AB 390

AB 390

California Assembly Bill 390, known as the Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act is the first bill ever introduced to legalize the sale and use of marijuana in California. If passed, and signed into law, marijuana would be sold and taxed openly to adults age 21 and older in the state of California. It has gained much media attention, state wide and nationally.

Tom Ammiano, introducer of this piece of legalization, says the bill will “tax and regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol”.

About Taxing as introduced, this proposal is estimated to raise over $1 billion in annual revenue by taxing the retail production and sale of marijuana for adults 21 years of age and older. To obtain a commercial grow license one would pay an initial $5,000 fee, then a $2,500 fee each year after that. A tariff of $50 an Ounce would also be placed on all sold and grown marijuana. 

Marijuana is California’s number one cash crop. In California, marijuana is a $14.8-billion industry, putting it above vegetables ($5.7 billion) and grapes ($2.6 billion).

Aaron Smith, policy director of Marijuana Policy Project California, said “It is simply nonsensical that California’s largest agricultural industry is completely unregulated and untaxed,” “With our state in an ongoing fiscal crisis — and no one believes the new budget is the end of California’s financial woes — it’s time to bring this major piece of our economy into the light of day.”

Tom Ammiano also asserts “with the state in the midst of an historic economic crisis, the move towards regulating and taxing marijuana is simply common sense. This legislation would generate much needed revenue for the state, restrict access to only those over 21, end the environmental damage to our public lands from illicit crops, and improve public safety by redirecting law enforcement efforts to more serious crimes”, said Ammiano. “California has the opportunity to be the first state in the nation to enact a smart, responsible public policy for the control and regulation of marijuana.”

The Bill also raises aim to fund and to discourage substance abuse. Portions of the tax proceeds from the sale of marijuana will support drug education and awareness.

Voting should be some time around may but we should hear something before then about this bill.

Recent News

Tuesday’s (March 31’st) scheduled hearing before the Public Safety Committee on Assembly Bill 390: The Marijuana Control, Regulation and Education Act, has been postponed. However, this is a good news! Members of the Committee on Public Safety and Health were anticipated to vote on AB 390 immediately following next week’s hearing. While it is impossible to know how the Committee would have voted, all early indications were that several powerful members of the Committee were expected to oppose the bill. We now have additional time to lobby the Public Safety Committee and the Assembly to support AB 390, which you can do here and here.

Some Media Coverage

Links

• AB 390 To Be Voted On This March!
  

• U.S. Attorney General Says Justice Department Will No Longer Interfere With States’ Medical Pot Policies

• Contact Your Officials And Tell Them Yes On AB 390!

• AB 390 Bill PDF Version