What's new
  • Happy Birthday ICMag! Been 20 years since Gypsy Nirvana created the forum! We are celebrating with a 4/20 Giveaway and by launching a new Patreon tier called "420club". You can read more here.
  • Important notice: ICMag's T.O.U. has been updated. Please review it here. For your convenience, it is also available in the main forum menu, under 'Quick Links"!

CA: Proposed Medical and Dispensary Legislation

Payaso

Original Editor of ICMagazine
Veteran
This message came to me directly from the California Director of ASA.

Message from the CA Director


<hr><hr>The California legislative session is underway, and three significant medical cannabis measures were introduced before last Friday’s deadline for new bills. The latest effort to regulate commercial medical cannabis activity and doctors who recommend medical cannabis is a bill by Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana). SB 1262 is sponsored by the California League of Cities and the California Police Chief Association, two powerful lobby groups that have opposed any regulation of medical cannabis in California until now. It is encouraging to see these two groups coming to the table this year.

The introduction of SB 1262 may be a milestone in overcoming the impasse on medical cannabis regulation in California, but the bill has both good and bad provisions. The good news is that SB 1262 places regulatory control of commercial medical cannabis activity in the Department of Health, where ASA believes it belongs. We do not think it is best to regulate medical cannabis like a vice (i.e. alcohol or tobacco). Furthermore, the bill’s provisions about safety and operational standards for dispensaries are largely reasonable and in line with emerging professional standards in the field.

The bad news is that SB 1262 recognizes the right of local jurisdictions to ban medical cannabis patients’ associations, which reaffirms the status quo established by the California’s Supreme Court decision in Riverside v. Inland Empire Patients Wellness Center last year. The bill also contains severe restrictions on doctors who recommend medical cannabis in California. The heavy-handed regulations are sure to raise the ire of the medical community, and if adopted, may even lead to litigation.

ASA knows that the best outcomes result from having those affected by legislation at the table when bills are debated, amended, and finally approved or rejected. That is why it is important that each of you make a commitment to participate in the process this year. We will need grassroots advocacy in every legislative district in the state, in the Capitol, online, and in our communities. Thanks for helping!
 

surfguitar

Member
Wheres the actual bill? Is this gonna put restrictions on growing only major big companies can meet like WA is trying to do(already did?)
 

mojave green

rockin in the free world
Veteran
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2013–2014 REGULAR SESSION

SENATE BILL
No. 1262


Introduced by Senator Correa

February 21, 2014


An act to add Article 25 (commencing with Section 2525) to Chapter 5 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, and to add Article 7 (commencing with Section 111657) to Chapter 6 of Part 5 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to medical marijuana.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1262, as introduced, Correa. Medical marijuana: regulation of physicians, dispensaries, and cultivation sites.
(1) Existing law, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, an initiative measure enacted by the approval of Proposition 215 at the November 6, 1996, statewide general election, authorizes the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Existing law enacted by the Legislature requires the establishment of a program for the issuance of identification cards to qualified patients so that they may lawfully use marijuana for medical purposes, and requires the establishment of guidelines for the lawful cultivation of marijuana grown for medical use.
This bill would require the State Department of Public Health to license dispensing facilities and cultivation sites that provide, process, and grow marijuana for medical use, as specified, and would make these licenses subject to the restrictions of the local jurisdiction in which the facility operates or proposes to operate. The bill would require the department to establish standards for quality assurance testing of medical marijuana and would prohibit the use of nonorganic pesticides in any marijuana cultivation site. The bill would require licensed dispensing facilities and licensed cultivation sites to implement sufficient security measures to both deter and prevent unauthorized entrance into areas containing marijuana and theft of marijuana at those facilities, including establishing limited access areas accessible only to authorized facility personnel, and would require these facilities to notify appropriate law enforcement authorities within 24 hours after discovering specified breaches in security. The bill would make enforcement of these provisions the responsibility of the county health departments, with oversight by the department. Violation of these provisions would be punishable by a civil fine of up to $35,000 for each individual violation. By expanding the duties of local health officers, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(2) Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, provides for licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons by the Medical Board of California.
This bill would establish requirements for a physician and surgeon to recommend medical marijuana, including prescribed procedural and recordkeeping requirements, and would require a recommendation for medical marijuana for a minor to include a specific justification for the recommendation and why the benefit of use is more important than the possible neurological damage that could be caused by the minor using marijuana and to be approved by a board certified pediatrician. The bill would require a physician and surgeon that recommends medical marijuana to report to the board the number of recommendations issued, with supporting documentation on patient medical need.
This bill would require the board to audit a physician and surgeon who recommends medical marijuana more than 100 times in a year to ensure compliance with existing law and would require the board to establish a certification process for physicians who wish to issue medical marijuana recommendations, including a mandatory training in identifying signs of addiction and ongoing substance abuse.
Violation of these provisions would be punishable by a civil fine not to exceed $5,000.

