MARIJUANA STRATEGIC PLAN

Marijuana Strategic Plan

Executive Summary

Proposition 215, an initiative authorizing the limited possession, cultivation, and use of marijuana by patients and their care providers for certain medicinal purposes recommended by a physician without subjecting such persons to criminal punishment, was passed by California voters in 1996. This was supplemented by the California State Legislature's enactment in 2003 of the Medical Marijuana Program Act (SB 420) that became effective in 2004. The language of Proposition 215 was codified in California as the Compassionate Use Act, which added section 11362.5 to the California Health & Safety Code. Much later, the language of Senate Bill 420 became the Medical Marijuana Program Act (MMPA), and was added to the California Health & Safety Code as section 11362.7 et seq. (Luffman, 1996)

Marijuana Strategic Plan

Introduction

Among other requirements, it purports to direct all California counties to set up and administer a voluntary identification card system for medical marijuana users and their caregivers. Some counties have already complied with the mandatory provisions of the MMPA, and others have challenged provisions of the Act or are awaiting outcomes of other counties' legal challenges to it before taking affirmative steps to follow all of its dictates. And, with respect to marijuana dispensaries, the reaction of counties and municipalities to these nascent businesses has been decidedly mixed. Some have issued permits for such enterprises. Others have refused to do so within their jurisdictions. Still others have conditioned permitting such operations on the condition that they not violate any state or federal law, or have reversed course after initially allowing such activities within their geographical borders by either limiting or refusing to allow any further dispensaries to open in their community. This White Paper explores these matters, the apparent conflicts between federal and California law, and the scope of both direct and indirect adverse impacts of marijuana dispensaries in local communities. (Mathew, 2010)

Background

When MPP was founded in January 1995, medical marijuana was illegal in every state and favorable legislation had not been introduced in Congress in a decade. Since then, the federal penalties for marijuana cultivation have been changed to provide for the early release of hundreds of prisoners; positive medical marijuana bills have been introduced in six consecutive Congresses, with the U.S. House even debating and voting on our legislation in the summers of 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007; the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine declared that marijuana has medical value; medical marijuana is now legal in 13 states; and much more. (Luffman, 1996)

Vision Statement

MPP and MPP Foundation envision a nation where marijuana is legally regulated similarly to alcohol, marijuana education is honest and realistic, and treatment for problem marijuana users is non-coercive and geared toward reducing harm. (Mathew, 2010)

Mission Statement

Increase public support for non-punitive, non-coercive marijuana policies.

Identify and activate supporters of non-punitive, non-coercive marijuana policies.

Change state laws to reduce or eliminate penalties for the medical and non-medical use of marijuana.

Gain influence in Congress.

Remote Environment

Remote environment is the whole set of “ecological, political, social, and technological ...