Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/937416
O n November 8, 2016, 57% of California voters said "YES" to Prop 64: e Adult Use of Recreational Marijuana (AUMA). As each of the 400 cities implement the many aspects of this complicated Prop, their individual poli- cies, city ordinances, and taxes, months may go by before the con- fusion settles. Some cities are "live" while others are "opting out" altogether, or will "jump in" when they see how it's playing out in other cities. I interviewed the co-author of Prop 64, Lynne Lyman; the L.A. Pot Czar, Cat Packer; a number of o cials, advisors, and other cannabis in- dustry members as well as Zachary Leary. Overwhelmingly, they shared the same sentiment in the fact that all eyes are on California. Every day they are working ercely to get it right. California is moving from 20 years of non-regulated medical marijua- na use, which caused many problems, to a regulated, adult recreational system. ey advise us to be patient, mindful, responsible, and safe. And to always consider not only ourselves, but those around us. "We've spent billions of dollars incarcerating for a substance that now under California law is not a drug. Prohibition didn't work. It hasn't curbed the availability or consumption of cannabis. Now we will incor- porate best practices from other states that already legalized marijuana use and adhere to carefully vetted recommendations," said Cat Packer, Executive Director (aka "Pot Czar") of the newly established Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation. " ere are so many policy decisions touching so many aspects of our lives from public safety, to health, housing, employment, the environ- ment, nancial reparations, generating tax revenue, and lowering law enforcement costs," she stated. "It's extremely signi cant in L.A. as we're the largest city to legalize." Former CA Director of Drug Policy Alliance Lynne Lyman is the co-author of Prop 64. A graduate of Harvard and erce advocate of civil rights, Lyman has been called one of the most powerful woman in the "Weed Industry." So much misinformation is circling regarding the actual implementa- tion of Prop 64, I asked Lynne to clarify a few points that people seem to have incorrect. "We were glad that Colorado and Washington went rst in 2012. We really learned from both states and that informed what we put into this initiative. DPA was part of both teams. With California, we decid- ed to make this the most progressive and far-reaching law of legaliza- tion in history. It's now the most progressive law on the books to date," she explained. " is is a much-needed regulatory law. For 20 years we had medical marijuana legal but not regulated. Many problems were caused, and when implemented, this law will serve as restoration and reparation in the criminal justice re-sentencing reform, environment, communities of color, drug education, and long overdue research in the healing prop- erties. In California this law creates a regulatory system for the com- mercial distribution, cultivation, manufacturing, and sale of cannabis," Lyman said. But what were the "imperatives" for children, in addition to the far-reaching and much-needed reparations? "Children under 18 years will never go to jail for a marijuana o ense in California. To be clear, this law does not legalize use for minors. If a minor is engaging in any marijuana activity that's prohibited, the punish- ment can be no greater than an infraction with no nancial ne attached," she explained. " is would be served through community service, drug education, and counseling if needed." "At age 18," she continued, "their record will be sealed. is is huge. We put in another layer of protection for medical marijuana patients who are parents. CPS cannot take their child or limit their contact with the child if the parent has a legitimate, current medical card." Lyman further clari ed a few myths: 1. Consuming cannabis is more restricted than the laws of smoking. For example, it's not allowed in public places. 2. In studies from places where cannabis is legal, youth consump- tion does not go up, while the number of senior citizens does. Also, the spending for prescription drugs in senior citizens goes way down. 3. Revenue from taxes will go to marijuana research on health ben- e ts, and to the UC systems to study the legalization e ect on aspects of medical, social, and economic impact on society. 4. Money will be available for drug prevention, re-entry, and family reuni cation programs. is bill is far-reaching – progressive, inclusive, and powerful. "Whether you are for or against using cannabis, this bill is about civil rights," Lyman explained. "It's about xing a broken system we know doesn't work. e reparative justice aspect is for the harms of the past. Whether drugs are "good or bad" is a judgement society makes. We've come a long way as a society in our consciousness and our learning as a culture. Five years ago, most people didn't even know the expression 'criminal justice reform.' What hasn't caught up yet is a real change in our laws," said Lyman. "We need a whole transformation from the bottom to the top of the A color, drug education, and long overdue research in the healing prop- erties. In California this law creates a regulatory system for the com- mercial distribution, cultivation, manufacturing, and sale of cannabis," Lyman said. But what were the "imperatives" for children, in addition to the far-reaching and much-needed reparations? "Children under 18 years will never go to jail for a marijuana o ense in California. To be clear, this law does not legalize use for minors. If a minor is engaging in any marijuana activity that's prohibited, the punish- ment can be no greater than an infraction with no nancial ne attached," she explained. " is would be served through