Cannabis Sanctuary Bill Passes California Assembly

The state Assembly approved a bill on June 1 which would block state and local law enforcement officers from assisting federal drug agents in cracking down on cannabis. Since about 92 percent of drug enforcement is done at the state and local level, the sanctuary state bill would have a significant impact on the federal government’s ability to crack down on cannabis in California.

Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer’s Assembly Bill 1578 prevents resources from being used to shut down legal cannabis operations in California. The bill inched past the Assembly Bill 41-32 vote late Thursday night.

Jones-Sawyer believes time and money would be wasted to undo what the majority of California voters approved in November. “AB-1578 ensures that our limited local and state resources are not spent on federal marijuana enforcement against individuals and entities that are in compliance with our laws,” Jones-Sawyer said on the Assembly floor.

The state will begin licensing cultivators, distributors and retail locations in January, according to the rollout plan. But federal law enforcement could have a different plan. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ambiguously hinted at a forthcoming drug crackdown multiple times.  Assemblyman Rob Bonta, who co-authored the bill, said he wants to recreational cannabis business applicants to be able to operate without living in constant fear.

The bill shares similarities with the sanctuary state bill that would block local law enforcement from assisting in federal immigration raids on undocumented citizens. Assemblyman Travis Allen representing Huntington Beach, and other Republicans, were not pleased with the bill proposal. “This is insanity,” Allen quipped. “This is a complete violation of federal law. The hubris of California Democrats believing they can flout federal law on immigration and drug policy is beyond words.”

Such a law would have an impact on the nature of cannabis in California, however the protections that Californians have taken for granted, such as its 20-year-old medical cannabis industry, could be overturned in a relatively short period of time. The bill advanced to the Senate for consideration.