DO’s and DON’TS of RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN CALIFORNIA

California Proposition 64 legalized recreational marijuana use.  We can finally buy weed and not blame it on “glaucoma”!

Although weed is legal, there are still Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to buying and smoking pot in California:

1. Consumers must be 21 years or older. Just like consuming alcohol, the minimum age is 21.
2. Consumers are limited. You may have legally one ounce of marijuana flower or 8 grams of marijuana concentrate. This is the legal limit in California… I dare you to smoke more!
3. California residents can grow up to 6 marijuana plants at home. The plants must be indoors or in enclosed structures.
4. Consumers can NOT use marijuana in public areas. They can be fined up to $100 for smoking marijuana in areas like parks or parking lots, or anywhere smoking is banned. If consumers DO smoke marijuana in non-smoking areas the fine increases to $250.
5. Driving while under the influence of weed is the same way as driving under the influence of alcohol. Police may determine if you are “high” and unfit to drive. This can result in DUI. Don’t drive, take our GreenTours bus instead.
6. Passengers in a vehicle cannot get high. Law enforcement is cracking down on consumption in moving vehicles. If a passenger smokes in a moving vehicle, both the passenger and driver may be eligible for DUI.
7. Lastly, it is also important to note that marijuana is still illegal federally. This basically means that you should not transport your weed across state lines.

With new freedoms come new regulations. Responsible use is expected. Visit us on the next tour to find out more. You can find me in the hot-box tent!

According to California NORML (whose mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to legalize the responsible use of marijuana by adults):

http://www.canorml.org/background/ca_legalization2.html

California NORML Report

by Dale Gieringer, Ph.D. – Updated October 2009

Marijuana Legalization Could Yield California Taxpayers Over $1.2 Billion Per Year

Additional Spinoff Benefits Up To $12 -$18 Billion

While California struggles to address the state’s swelling budget deficit, the legalization of marijuana looms as an attractive way of raising revenue for the state.

California NORML estimates that a legally regulated market for marijuana could yield the state at least $1.2 billion in tax revenues and reduced enforcement costs. A basic $50/ounce excise tax (roughly $1/joint) would yield about $770 – 900 million per year plus another $240-360 million in sales taxes. In addition, the state would save over $200 million in enforcement costs for arrests, prosecutions and prison. Additional benefits would accrue from increased employment and spinoff industries. Total retail sales of marijuana could be on the order of $3-$5 billion, with total economic impact of $12-$18 billion including spinoff industries such as coffeehouses, tourism, plus industrial hemp.

California NORML’s analysis of the benefits of marijuana legalization are as follows:

• An excise tax of $50 per ounce of marijuana would raise about $770 – 900 million per year.
• Retail sales on the legal market would range from $3 – $4.5 billion, generating another $240 – 360 million in sales taxes.
• Legalization would save over $200 million in law enforcement costs for arrest, prosecution, trial and imprisonment of marijuana offenders. Need for CAMP helicopter surveillance would also be eliminated.
• Based on experience with the cigarette tax, total revenues of $1.5 – $2.5 billion might ultiimately be realized.
• Based on experience with the wine industry, the total economic activity generated by legal marijuana could be nearly four times as great as retail sales, around $12 – $18 billion. Amsterdam-style coffeehouses would generate jobs and tourism. If the marijuana industry were just one-third the size of the wine industry, it would generate 50,000 jobs and $1.4 billion in wages, along with additional income and business tax revenues for the state.
• Industrial hemp could also become a major business, comparable to the $3.4 billion cotton industry in California.

As Noted on Post.Ca.Gov (Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training):

“On November 8, 2016, the majority of California voters passed Proposition 64 – The Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Prop 64). The proposition becomes law

immediately. California now joins several states including Washington, Oregon, and Colorado where the personal possession and use of marijuana is decriminalized. Prop 64 permits adults 21 years of age and over to possess and grow specified amounts of marijuana for recreational use. Prop 64 does not alter the Compassionate Use Act (Prop 215) or the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA).

