Truly Progressive

Here are some of California’s most green-friendly politicians

For all of California’s cannabis law reformists, advocacy groups and activists, it is ultimately elected legislators who initiate and enact meaningful changes to the legal status of the plant here in the Golden State. With input from Kris Hermes, spokesperson for Americans for Safe Access, and Dale Gieringer, director of Cal NORML, CULTURE took a look at some of Cali’s most green-friendly politicians and what each has done to improve compassion.

Dana Rohrabacher

U.S. Representative, California’s 48th congressional district

In contrast to most of his Republican colleagues, Rohrabacher has been an outspoken critic of federal prohibition. A member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 1989 (previously for California’s 42nd, 45th and 46th districts), he currently represents a district that includes Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa.

“Rohrabacher has been the most vocal Republican critic of federal marijuana prohibition in the California Congressional delegation,” says Gieringer. “Last year, he sponsored an amendment to withhold funding from the Department of Justice for interfering in state medical marijuana laws.”

Tom Ammiano

California State Assembly, 13th district

San Francisco Democrat Ammiano introduced the Marijuana Control, Regulation and Education Act in 2009, in the midst of the California’s budget crisis.

“This legislation would generate much needed revenue for the state, restrict access to only those over 21, end the environmental damage to our public lands from illicit crops and improve public safety by redirecting law enforcement efforts to more serious crimes,” he said at the time. Though this first-ever bill fell short of passing the legislature, Ammiano appears undaunted.

“Tom has a long history of support for marijuana reform, and is working on a medical marijuana regulation bill in the current session,” Gieringer says.

Bob Filner

Mayor of San Diego                     

Democrat Filner was a staunch MMJ supporter while serving as the U.S. Representative for California’s 50th and 51st districts (1993–2012), but really stepped this up since becoming mayor of San Diego in December.

“As a Congressman, he posted a perfect pro-reform record on marijuana issues.” Gieringer says. “Since becoming mayor, Filner has reversed the city’s long-standing hostility to medical marijuana by supporting the establishment of regulated dispensaries.”

Mark Leno

California State Senate, 11th district

A former California Assembly member (2002–2008), Senate Democrat Leno helped create America’s first medical cannabis identification card program in San Francisco, which became a model for similar programs across California.

“Leno co-authored SB 420, the Medical Marijuana Program Act, which was passed in 2003,” Hermes says. “Since becoming a senator, Mr. Leno has spearheaded legislation to protect patients against employment discrimination and he has strongly supported efforts to regulate distribution.” At press time, Ammiano had introduced a new bill, AB 473, that would create state-level MMJ regulations.

Barbara Lee

U.S. Representative, California’s 13th congressional district

Lee, a Democratic Congresswoman representing East Bay, has consistently co-sponsored cannabis reform legislation.

“Rep. Lee endorsed Oakland’s path-breaking Measure Z ‘Tax and Regulate’ initiative in 2004, and has co-sponsored bills to end federal marijuana prohibition, medical and otherwise,” says Gieringer.

Last year, along with eight co-sponsors, she introduced H.B. 6335, the Medical Marijuana Property Rights Protection Act, which seeks to “exempt real property from civil forfeiture due to medical-marijuana-related conduct that is authorized by State law.”

Mike Honda

U.S. Representative, California’s 17th congressional district

Democrat Honda has represented a district which includes Santa Clara County and Silicon Valley in Congress since 2001. He co-sponsored (alongside Rohrabacher, Lee and North Coast Democrat Jared Huffman) perhaps the strongest federal marijuana reform bill to date, H.R. 499, the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2013.

“Both Mike Honda and Barbara Lee have been strong supporters of medical marijuana, co-sponsoring legislation, signing on to key letters to government officials and pushing back against federal attacks in California,” says Hermes.

Bill Rosendahl

Los Angeles City Council, 11th district

Diagnosed with cancer last July, Democrat L.A. City Councilman Rosendahl turned to medical marijuana for relief from crippling pain. Having already carried an MMJ card for a decade to treat neuropathy, in October Rosendahl successfully pleaded before the City Council to have its ban on marijuana dispensaries in the city repealed.

“Where does anybody go, even a councilman go, to get his medical marijuana?” he asked of his colleagues, according to the Los Angeles Times.