California Okays More Marijuana Biils

Following the legalization of medical marijuana inside the campus, California Gov. Gavin Newsom had signed a bill that allows more tax deductions for marijuana business owners.

The new policy has been amended through AB-37. The existing federal income laws disallowed tax deduction on controlled substances like marijuana, and AB-37 declared non-conformity for commercial cannabis businesses, allowing the owners to enjoy the deductions.

SB-420 will expand the cannabis research endeavor. On the other hand, SB-34, grants tax exemptions by endowing medical marijuana to low-income patients as a charitable act. 

Another bill is SB-153, which became mandatory for state officials to develop an industrial hemp program plan and submit it to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is in accordance with the 2018 Farm Bill that legalized the crop.

Eric Steenstra, President of Vote Hemp, said that this bill will expand the hemp industry in California. The SB-305, however, was vetoed. 

According to Gov. Newsom, the bill, which will require healthcare facilities to provide medical cannabis on terminally ill patients inside healthcare facilities, is "conflicting between federal and state laws," resulting to the facilities losing Medicare and Medicaid funds.

Unfortunately, the federal government still does not consider cannabis as a medicine, and according to Gov. Newsom, this puts patients who benefit from medical marijuana in "an unconscionable position."

California NORML Director Dale Gieringer expressed his disappointment with the governor's decision, especially since the bill even allowed exemptions in case that the federal agencies called for a violation.

Medical marijuana inside the campus

Gov. Newsom also signed a bill allowing students to bring medical marijuana inside K-12 campuses, given that it is not in the form of smoking or vaping and is administered by their parents.

The same bill was once vetoed by former Gov. Jerry Brown, who claimed that the exposure of marijuana to the youth might not be a good idea. He was also doubtful that the said form of medication is even allowed to use "for youth for all ailments".

The possession and use of medical marijuana within 1,000 feet from a school were illegal. Because of the prohibition, some parents were forced to withdraw their children temporarily from the campus to administer the drug.

It was such a hassle, and Sen. Jerry Hill, the proponent of the bill, claimed that it hinders a full-time learning experience.

The bill is said to be inspired by Jojo, a teenager from San Francisco who suffered from an extreme case of epilepsy. His mother, Karina Garcia, has testified to lawmakers to prove that medical cannabis has prevented seizures that forced her son to skip school.

For that, the bill has a nickname of "Jojo's Act," provided by Sen. Hill himself.

The bill is expected to take its effect by January of the following year.