforcement against people in compliance with California state law. The recently introduced bill is already generating controversy.
AB 1578 will protect Californians who are operating lawfully under our state laws by providing that absent a court order, local and state agencies, including regulators and law enforcement, shall not assist in any federal enforcement against state authorized medical cannabis or commercial or noncommercial marijuana activity. The bill will get its first hearing April 18 in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.
In 2016, the voters of California overwhelming approved Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which provided that adults 21 and over could purchase and possess a limited amount of marijuana for personal use. However, the current president and Attorney General have hinted at a forthcoming crackdown on the recreational use of marijuana in states that have approved adult personal use.
“California voters have decided we don’t want to spend scarce resources on a war on marijuana,” said Lynne Lyman, California state director for the Drug Policy Alliance. “The threat of federal intervention essentially signifies a return to prohibition, which is a return to the chaos of an untaxed unregulated underground market, and ensnares thousands of otherwise law-abiding Californians in the devastating cycle of the criminal justice system.”
What: Teleconference to discuss AB1578 – Protecting Californians Against Federal Attacks on Lawful Marijuana Activity
When: Thursday, March 30, 11 a.m. PT
How: Contact Tony Newman for call-in info. tnewman [at] drugpolicy [dot] org
Who:
- Assembly Member Reggie Jones-Sawyer, bill author
- Lt. Commander Diane Goldstein (ret.), Law Enforcement Action Partnership
- Michael Collins, deputy director of national affairs, Drug Policy Alliance
- Sean Luse, dispensary operator, Berkeley Patients Group
- Lynne Lyman, California state director, Drug Policy Alliance (moderator)