Legislators — under pressure from law enforcement groups who believe there is no such thing as medical marijuana — withdrew a bill this week that would have codified the rules of the road for medical cannabis collectives in California. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg’s SB 439 would have given the Califoria Attorney General's medical pot guidelines the force of law. Currently, the guidelines are not legally binding, meaning certain law enforcement agencies and medical pot groups just ignore them entirely.

David Downs

Medical marijuana regulations stymied by police groups who want to repeal Prop 215

According to California legislative records, the bill was withdrawn on Wednesday.

"The bill faced tough opposition from law enforcement lobbyists before a key committee hearing this week," said Don Duncan with advocacy group Americans for Safe Access. “I was really disappointed by that,” he said.

“Law enforcement keeps saying they want to see this regulated,” Duncan said, and Steinberg's bill was a “baby step” in that direction. “Even that much was too far.”

“They just don't want anything that could be seen as legitimizing or institutionalizing medical cannabis,” he said.

The California Narcotic Officers' Association — fronted by Sacramento lobbyist John Lovell — has maintained since 1996 that cannabis is not medicine. Three our of four doctors disagree with the paid narcs, the New England Journal of Medicine reports.

"The California Narcotic Officers' Association opposes this bill stating there is a reason that over 200 cities have taken action to impose outright bans on marijuana dispensaries — they create significant public safety and quality of life problems in communities," the CNOA stated in opposition to the bill.

Numerous studies show that well-regulated dispensaries are an asset to public safety. Oakland's Harborside Health Center, which sees 700 to 1,000 patients a day, was the site of just one arrest in almost four years — and that involved a non-patient who tried to get into the club.

The death of SB 439 means the end of any further California medical marijuana legislation in the 2013 session.

And just for the record, listed below are the groups who oppose clear rules of the road for California medical marijuana. Coincidentally they're also the same groups that criticize the lack of regulations.

Patrick J. Kennedy, Member of Congress, Retired

Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs

Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs

California Fraternal Order of Police

California Narcotic Officers' Association

California Peace Officers Association

California Police Chiefs Association

California State Sheriffs' Association

City of Adelanto

City of Bakersfield

City of Clayton

City of Glendora

City of Highland

City of Ontario

City of Rancho Cucamonga

City of Rancho Mirage

City of South San Francisco

City of Upland

Inglewood Police Department

International Faith Based Coalition

Kevin A. Sabet, Drug Policy Advisor, Administration of President Barak Obama, Retired

League of California Cities

Long Beach Police Officers Association

Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office

Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association

Los Angeles Police Protective League

Riverside Sheriffs Association

Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs Association

Santa Ana Police Officers Association

Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office



Legalizers looking to the 2016 election, these are the groups who will kill your initiative, so you better be prepared.

Endnote:

There are two more important votes coming between now and the end of the legislative session on September 13:

- AB 787 will protect foster parents who legally use medical cannabis. That bill will be before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday.

- SB 283 would lift the food stamp ban on people convicted of medical cannabis crimes. That bill is currently in the Assembly Appropriations Committee “suspense” file, meaning it has not yet been approved by the committee.