Medical Marijuana Update

California cultivation fights continue, it's nail-biting time for the Florida initiative, Colorado wants to tweak its system, a Pennsylvania bill appears stalled for now, and more. Let's get to it:

Last Friday, a Fresno County court again upheld the county's ban on medical marijuana cultivation. The ACLU of California had challenged the county ordinance banning grows and has now been shot down for a second time. Now, the group can either pursue other related actions or file an appeal in the Fifth District Court of Appeal. The county ordinance fines violators $1,000 per plant.

On Tuesday, the ACLU of California came out against Shasta County's proposed ordinance to ban outdoor marijuana cultivation and impose new restrictions on indoor grows. The ordinance is Measure A on the November ballot. The ACLU is the first statewide group to weigh in on the measure.

Colorado

Last Wednesday, a state legislative panel recommended tightening up on medical marijuana. The Marijuana Revenues Interim Committee recommended filing legislation that would tighten up the medical marijuana caregiver system and clarify that local governments can collect taxes on recreational marijuana. The bill would require all primary caregivers to register with the state. Officials fear that their inability to track caregiver grows under the present system is helping the black market. The bill would limit caregivers to six plants per patient and limit patients to one care giver. Medical marijuana supporters questioned why a committee charged with revenue issues was concerning itself with medical marijuana laws.

Florida

On Wednesday, a new SurveyUSA poll had support for the medical marijuana initiative at 51%. Because the initiative, Amendment 2, is in the form of a constitutional amendment, it needs 60% to pass. Consecutive SurveyUSA polls in the past month have showed support declining. In the last four weeks, support has dropped from 56% to 53% to 52% and now 51%. Some 15% were undecided. If the poll is correct, the undecided would have to break two-to-one in favor of the initiative for it to pass.

Pennsylvania

On Monday,officials announced that a medical marijuana pilot program was getting underway. Three children's hospitals and the Department of Health are doing a research study on the use of CBD cannabis oil in children. The project, announced in May, is now underway. A broader, but still restrictive, medical marijuana bill has passed the Senate and awaits a vote in the House.

On Tuesday, a pending medical marijuana bill got a House committee assignment. The bill, Senate Bill 1182, passed the Senate last month, but is being slowed down by Republicans in the House. It was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday, but Republican members said it would have to have at least two public hearings before going to a committee vote. With only four working days left in the legislative session, that isn't going to happen this year.

South Carolina

Last Thursday, a panel studying medical marijuana met. A joint legislative panel studying the uses of medical marijuana in the state met at the Medical University of South Carolina. It's the first of three meetings to be held around the state to gather information. The state last year approved a CBD cannabis oil bill; these meetings are designed to help lawmakers gather information and refine the state's marijuana and hemp laws.

For extensive information about the medical marijuana debate, presented in a neutral format, visit MedicalMarijuana.ProCon.org.].