What do Californians (and the rest) think of AUMA?

turk

turk
Could help to rebuild our infrastructure, schools, etc etc. Help fund housing for our vets, care for our mentally ill, education for our disadvantaged, etc etc. This would be a good thing if the money was spent on things such as these. While the bill may not be ideal for us users, it could very help many others and for that, I'd be all for it.

It wasn't that long ago that our state was on the verge of bankruptcy but not anymore. We're doing quite well now actually other than the fucking drought.
...unfortunately we NEVER see promised revenues manifest in programs that benefit...us...
...much like the lottery was supposed to benefit...schools...that was sure successful...
 
turk,
  • Like
Reactions: j-bug

looney2nz

Research Geek, Mad Scientist
  • Placer County Strong-Armed into Banning Commercial Cannabis Cultivation

    June 27 - Placer County, which had been leading the way among rural counties in codifying the new state MMRSA medical marijuana law at the local level, voted last week to restrict cannabis cultivation in its unincorporated areas to 6 plants or 50 square feet (whichever is less), grown indoors.
  • Local elections bring mixed returns for marijuana advocates
    June 8 - Advocates of liberalized medical marijuana rules fared poorly in local elections last night. The one bright spot was Nevada County, where voters rejected a proposed ban on outdoor cultivation of medical marijuana, Measure W by 58%.

the Placer stuff is concerning :( My late friend Eric from Arcata fought like hell to show folks exactly how big 50 sq ft is (their original bill was increased to 100 sq ft minimum), and that 'support' equipment and supplies should not be included in that space (this was solely canopy).

Santa Rosa and Sonoma... argh :( I thought the the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment was supposed to prevent federal agencies from spending funds against Medical Cannabis laws. Why is the DEA involved here?
 

thisperson

Ruler of all things person
Another article on AUMA. Looks like there are some questions about where the money will go. It appears this subject will be a battleground between giant pharma corps and the rest of us. I'd vote no if I was still a California resident(left in 1972). Initiatives created by the big guys are always questionable.

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/36746-monsanto-bayer-and-the-push-for-corporate-cannabis

Fuck those cocksuckers. >.< I'm definitely voting no. We have a good thing with prop 215.
 

CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
With WA state basically losing its medical cannabis system I would be very careful even though they say that the medical will be just fine for you folks in CA. Anything can happen after its signed into law. The lawmakers can change things around if they want to. Nothing is set in stone.

Several lawmakers are probably being courted by big pharma as we speak. Prepackaged cannabis isn't what you want. You don't want sky high medible costs.
 

turk

turk
...not sure they are being courted now carolking...they are ALREADY bought and paid for...that's how they got there in the 1st place...
 

CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
I found this on the Facebook page to post for support for WA Medical Cannabis. Some of this info could have been previously posted. I apologize if it had.





Protect Medical Marijuana in Washington State
July 15 at 9:21am ·
PSA for California voters: California's "Adult Use of Marijuana Act" (AUMA) is a voter initiative characterized as legalizing marijuana use. But critics warn that it will actually make access more difficult and expensive, squeeze home growers and small farmers out of the market, heighten criminal sanctions for violations, and open the door to patented, genetically modified (GMO) versions that must be purchased year after year.

Critics note that of the hundreds of millions in tax revenues that AUMA is expected to generate from marijuana and marijuana-related products, not a penny will go to the California general fund. That means no money for California's public schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure. Instead, it will go into a giant slush fund controlled by AUMA's "Marijuana Control Board," to be spent first for its own administration, then for its own law enforcement, then for penal and judicial program expenditures.

Law enforcement and penalties will continue to be big business, since AUMA legalizes marijuana use only for people over 21 and makes access so difficult and expensive that even adults could be tempted to turn to the black market. "Legalization" through AUMA will chiefly serve a petrochemical/pharmaceutical complex bent on controlling all farming and plant life globally.



