The attorney general of California is marking the 25th anniversary of the state\u2019s first-in-the-nation medical marijuana program and touting the cannabis market that\u2019s since emerged as \u201cnumber one in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
At a conference hosted by California NORML celebrating the progress since Proposition 215 passed in 1996, Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) recognized advocates for helping to shape \u201ca national discussion on cannabis policy\u2026that I\u2019m sure will one day lead to safe and regulated legalization at the federal level.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEach day we continue to make history,\u201d he said in a video message that played at the start of the event<\/a>. \u201cCalifornia is the world\u2019s fifth-largest economy. We are number one in the nation for many things, like starting new businesses. We are number one in manufacturing, agriculture, entertainment, tourism, technology and college graduates. And we are also number one in the world for legal cannabis. Our state has the largest legal cannabis market in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhether it\u2019s medicinal or recreational adult use, a legal and regulated marketplace ensures the industry is successful, and it ensures product is safe and tested, and specifically when it comes to medicinal use,\u201d Bonta said. \u201cOur progressive policies recognize that this product is not only popular, it is vital for so many patients.\u201d<\/p>\n The attorney general also spoke about the long road to legalization amidst a nationwide drug war.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople of color were left bruised and beaten, thrown behind bars and torn away from their families and support network all for cannabis,\u201d Bonta, who sponsored legislation as a state assemblyman that was enacted in 2018 to require the sealing of cannabis convictions, said. \u201cEnough people have been arrested in our neighborhoods for cannabis. It\u2019s time we bring more investment into our neighborhoods.\u201d<\/p>\n However, the official argued that there\u2019s still work to be done, particularly when it comes to combatting illicit operations that undermine regulated businesses and preventing illegal grow operations that damage the environment.<\/p>\n The attorney general said \u201cillegal and unlicensed cannabis damages our environment, it hurts our economy and it\u2019s harmful to the health and safety of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe need smart regulation smart law enforcement, streamlined licensing systems and the removal of other barriers that keep cannabis unsafe and underground,\u201d the attorney general said. \u201cI believe the cannabis market can become fully legitimate and prosperous. I\u2019m optimistic because I\u2019ve seen the progress that can happen when everyone with a stake in the outcome comes to the table to figure out solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs we move the cannabis industry into the legal regulated marketplace, there is no excuse for the environmental devastation, economic impact and labor exploitation. We continue to see in the illegal and unlicensed grows. That\u2019s why our work continues. When we focus on solutions\u2014when we hear each other and respect the work of each stakeholder\u2014we can overcome the challenges and bring the industry into the light.\u201d<\/p>\n On a related note, California officials started accepting concept proposals last month<\/a> for a program aimed at helping small marijuana cultivators with environmental clean-up and restoration efforts.<\/p>\n Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) separately vetoed a bill last month<\/a> that would have allowed cannabis businesses to advertise on billboards along most highways in the state.<\/p>\n The governor also recently approved a bill to boost the state\u2019s hemp industry by legalizing retail sales of a wide range of consumable products derived from the plant\u2014including CBD-infused foods, beverages, cosmetics and dietary supplements<\/a>. It will also eventually allow the sales of smokable hemp products in the state.<\/p>\n In September, Newsom signed separate legislation to\u00a0require hospitals to permit medical marijuana use<\/a>\u00a0by certain patients in their facilities.<\/p>\n California officials are also making millions of dollars available for\u00a0grants programs to support marijuana social equity initiatives<\/a>\u00a0and assist localities in processing pending cannabis business license applications.<\/p>\n Next year\u2019s California State Fair will host a first-of-its-kind,\u00a0state-sanctioned cannabis competition<\/a>.<\/p>\n Republican-Led Bill To Legalize And Tax Marijuana Emerges As Alternative To Democratic Measures<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Photo courtesy of WeedPornDaily<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The post California Attorney General Says State\u2019s Marijuana Market Is \u2018Number One In The World,\u2019 But There\u2019s Work Still To Be Done<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The attorney general of California is marking the 25th anniversary of the state\u2019s first-in-the-nation medical marijuana program and touting the cannabis market that\u2019s since emerged as \u201cnumber one in the world.\u201d At a conference hosted by California NORML celebrating the progress since Proposition 215 passed in 1996, Attorney General RobContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":458,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81,126],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50989"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/458"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50989"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50989\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50990,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50989\/revisions\/50990"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50989"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50989"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50989"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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\nRead More: California Attorney General Says State\u2019s Marijuana Market Is \u2018Number One In The World,\u2019 But There\u2019s Work Still To Be Done<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"