(3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.
DIGEST KEY
Vote: majority Appropriation: no Fiscal Committee: yes Local Program: yes

BILL TEXT
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) The California Constitution grants cities and counties the authority to make and enforce, within their borders, “all local police, sanitary, and other ordinances and regulations not in conflict with the general laws.” This inherent local police power includes broad authority to determine, for purposes of public health, safety, and welfare, the appropriate uses of land within the local jurisdiction’s borders. The police power, therefore, allows each city and county to determine whether or not a medical marijuana dispensary or other facility that makes medical marijuana available may operate within its borders. This authority has been upheld by City of Riverside v. Inland Empire Patients Health & Wellness, Inc. (2013) 56 Cal.4th 729 and County of Los Angeles v. Hill (2011) 192 Cal.App.4th 861.

(b) If, pursuant to this authority, a city or county determines that a dispensary or other facility that makes medical marijuana available may operate within its borders, then there is a need for the state to license these dispensaries and other facilities for the purpose of adopting and enforcing protocols for training and certification of physicians who recommend the use of medical marijuana and for agricultural cultivation practices. This licensing requirement is not intended in any way nor shall it be construed to preempt local ordinances regarding the sale and use of medical marijuana, including, but not limited to, security, signage, lighting, and inspections.
(c) Given that the current system of all-cash transactions within the medical marijuana industry is unsustainable in the long term, there is a need to provide a monetary structure, as an alternative to the federal banking system, for the operation, regulation, and taxation of medical marijuana dispensaries.
(d) All of the following elements are necessary to uphold important state goals:
(1) Strict provisions to prevent the potential diversion of marijuana for recreational use.
(2) Audits to accurately track the volume of both product movement and sales.
(3) An effective means of restricting access to medical marijuana by minors, given the medical studies documenting marijuana’s harmful and permanent effects on the brain development of youth.:moon:
(4) Stricter provisions relating to physicians and their recommendation procedures in order to address widespread problems of questionable medical marijuana recommendations by physicians without a bona-fide doctor-patient relationship with the person to whom they are issuing the recommendation.
:moon:
(e) Nothing in this act shall be construed to promote or facilitate the nonmedical, recreational possession, sale, or use of marijuana.
SEC. 2. Article 25 (commencing with Section 2525) is added to Chapter 5 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, to read:
Article 25. Recommending Medical Marijuana

2525. (a) Prior to recommending marijuana to a patient pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11362.7) of Chapter 6 of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code, a physician and surgeon shall meet all of the following requirements:
(1) Have a bona fide doctor-patient relationship, with medical marijuana recommendations to be made by a patient’s primary care physician or by a physician and surgeon to whom the patient is referred by their primary care physician.
:moon:
(2) Conduct an in-person examination to establish the patient’s need for medical marijuana.
(3) Consult with the patient as necessary and periodically review the treatment’s efficacy.
(b) A physician and surgeon that recommends medical marijuana shall do all of the following:
(1) Address, in the recommendation, the quantity of use and method of delivery, including a discussion of side effects. If the recommended method of delivery is smoking, the recommendation shall state the reasons for selecting this method of delivery in the context of health issues created by smoking.
(2) Address, in the recommendation, what kind of marijuana to obtain, including high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels, low THC levels, high cannabidiol (CBD) levels, low CBD levels, and explain the reason for recommending the particular strain. Under no circumstances shall a physician and surgeon recommend butane hash oil.
(3) Maintain a system of recordkeeping that supports the decision to recommend the use of medical marijuana for individual patients.

(c) A recommendation for medical marijuana provided to a minor shall include a specific justification for the recommendation and why the benefit of use is more important than the possible neurological damage that could be caused by the minor using marijuana. A recommendation for a minor shall be approved by a board certified pediatrician. A recommendation for a minor shall be for high CBD marijuana and all recommendations for minors must be for nonsmoking delivery.


2525.1. (a) A physician and surgeon who recommends medical marijuana shall report to the California Medical Board the number of recommendations issued, with supporting documentation on patient medical need. The board shall forward these reports to the State Department of Public Health.
(b) A physician and surgeon who makes more than 100 recommendations in a calendar year shall be audited by the California Medical Board to determine compliance with Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11362.7) of Chapter 6 of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code.

:moon:


2525.2. The California Medical Board shall establish a certification process for physicians who wish to issue medical marijuana recommendations, including a mandatory training in identifying signs of addiction and ongoing substance abuse.


2525.3. In addition to all other remedies available pursuant to this chapter, violation of any provision of this article shall be punishable by a civil fine of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000).