Monsanto, Bayer and the Push for Corporate Cannabis
Critics note that of the hundreds of millions in tax revenues that AUMA is expected to generate, not a penny will go to the California general fund.
TRUTH-OUT.ORG|BY ELLEN BROWN
 
I think the nay-sayers are sticking their heads in the sand. AUMA is legalization of production, distribution and consumption of cannabis and cannabis products. Yes, there are a number of sticking points that need to be ironed out, but those who want to only vote for perfection for cannabis consumers, like the inititative CCHI, are just "pipe-dreamers." I agree that MCLR was shorter and more balanced, but it didn't qualify for the ballot. Legalization was voted down in 2010 in Ca, and now 6 years later we have a chance to pass an initiative which, while far from perfect, gets us on the right path to full legalization. Social conservatives and law enforcement need to see for themselves that cannabis is a safe substance, much safer than alcohol or tobacco. If we are ever to get it de-scheduled by the Feds the states have to demonstrate that, when legalized, crime and addiction and violence and DUI do not increase. California's economy is the 6th largest in the world and making cannabis legal will give both our country and the world the necessary push to recognizing cannabis as a safe recreational substance and as an incredibly valuable medical tool. And I'm a medical patient with advanced prostate cancer who uses it for both medical and recreational purposes. This is all just IMHO.
 

turk

turk
I think the nay-sayers are sticking their heads in the sand. AUMA is legalization of production, distribution and consumption of cannabis and cannabis products. Yes, there are a number of sticking points that need to be ironed out, but those who want to only vote for perfection for cannabis consumers, like the inititative CCHI, are just "pipe-dreamers." I agree that MCLR was shorter and more balanced, but it didn't qualify for the ballot. Legalization was voted down in 2010 in Ca, and now 6 years later we have a chance to pass an initiative which, while far from perfect, gets us on the right path to full legalization. Social conservatives and law enforcement need to see for themselves that cannabis is a safe substance, much safer than alcohol or tobacco. If we are ever to get it de-scheduled by the Feds the states have to demonstrate that, when legalized, crime and addiction and violence and DUI do not increase. California's economy is the 6th largest in the world and making cannabis legal will give both our country and the world the necessary push to recognizing cannabis as a safe recreational substance and as an incredibly valuable medical tool. And I'm a medical patient with advanced prostate cancer who uses it for both medical and recreational purposes. This is all just IMHO.

.....agree with everything you said...the problem is ...are we just putting lipstick on a pig...with this model..deck looks stacked...table slanted...dice loaded ..
 
turk,

KimDracula

Well-Known Member
I think it's a mistake to hold out for what we in the cannabis community think is perfect. There is always going to be a reason to oppose legalization because we would prefer very little regulation as we know how benign cannabis is even at its worst. There seems to be a lot of inchoate paranoia out there regarding corporations, big pharma, and what bad stuff could happen if we legalize. Bad stuff can happen and changes made to the status quo if we do nothing as well. We have a precarious de-facto extralegal medical system in CA that works for now in some places for some people. It's time to go all the way.

To those who are worried about the AUMA or oppose it, can you be specific about your concerns? What provisions do you oppose, why, and what do you think would be appropriate? I don't see what's scary here.
 

j-bug

Well-Known Member
@KimDracula I've quoted the various comments in this thread that have expressed concrete concerns. Some of them also express concerns that aren't concrete but given how things have shaped up in Washington I think it's valid. I know if I had to pay Washington prices on edibles I'd never use them, but $10 for a 375mg thc edible with my tolerance lasts for quite a few doses under the WA model each does is 10mg thc and you can't have more than 10 doses in a pack and they usually cost more than $20. So in Washington I'd have to pay twice as much for less than a 1/3 of the medicine. Selling massive dose edible to a recreational market is something that should probably be regulated because some recreational user from out of state who is in their 50s and hasn't consumed cannabis in decades is gonna buy the $10 brownie and just eat it, maybe share it with a friend. And then is going to think he overdosed on cannabis and is going to freak out. Then folks are gonna regulate the size of doses when for some of us those mega dose edibles are a way that we can kinda afffordably handle our needs. Yeah California isn't washington, but you could argue our state and local legislatures are a lot worse at proactive legislation and whatever bill we get is the bill we are going to be stuck with for 4-6 years.