Prop 64 added and amended sections to the Penal Code, Business and Professions Code, Health and Safety Code, and the Revenue and Taxation Code. These changes will have an impact on enforcement decisions by California peace officers and prosecutors. Possession of recreational marijuana will still be a crime if in violation of one of the newly added Health and Safety Code Sections, but the penalties have been reduced.

Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 11362.1(c), marijuana and its products involved in any way with conduct deemed lawful by this section are not contraband and not subject to seizure. Additionally, conduct deemed lawful by this section cannot constitute a basis for detention, search, or arrest.

Prop 64 does not amend code sections pertaining to the sale of marijuana to minors, the employment of minors to sell marijuana, or the illegal manufacture of concentrated cannabis. Additionally, Prop 64 does not amend Health and Safety Code Section 11470(f), relating to asset forfeiture in 11359 and 11360 cases.”

• (

https://www.post.ca.gov/proposition-64-the-control-regulate-and-tax-adult-use-of-marijuana-act.aspx)

As noted on Wikipedia:

• “According to

California Legislative Analyst’s Office

, the measure changes California law to legalize the possession, cultivation, and sale of marijuana. Individuals over age 21 are allowed to possess, cultivate and sell marijuana; the state regulates commercial activities related to commerce for recreational use; a 15% excise tax and an additional $9.25 per ounce of flower or $2.75 per ounce of leaf will be collected; and possession and cultivation of certain amounts for personal use is legalized statewide.

• The Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) (Proposition 64) provides an array of opportunities ranging from economic stimulation of several markets and industries to financial relief of the criminal justice system, which are over-burden with backlogged and pending cases for non-violent cannabis offenders.

^[

Under Prop 64, new state regulation laws will require stringent product development systems to establish distributional industry standards regarding testing, packaging and labeling.

Prop 64’s new state regulations provide a platform for a fully transparent, highly efficient seed-to-sale tracking system through the newly created State Regulatory Agency—the Bureau of Marijuana Control—formerly known as the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation.

• Additionally, the Medical Marijuana Industry will be regulated by several other state agencies: the

California Department of Food and Agriculture

•  (to license and regulate marijuana cultivation); the

California Department of Public Health

•  (to license and monitor manufacturing of marijuana edibles); the

California State Water Resources Control Board

•  (to “regulate the environmental impacts of marijuana growing on water quality”); the

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

•  (to regulate cultivation-related impacts on local environments); and the

California Department of Pesticide Regulation

 (to regulate nutrients and pesticides utilized for marijuana cultivation).

• AUMA allows adults to possess up to an ounce of marijuana. Adults are also allowed to cultivate up to six marijuana plants inside their homes. Marijuana packaging is now required to provide the net weight, origin, age, and type of the product, as well as the milligram amount per serving of

tetrahydrocannabinol

• ,

cannabidiol

• , and other

cannabinoids

, and if any pesticides were used during cultivation.

• Smoking marijuana in public is subject to a $100 fine.

Driving under the influence

•  of marijuana remains illegal, although some

California Highway Patrol

 officers are concerned that they will be unable to identify intoxicated drivers. The penalty for unlicensed sale of marijuana is now reduced from four years in state prison to six months in county jail.

Revenue paid into the new California Marijuana Tax Fund will allocate 60% of outflows to youth programs, 20% to environmental damage cleanup, and 20% to public safety. Businesses selling marijuana require a license from the state-level Bureau of Marijuana Control, and local governments decide permits for businesses to allow on-site consumption. Marijuana shops are prohibited from the sale or consumption of alcohol or tobacco. Recreational marijuana shops will open no earlier than January 2018. Local governments are allowed to completely ban marijuana-related businesses.”

