Rightful Representation

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]V[/dropcap]oters approved Proposition 64 in 2016 and legalized recreational cannabis in California, but currently, around 76 percent of the state’s cities, counties and towns implemented reactionary measures and banned cannabis retail business licenses. Over the past three years, the “banapalooza” trend spread like wildfire among small towns that rejected cannabis sales for adults. For a bill that was approved with 57.13 percent affirmative votes statewide, it’s not fair for local leaders to reject the will of the people.

Californians now call the areas covering counties and towns that implemented bans “cannabis deserts,” or places where residents have to drive long distances in order to find access to medical or recreational cannabis. This creates a problem for people with disabilities or those who are confined to their homes, such as people suffering from cancer or AIDS. It also creates a problem simply for residents who want to legally purchase cannabis within a reasonable distance from their home.

Assemblymembers Phil Ting and Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer Sr. recently introduced Assembly Bill 1356, which would increase cannabis accessibility in California cities and towns that approved recreational cannabis. The bill would require local jurisdictions in California that voted 50 percent or more on Prop. 64 to issue one cannabis retail license for every four onsite liquor consumption licenses, adhering to a 1:4 ratio.

One exception would include cities and areas where the number of retail cannabis licenses would exceed one per every 10,000 residents. In that case, the bill would require the minimum number of retail cannabis business licenses to be determined by dividing the number of residents in the local jurisdiction by 10,000 and rounding down to the nearest whole number. In addition, jurisdictions would still retain the ability to draft local bans to place on the ballots if they don’t agree with the 1:4 ratio scheme.

The bill is currently making its way through legislation. On April 8, AB-1356 was referred to the Committee on Business and Professions, and it was heard in the committee on April 23. Voters in Los Angeles County approved Proposition 64, along with neighbors in Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego Counties.

CULTURE reached out to Jones-Sawyer, who represents the 59th Assembly district in South Los Angeles. “When California voters supported Prop. 64 they made clear the importance of access to cannabis products,” Jones-Sawyer told CULTURE. “For many, including seniors, veterans, young people with childhood maladies and individuals with disabilities, cannabis serves an important medical purpose. Many cities and counties are currently not providing this access to their medically challenged constituents, even when a majority of their constituents voted for Prop. 64. Banning and limiting access to cannabis in these jurisdictions only fuels the illicit market in our state. I am proud to co-author AB-1356, a measure that will ensure local governments respect the will of the voters by increasing access to safe cannabis products from the legal cannabis market.”

“I am proud to co-author AB-1356, a measure that will ensure local governments respect the will of the voters by increasing access to safe cannabis products from the legal cannabis market.”

It’s important for city and county leaders to correctly reflect the will of their own residents when they supported Proposition 64 about three years ago. The lack of retail cannabis outlets may contribute to the reason that the majority of Californians still buy cannabis off of the black market. The bill now inches forward through several committee hearings. “It is my understanding that bill is in the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions and making its way through the legislative process,” Jones-Sawyer explained.