The act requires a 2/3 majority of the Legislature to revise many of the core provisions. That means we are likely stuck with crappy, hard-coded foolishness for a long, long time, including a tax regime that is worse than WA! It tries to make rules for everything (62 pages) but does it all badly. To say that it only has a few contradictions to be hashed out in the courts is to admit the thing is poorly thought out and overly ambitious.

Why? What is so urgent that we have to rush into this half-assed thing that hard codes all sorts of stupid, unscientific and even downright idiotic limits which require super-majorities to fix?

You can grow six plants but you're only allowed to possess one ounce! If that is not nonsense I don't know what is. Do you know anyone who is going to go to the trouble of growing but only grow 28 grams? OK, that's an ounce, turn off the lights! What, you'll trim each of your six plants to 1/6th oz? It positively invites disobedience. Did any of the people who wrote this monstrosity ever grow anything?

The limits, such as 1 ounce, appear in section 4. Therefore a 2/3 super-majority is required to change them. What you end up with is it would take another initiative to change the fundamental terms of this one.

The thing is you can have more than 1 ounce locked in a safe in your house, but you can't take it across town with you when you move. You have to transport it one ounce at a time, otherwise you can be prosecuted and imprisoned. I don't call that legalization. I call it another form of decriminalization of tiny amounts. The fine goes from $100 to zero for less than 1 ounce. Am I the only one who thinks it is stupid to say you can only have 1 ounce, but ok we'll let you have more if you secretly grow it yourself and never take it out of your house? Come on, this is mickey mouse stuff which people will start disobeying the moment it goes into effect. Where is the fairness: a guy with a medical card can grow 12 plants but everybody else can grow 6? Why? Truth is the whole plant number limit is unscientific and doesn't work as a way to control amounts grown. I can't understand why we would be thinking so small in California in this day and age.

The measure claims kids can easily obtain black market weed now, so this is necessary to eliminate the black market. But how could it, with 68% total tax on flowers? Far from eliminating the black market, this measure might well stimulate it. Most adults who know what's going on will bypass it by getting a medical card and there will be plenty who will resell medical at prices below recreational. This whole approach is a classic mistake.

I view the AUMA as a step backwards from where we are now. It is not a good model for national implementation either. It's a shitty compromise which still regards the plant as a kind of pariah, taxes the shit out it, and regulates and licenses it to death (with 62 pages of byzantine regulations which few voters will read), and which may have severe consequences for many small growers.

First off, I think you should know that the guy running the NORML blogs is a complete a-hole who send you nasty emails if you criticize the AUMA at all, and deletes any such posts instantly. That's not the NORML I joined in the 70's, and bodes ill for our union, so to speak.

But this illustrates the corporate takeover of the movement; bad "legalization" laws are a real problem, and certainly are nowdays more "over-regulation" than they are "legalization". In CA, the AUMA is a disaster. And, people are mistaken in the claims it will "let you grow your own", when it will really permit local governments to flat out ban outdoor grows, and will permit "reasonable regulation" of your indoor grow (and we all know what THAT will mean - besides, most folks cannot grow indoors for many reasons).

This thing is a huge conglomeration of give-aways of power to storefronts and big farms, as well as litigation-ready employment for cops and lawyers. We can't let the crappy be the enemy of the decent law we know is out there.

The trick seems to be convincing some moneybag like Parker to back something worthwhile, and to convince the "pro pot lobby" to demonstrate a modicum of selectivity with their endorsements. The incremental "is it ANY better than what we have now?" (somewhat subjective, I might add) is threadbare at best, and probably harmful.