• (

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_Use_of_Marijuana_Act)

To review the entire initiative and act, visit:

https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/initiatives/pdfs/15-0075%20%28Marijuana%29.pdfhttps://reformca.org/initiatives/control-regulate-and-tax-adult-use-of-marijuana-act/

WHAT YOU NEED

Basic Tomato Sauce (1 can)

San Marzano Tomato Crushed (1 can)

Red onion (1)

Beef Stock (2 cups)

Carrots (2 medium)

Basil (Small bunch/15-20 leaves)

Garlic (4-5 cloves)

Honey (3 table spoons)

Salt/Pepper

Red Chili flake

Cannabis Butter (6 tablespoons total)

HOW TO DO IT

1. Grate two medium sized carrots and small dice one large red onion. You can use a food processor to save time.
2. Combine carrots and onion with 4 table spoons of Cannabis Butter, salt, pepper and a large pinch of chili flake. Sauté these ingredients in the same pot that will be used to cook the sauce.
3. Once the onion and carrot appear to be about 3/4 of the way to golden brown add 4-5 cloves of minced garlic and sauté for another minute.
4. Add basic tomato sauce, San Marzano crushed tomatoes and beef stock – mix the ingredients together, scraping the bits of the bottom of the pot (deglazing) and bring this all to a boil. Once at a boil, turn heat down to a simmer.
5. Add chopped basil and honey. Allow this simmer for about an hour.
6. Remove from heat and finish with 2 more table spoons of Cannabis Butter and some fresh basil.
7. You can use this sauce in all your favorite dishes or simply tossed with some pasta and parmesan cheese – ENJOY!

WHAT YOU NEED

½ cup white sugar

¾ cup brown sugar, dark or light

1 teaspoon salt

½ cup cannabis butter, melted

1 egg (room temperature)

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1¼ cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ cup milk or semisweet chocolate chunks

½ cup peanut butter chips

HOW TO DO IT

1.  Preheat oven to 350°F
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the white and brown sugar, salt and melted cannabis butter.
   Using a stand-mixer or electric hand mixer, whisk until the mixture lightens in color and there
   are no lumps. This will take 5-6 minutes on average.
3. 3. Whisk in the egg and vanilla for 4-5 minutes until the mixture lightens in color and the batter
   thickens slightly.
4.  Sift in the flour and baking soda and whisk until the everything looks about halfway
   combined.
5.  Fold in the chocolate and peanut butter chips and mix the batter until everything is evenly
   distributed and fairly-well incorporate – do not over-mix however.
6. Chill the dough for at least 45 minutes (but it’s better to chill for a few hours).
7.  Scoop the dough with a small ice cream scoop onto a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet or
   silicone pad, leaving enough room so that the cookies can spread.
8. Bake for 12-15 minutes (this may vary based on the size of the cookie). Visually, the cookie
   should look light golden brown on top and slightly darker light brown on the sides/edges.
9.  Cool for 10-15 minutes and enjoy!
10.  Refrigerate the left-over batter or baked cookies.

WHAT YOU NEED

Slow Cooker/Crockpot

1 cup water

1 pound unsalted butter

1 ounce of cannabis or trim (adjust amount based on desired potency)

Cheesecloth

Aluminum foil

HOW TO DO IT

1. Grind cannabis. Saving approximately ½, take the ground cannabis and lay it between two pieces of foil, crimping the edges, sealing the cannabis in a foil pouch.
2. Heat an oven or toaster oven with heat settings to 215 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake foil packet for 10 minutes.
3. Remove cannabis from the foil pouch, combine with the remaining (fresh) cannabis. Turn slow cooker to low and add water, butter and all of the cannabis.
4. Cover the slow cooker with a lid and let it do its magic for 6-12 hours. Make sure to stir occasionally and add water if necessary.
5. After simmering, remove from heat and let cool for 15 minutes. Pour the now cooler but still liquid mixture into a glass container, using a cheese cloth to strain out all of the plant remnants. Squeeze out as much butter/liquid and discard the plant material. You may want to strain the liquid more than once if any plant particles remain.
6. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours or until water and now solidified butter have completely separated.
7. Separate butter from the water. Discard the water and scrape the portion of the butter block that was touching the water directly.
8. Enjoy your Cannabis butter! It can be used as a substitute in any recipe that requires butter.