Marijuana legalization in California on the horizon?

Thursday, August 22, 2013 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer
Tags: marijuana legalization, California, Cannabis Hemp Initiative 2014

(NaturalNews) Californians may soon have the freedom to grow, buy, sell, transport, and, of course, use all varieties of marijuana and cannabis hemp products in their state, thanks to the committed efforts of a vast network of grassroots activists that are right now seeking to re-legalize the natural plant species on the upcoming 2014 ballot.

On August 5, 2013, California Cannabis Hemp Initiative 2014 (CCHI) filed The California Hemp Act 2014 (CHA), also known as the Jack Herer Initiative, with the state's Attorney General. This amendment to California's Health and Safety Code would prohibit the arrest or prosecution of any person who possesses, cultivates, transports, distributes, or consumes cannabis hemp marijuana in any form within California.

Furthermore, the initiative would prohibit the state from penalizing industrial hemp farmers, manufacturers, processors, distributors, medicinal collectives, and retailers by slapping them with special zoning requirements, for instance, or by requiring that they be specially licensed and taxed. Unlike decriminalization initiatives in other states, CHA would simply legalize marijuana and get the state off the backs of people that grow, use, buy, and sell it.

Both marijuana and non-psychoactive industrial hemp to be legalized under CHA

Cannabis hemp marijuana, as defined by the amendment, includes both industrial hemp and psychoactive marijuana. The former, as we have written about extensively here at NaturalNews, is already sold throughout the U.S. as edible seeds, protein powders, and other food products and goods, but currently has to be grown outside the U.S. and imported. The latter is only just now being decriminalized in Colorado, Washington, and select other states.

But under the provisions of CHA, both types of cannabis would be fully legalized in California with few restrictions. Additionally, all federal prohibitions on marijuana would no longer be valid in the state, as penalties would be established for any law enforcement personnel that attempt to restrict the freedom of individuals to access and use the plant.

"No California law enforcement personnel or funds shall be used to assist or aid and abet in the enforcement of Federal cannabis hemp marijuana laws involving acts that are hereby no longer illegal in the State of California," reads CHA. "Any person who threatens the enjoyment of these provisions is guilty of a misdemeanor. The maximum penalties and fines of a misdemeanor may be imposed."

You can read the full text of CHA here:
http://www.cchi2014.org/fulltext.html

If you live in California, your help is needed to get CHA on the 2014 ballot

Just before filing this historic initiative with the California Attorney General, leaders and volunteers from CCHI met to discuss strategies for collecting the required number of signatures to get CHA on the 2014 ballot -- many thousands of signatures will likely be required to make this a reality. But if successful, the initiative will allow Californians the unique opportunity to reclaim their freedom of choice with regards to food and medicine and, not to mention, ride the cusp of a new economic boon.

"The leaders and dedicated volunteers of the new effort to legalize cannabis in California for the 2014 ballot are meeting in San Francisco to prepare for the launch of their signature drive in October," reads a recent announcement about the endeavor. "With other activist groups waiting in the sidelines for the 2016 elections the California Cannabis Hemp Initiative -- CCHI2014 -- is taking the reigns as this year's leaders in the battle for hemp freedom."

Be sure to check out CCHI's website for more information about CHA:
http://www.cchi2014.org

You can also volunteer to raise awareness about CHA and collect signatures by visiting:
http://www.cchi2014.org

Sources for this article include:

http://www.cchi2014.org