We are not beggars. Demographics are shifting fast. We don't need to settle for a crap sandwich.

http://californiacann.org/comp...

http://www.mikedonaldsonlaw.co...

https://www.google.com/url?sa=......

http://reformca.org/.../dear-s...

http://www.thedailychronic.net/2016/52452/marijuana-legalization-2016-is-it-better-than-prohibition/

The way the bill is currently I'm worried that if it passes that things will get worse rather than better for some/many patients. I'm worried that the ailments of some patients will come under more scrutiny when there's a monetary incentive for the state to have more recreational(higher tax paying/tax paying) and less medical(low/no taxes) use. If recreational was taxed with just whatever the sales tax is wherever it is being sold that would be fine, but having absurd taxes on it will just mean only out of state users will ever buy recreational and locals will either get a med card or get their stuff from a med card holding friend. I haven't had time to read all of the bill yet but based on the summary I may be voting no in November having seen what Washington patients have gone through. I'm also concerned that the variety of concentrates and medibles and whatnot on the market will decrease or that prices will increase as less people in the industry are interested in helping people and more become interested in nothing but profit.

Another article on AUMA. Looks like there are some questions about where the money will go. It appears this subject will be a battleground between giant pharma corps and the rest of us. I'd vote no if I was still a California resident(left in 1972). Initiatives created by the big guys are always questionable.

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/36746-monsanto-bayer-and-the-push-for-corporate-cannabis
 

KimDracula

Well-Known Member
So it seems to boil down to these concerns: the taxes and the limits on medicine and grows. Those seem to be the most concrete issues.
 
KimDracula,

syrupy

Authorized Buyer
There's a few other points of concern:

CONSUMPTION: The initiative makes it lawful to smoke or ingest marijuana, but forbids consumption in any public place except for licensed dispensaries when authorized by local governments. “Public place” is commonly construed broadly to include any business or property that is open to the public. This will greatly reduce the locations where medical patients can inhale their medicine, as they can presently consume legally in streets and public areas where smoking is permitted.

VAPORIZERS RESTRICTED: The use of cannabis vaporizers and e-cigs is prohibited except in tobacco smoking areas (11362.3(c)), despite compelling scientific evidence that smokeless electronic vaporizers pose no public health hazard.

USE IN VEHICLES: Consumption or possession of an “open container” of marijuana or marijuana products is prohibited while driving or riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle, aircraft, vessel, or other transportation vehicle. It is not clear what constitutes an “open container” of marijuana, for example, in the case of edibles or e-cigs.

DRIVING WITH MARIJUANA: Sec. 11362.1 states that it is lawful for adults to transport marijuana. However, AUMA leaves standing a contrary existing law (VC 23222(b)) that makes it illegal to drive in possession of marijuana. Thus drivers could still be liable for arrest for transporting legally obtained marijuana in their car even if it was in a sealed container.

MINORS MAY BE SNITCHES: As in the alcohol industry, minors may be employed as peace officers to try to entrap marijuana dealers into illegal sales. (26140)

INSPECTIONS – The board and other law enforcement officers may inspect any place where marijuana is sold, cultivated, stored to assure taxes are collected. (34016).
 

CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
The cannabis that is sold maybe in prepackaged amount and sealed? In WA state the cannabis needs to be in the trunk or in the furthest area away from the front seat if you don't have a trunk. They will have to include in their law how a person would take their purchase home.

Edit
In WA state a single dose of cannabis for edibilble are 10 mg THC for edibles. So a regular user of cannabis would need several doses. Our edibles have doubled in price. For 100mg which is 10 doses the product Nasty Jacks went from $15 to $30 for a package of candy with our new medical cannabis system. Good thing I bought several packages before July 1. Our edibles now are too expensive for the medical patient.

I Just checked and good top shelf cannabis in the recreational stores are $14 a gram average. I had been paying $10 - $12 at the dispensaries bedore they closed. At some cannabis stores there is no discount for buying a whole ounce or a half. It's all $14 a gram which is pushing us back into the black market.

