SACRAMENTO >> Senator Mike McGuire’s bid to enact an all-encompassing regulatory framework for the medical marijuana industry gathered significant momentum on Wednesday when it passed its second committee in as many weeks.
It has been nearly 20 years since the voters of California passed Prop 215 legalizing medicinal marijuana, yet there is still very little regulation of the industry. Senator McGuire’s bill, SB 643 — the Medical Marijuana Public Safety and Environmental Protection Act — seeks to reconcile that lack of oversight.
SB 643 provides a regulatory framework for the industry covering the issues of environmental protection and water regulations, law enforcement, licensing, public health related to edibles and product testing, to marketing, taxing, transporting, zoning, local control and re-sale. The bill focuses on Medical Marijuana. It does not take a stand related to recreational use.
“Since voters of California passed Prop 215 in 1996, medical marijuana cultivation and consumption has exploded, both in California and around the country. Aside from local zoning regulations, this legal, multi-billion dollar industry is completely unregulated. And unfortunately, the North Coast has seen first-hand the environmental devastation that illegal, rogue grows have had on our communities, rivers and forests,” McGuire said.
Without regulation, illegal diversions are sucking water from fragile watersheds and the added impact of the state’s fourth drought year means entire rivers and streams are running dry, according to widely publicized reports. Rogue operators have cut down thousands of acres of Northern California forests illegally without regard for the environment, neighboring landowners, downstream farms, or endangered species.
In addition, tens of thousands of pounds of illegal pesticides, rodenticides and fertilizers have been dumped into watersheds that flow through Northern California communities.
“We are well aware of all the regulations and permits that farmers and ranchers have to go through when growing wine grapes, row crops or raising dairy cattle. But, right now there is no regulation or permits for marijuana farmers, and its putting Northern California residents and our pristine environment at risk,” McGuire said. “Of particular concern is the devastation of our watersheds, forest lands and the growing ‘edibles’ market that is estimated to take up to 30 percent of the current medical marijuana market.”
On the North Coast, many of the medical marijuana growers are running small family farm operations. SB 643 would provide a legal framework for those farmers who want to comply with state and local regulations.
SB 643 would create a statewide comprehensive regulatory program for medical marijuana, preserving local control of licenses and applications, and protecting the environment from illegal trespass grows that dump pesticides and illegally divert millions of gallons of water from rivers and streams.
Last week, the bill passed Senate Business and Professions Committee. After approval by the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on Wednesday, SB 643 will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