SEC. 3. Article 7 (commencing with Section 111657) is added to Chapter 6 of Part 5 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:
Article 7. Medical Marijuana

111657. For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) “Department” means the State Department of Public Health.
(b) “Licensed cultivation site” means a facility that grows or grows and processes marijuana for medical use and that is licensed pursuant to Section 111657.1.
(c) “Licensed dispensing facility” means a dispensary, mobile dispensary, marijuana processing facility, or other facility that provides marijuana for medical use that is licensed pursuant to Section 111657.1.


111657.1. (a) Except as provided in Section 11362.5 of, and Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11362.7) of Chapter 6 of Division 10 of, the Health and Safety Code, a person shall not sell or provide marijuana other than at a licensed dispensing facility.
(b) Except as provided in Section 11362.5 of, and Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11362.7) of Chapter 6 of Division 10 of, the Health and Safety Code, a person shall not grow or process marijuana other than at a licensed cultivation site.
(c) The department shall require, prior to issuing a license to a dispensing facility or a cultivation site, all of the following:
(1) The name of the owner or owners of the proposed facility.
(2) The address and telephone number of the proposed facility.
(3) A description of the scope of business of the proposed facility.
(4) A certified copy of the local jurisdiction’s approval to operate within its borders.
(5) A completed application, as required by the department.
(6) Payment of a fee, in an amount to be determined by the department not to exceed the amount necessary, but that is sufficient to cover, the actual costs of the administration of this article.
(7) Any other information as required by the department.


111657.2. The department shall, after consulting with outside entities as needed, establish standards for quality assurance testing of medical marijuana, to ensure protection against microbiological contaminants. Nonorganic pesticides shall not be used in any marijuana cultivation site, irrespective of size or location.


111657.3. (a) A licensed dispensing facility shall not acquire, possess, cultivate, deliver, transfer, transport, or dispense marijuana for any purpose other than those authorized by Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11362.7) of Chapter 6 of Division 10.
(b) A licensed dispensing facility shall not acquire marijuana plants or products except through the cultivation of marijuana by that facility, if the facility is a licensed cultivation site, or another licensed cultivation site.
:moon:

111657.4. (a) A facility licensed pursuant to this article shall implement sufficient security measures to both deter and prevent unauthorized entrance into areas containing marijuana and theft of marijuana at those facilities. These security measures shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) Allow only registered qualifying patients, personal caregivers, and facility agents access to the facility.
(2) Prevent individuals from remaining on the premises of the facility if they are not engaging in activity expressly related to the operations of the facility.
(3) Establish limited access areas accessible only to authorized facility personnel.
(4) Store all finished marijuana in a secure, locked safe or vault and in a manner as to prevent diversion, theft, and loss.
(b) A facility licensed pursuant to this article shall notify appropriate law enforcement authorities within 24 hours after discovering any of the following:
(1) Discrepancies identified during inventory.
(2) Diversion, theft, loss, or any criminal activity involving the facility or a facility agent.
(3) The loss or unauthorized alteration of records related to marijuana, registered qualifying patients, personal caregivers, or facility agents.
(4) Any other breach of security.
(c) A licensed cultivation site shall weigh, inventory, and account for on video, all medical marijuana to be transported prior to its leaving its origination location. Within eight hours after arrival at the destination, the licensed dispensing facility shall re-weigh, re-inventory, and account for on video, all transported marijuana.


111657.5. (a) Enforcement of this article shall be the responsibility of the county health departments, with oversight by the department.
(b) An enforcement officer may enter a facility licensed pursuant to this article during the facility’s hours of operation and other reasonable times to do either of the following:
(1) Conduct inspections, issue citations, and secure samples, photographs, or other evidence from the facility, or a facility suspected of being a dispensing facility or cultivation site.
(2) Secure as evidence documents, or copies of documents, including inventories required pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 111657.4, or any record, file, paper, process, invoice, video, or receipt for the purpose of determining compliance with this chapter.
(c) A written report shall be made and a copy shall be supplied or mailed to the owner of the facility at the completion of an inspection or investigation.
(d) Upon request by the department, local governments shall provide the department with reports on the number and types of facilities operating within their jurisdiction.


111657.6. In addition to the provisions of this article, a license granted pursuant to this article shall be subject to the restrictions of the local jurisdiction in which the facility operates or proposes to operate. Even if a license has been granted pursuant to this article, a facility shall not operate in a local jurisdiction that prohibits the establishment of that type of business.


111657.7. Violation of this provision shall be punishable by a civil fine of up to thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000) for each individual violation.

SEC. 4. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
 

Jon 54

Member
The ONLY PART of this bill that I tend to agree with is to take down the many hack MD's if you can call them that. Most of the doctors that work out of the clinics that advertise in mag's like HT and such are just in it for the quick bucks.

Jon54 :plant grow::plant grow:
 
Top