community service, drug education, and counseling if needed." the criminal justice re-sentencing reform, environment, communities of color, drug education, and long overdue research in the healing prop- erties. In California this law creates a regulatory system for the com- mercial distribution, cultivation, manufacturing, and sale of cannabis," the criminal justice re-sentencing reform, environment, communities of color, drug education, and long overdue research in the healing prop- the criminal justice re-sentencing reform, environment, communities of color, drug education, and long overdue research in the healing prop- erties. In California this law creates a regulatory system for the com- mercial distribution, cultivation, manufacturing, and sale of cannabis," on rnia! By Sunny Chayes The Most Progressive Legalization in U.S. History CANNABIS: Eyes when implemented, this law will serve as restoration and reparation in the criminal justice re-sentencing reform, environment, communities of when implemented, this law will serve as restoration and reparation in rnia! The Most Progressive Legalization in U.S. History The Most Progressive Legalization in U.S. History rnia! The Most Progressive Legalization in U.S. History rnia! rnia! 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The Most Progressive Legalization in U.S. History The Most Progressive Legalization in U.S. History The Most Progressive Legalization in U.S. History The Most Progressive Legalization in U.S. History rnia! The Most Progressive Legalization in U.S. History The Most Progressive Legalization in U.S. History CANNABIS: yes on yes on rnia! yes rnia! on rnia! on yes on rnia! on yes yes rnia! rnia! rnia! rnia! yes yes yes on yes on on yes on rnia! yes rnia! rnia! yes rnia! rnia! yes rnia! rnia! yes rnia! on rnia! on yes on rnia! on on rnia! on yes on rnia! on yes yes yes yes this initiative. DPA was part of both teams. With California, we decid- ed to make this the most progressive and far-reaching law of legaliza- tion in history. It's now the most progressive law on the books to date," " is is a much-needed regulatory law. For 20 years we had medical marijuana legal but not regulated. Many problems were caused, and is bill is far-reaching – progressive, inclusive, and powerful. "Whether you are for or against using cannabis, this bill is about civil rights," Lyman explained. "It's about xing a broken system we know doesn't work. e reparative justice aspect is for the harms of the past. Whether drugs are "good or bad" is a judgement society makes. We've come a long way as a society in our consciousness and our learning as a culture. Five years ago, most people didn't even know the expression 'criminal justice reform.' What hasn't caught up yet is a real change in our laws," said Lyman. "We need a whole transformation from the bottom to the top of the What hasn't caught up yet is a real change in our laws," said Lyman. "We need a whole transformation from the bottom to the top of the " is is a much-needed regulatory law. For 20 years we had medical marijuana legal but not regulated. Many problems were caused, and under California law is not a drug. Prohibition didn't work. It hasn't curbed the availability or consumption of cannabis. Now we will incor- porate best practices from other states that already legalized marijuana use and adhere to carefully vetted recommendations," said Cat Packer, Executive Director (aka "Pot Czar") of the newly established Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation. " ere are so many policy decisions touching so many aspects of our lives from public safety, to health, housing, employment, the environ- ment, nancial reparations, generating tax revenue, and lowering law rnia! rnia! rnia! rnia! yes yes yes yes rnia! yes Calif O cies, city ordinances, and taxes, months may go by before the con- O Calif Calif A yes yes yes A rnia! rnia! rnia! yes rnia! O to Prop 64: e (AUMA). As each of the 400 cities implement the many aspects of this complicated Prop, their individual poli- cies, city ordinances, and taxes, months may go by before the con- fusion settles. Some cities are "live" while others are "opting out" altogether, or will "jump in" when they see how it's playing out in O to Prop 64: e yes on yes on rnia! yes rnia! yes yes yes rnia! yes rnia! yes rnia! yes rnia! yes A yes yes yes yes yes A yes yes yes A yes yes yes yes A A A Calif Calif Calif November 8, 2016, 57% of California voters said "YES" Adult Use of Recreational Marijuana (AUMA). As each of the 400 cities implement the many aspects of this complicated Prop, their individual poli- cies, city ordinances, and taxes, months may go by before the con- fusion settles. Some cities are "live" while others are "opting out" altogether, or will "jump in" when they see how it's playing out in I interviewed the co-author of Prop 64, Lynne Lyman; the L.A. Pot Czar, Cat Packer; a number of o cials, advisors, and other cannabis in- November 8, 2016, 57% of California voters said "YES" CANNABIS: November 8, 2016, 57% of California voters said "YES" to Prop 64: e Adult Use of Recreational Marijuana (AUMA). As each of the 400 cities implement the many aspects of this complicated Prop, their individual poli- cies, city ordinances, and taxes, months may go by before the con- fusion settles. Some cities are "live" while others are "opting out" By Sunny Chayes By Sunny Chayes rnia! rnia! CANNABIS: rnia! yes rnia! rnia! yes rnia! yes rnia! yes rnia! yes rnia! yes rnia! yes rnia! yes rnia! Calif Calif Calif Calif Calif Calif O n November 8, 2016, 57% of California voters said "YES" to Prop 64: e By Sunny Chayes Calif Calif Calif Calif Calif rnia! Eyes yes yes yes yes By Sunny Chayes Calif Calif Calif Calif Calif Calif Calif Calif Calif By Sunny Chayes Calif Calif Calif Calif E Calif 22 wholelifetimes.com