So a word to the wise be careful about your lawmakers attaching too high of taxes with your cannabis and cannabis products.
 
Last edited:

syrupy

Authorized Buyer
If CalNorml is correct, even if it's sealed and unopened, there's a contradiction in CA law that could allow law enforcement to play it either way. It will certainly have to be addressed. Guess it will be a plus for delivery services?

Speaking of packaging, one thing I do like about AUMA is its intent to standardarize packaging and dosages of edibles, as well as requiring they be sold in child-proof containers.
 
syrupy,

j-bug

Well-Known Member
If CalNorml is correct, even if it's sealed and unopened, there's a contradiction in CA law that could allow law enforcement to play it either way. It will certainly have to be addressed. Guess it will be a plus for delivery services?

Speaking of packaging, one thing I do like about AUMA is its intent to standardarize packaging and dosages of edibles, as well as requiring they be sold in child-proof containers.
Childproof packages will make it even harder for this patient to get medicine at times. Also any increase of regulation in edibles other than labeling requirements is gonna make the cost per mg thc skyrocket. Not just from taxes but from regulatory pressure.
 
j-bug,
  • Like
Reactions: syrupy

syrupy

Authorized Buyer
Childproof packages will make it even harder for this patient to get medicine at times. Also any increase of regulation in edibles other than labeling requirements is gonna make the cost per mg thc skyrocket. Not just from taxes but from regulatory pressure.

I hear you, good points. But I think things like childproof packaging are what make this law more likely to pass. Politically, it's a bonus to have "child protection" given consideration. Also agree there would be lots of regulation that is costly, but I'd look forward to actual certification of things like organically-grown, pesticide-free, and peanut-free.

My hope is if cannabis became more widespread, the prices would eventually go down from where they are now. MMJ patients need their medicine, but if prices rise, will rec. users jump on board as quickly? It would be interesting to see what added competition would do to prices.
 
syrupy,

CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
If it's too costly for the average person or for a cannabis patient what is the point of having edibles, if only the folks with lots of money can afford to buy them.

The voters in California need to be diligent and make sure the law makers are accountable and do what the voters want. In WA state the lawmakers didn't listen to the cannabis patients. I'm really not sure if the folks on the state cannabis and liquor board know what they are doing.

At this point WA doesn't have a medical cannabis program it's mostly recreational. Folks can't get the CBD products that they want and need. It's too expensive to pursue medical cannabis because of all the regulations. It makes it too costly for the farmers. This has left the sick without any place to go.

WA state have let the patients down over the money that they can get from the taxes. I hope CA won't end up with the same problems that we have here in WA state.
 
Last edited:

CarolKing

Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
I hate to sound like a broken record but we were told also here in WA state that the recreational cannabis law wouldn't affect the medical cannabis. We were lied to by many. I wish you a better system than what we have. I'm afraid some patients will have to travel to OR to get the CBD strains that they need. It's a crime by the lawmakers here. I'm so angry about the medical cannabis stores that have been busted over the last few weeks.

The folks at my cannabis market were told they had some time to sell off some of their medical and they were raided of cannabis, creams, edibles and cash. Technically the police have stolen from them. They will be going out of business. The state didn't give them a lisence thanks to our fucked up system.
They have been medical advocates for 6 years. They also give away free cannabis and oil to patients.

Next it will be the illegal grows that will be busted. Some farmers will continue to grow even though it will be at a risk. Pass this at great scrutiny. Make sure the cannabis patients are well protected.

Between this and Donald Trump I'm so pissed.

It takes so long once something is passed and put into practice when it comes to cannabis. All the hoops to jump through and all the regulations. Everybody will have their hands out wanting their part of the tax revenue.

Make sure they allow enough cannabis to be grown and enough stores throughout the state that will be able to sell. Some areas of WA state won't even allow cannabis to be sold even though the voters voted for legal. What are the sick suppose to do?
 
Last edited:
CarolKing,
Top Bottom