Today AB 21 was signed by the governor.  The March 1st deadline that was mistakenly included in the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act has been removed 26 days before it would have gone into effect.

"Now that we have given local officials the time to take a thoughtful approach to regulating medical marijuana, I hope they will maximize that time by engaging with the public and having thorough discussions," said Assemblyman Wood.  "In 1996 the people of California voted to have a medical marijuana industry, but, frankly, state representatives dropped the ball.  Years of apathy led to black markets, unsafe neighborhoods, environmental damage, and a culture of criminality.  The historic regulations we passed last year put us on the path to fixing that and pushing the medical marijuana industry into the light. But to succeed, we need our local elected officials—both those who voted for outright bans because of deadline pressure, and those who are just now looking at the issue—to deliver solid policies that make sense for their communities."

With the signing of AB 21 the March 1st deadline is repealed effective immediately.  Cities and counties will now be able to develop their own rules and regulations for the medical marijuana industry indefinitely.  The State Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation is scheduled to come on-line January 1st 2018.

(Sacramento) – Emergency legislation by Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) to repeal the March 1st deadline included in last year’s Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act was passed unanimously (65-0) by the State Assembly. AB 21 removes the March 1st deadline ensuring local jurisdictions maintain the authority to develop their own rules and regulations for cultivating medical cannabis indefinitely. “I am not advocating for or against a particular position on medical cannabis,” said Assemblyman Wood. “I am advocating for local elected officials take the time to engage in a process that results good public policy, not knee jerk reactions.” AB 21 is now on the Governor’s desk for signature. Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

Today Governor Jerry Brown Addressed Californian’s from the Capitol in his record 14th State of the State Address this morning. In response to the Governor’s address, North Coast Assemblyman Jim Wood had this to say.

“The Governor is, right we have come a long way, but there is still a lot to do.

We are experiencing a healthcare crisis in our rural communities.  In most small towns across California residents have to drive hours in each direction to get the medical attention they need.  We must develop a strategy to convince more healthcare providers to set up shop and stay in our small towns.

Sacramento Today – AB 21, the bill that would remove the March 1 deadline included in last year’s Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA), was unanimously passed by the Senate Health Committee today.

Assemblyman Wood said, “I made a commitment to do everything I can to give local lawmakers the time they need.  We have been working hard to move this as quickly as possible.  I am hopeful that given our success today we can have this on the Governor’s desk by the end of the month.”

Sacramento, CA – Assemblymember Jim Wood and Senator Mike McGuire, authors of the recently signed Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, will host a Forum to provide residents with an opportunity to hear how the new statewide regulations and license program will roll out over the next two years and how those new statewide rules will  interact with the proposed Medical Marijuana ordinance being discussed in Humboldt County.

Representatives from state agencies tasked with writing and carrying out the rules and regulations will be on hand at the Forum along with County of Humboldt department heads who are point on the proposed local ordinance.

Sacramento - Today AB 21, Assemblyman Wood's bill to remove the March 1 deadline from last year's Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA), was unanimously passed by the Senate Government and Finance Committee.

Assemblyman Wood said, "Nobody intended to give local lawmakers such a short timeline to develop regulations for an industry as complex as medical cannabis."

Sacramento - Assemblyman Jim Wood’s Broadband Map Act, AB 1549, passed its first major hurdle in the Assembly Transportation Committee today.  There to testify on behalf of the bill was California Center for Rural Policy Executive Director, Connie Stewart.

Assemblyman Wood said, “In 2016 there are still too many Californians that do not have access to high speed internet, or reliable telecommunications.  As Chair of the Select Committee on the Digital Divide in Rural California it is my intention to do everything possible to ensure our rural communities have access to a dependable digital infrastructure.”