California Legalization Initiative Begins Signature Drive in May

California Legalization Initiative Begins Signature Drive in May

The campaign behind the California Cannabis Hemp and Health Initiative, which would explicitly legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older, will begin collecting signatures in May, attempting to put their initiative to a vote of the people in 2014.

The measure is also known as the Jack Herer initiative, based on his attempts to get a similar initiative on the ballot before he passed away in 2010. In addition, it was one of multiple measures vying for the 2012 ballot in California.

In hopes of taking advantage of the movement’s increased momentum after the passage of Amendment 64 and Initiative 502 this past November, those behind the initiative are working to get the cannabis community behind it early. The measure, although it faces some political challenges, is likely to appease most legalization advocates.

Here’s a breakdown of what this measure would do:

• Legalizes possession
• Legalizes home-growing
• Legalizes industrial hemp
• Removes cannabis as a controlled substance under state law
• Directs the legislature to setup regulations for retail cannabis sales
• Sets a maximum tax of $10 per ounce, and $2 per gram for legal retail cannabis
• Sets a maximum licensing fee of $1,000 for businesses and retail growers – those growing at home for personal consumption wouldn’t be subject to such a tax.
• Declares that “No California law enforcement personnel or funds shall be used to assist or aid and abet in the enforcement of Federal cannabis hemp marijuana laws involving acts that are hereby no longer illegal in the State of California”, and declares it an illegal misdemeanor for a state official to not follow this provision.
• Sets the possession and grow limit for personal use at 12 pounds, and 99 plants, per adult, per year.

If you’re interested in helping with this effort, we urge you to check out their website, as well as their Facebook page.

– TheJointBlog