Existing law, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, an initiative measure, prohibits prosecution, pursuant to provisions of law relating to the possession or cultivation of marijuana, of a patient or a patient’s primary caregiver who possesses or cultivates marijuana for the personal medical purposes of the patient upon the written or oral recommendation or approval of a physician.

Existing law, the Medical Marijuana Program, requires the State Department of Public Health to establish a voluntary program for the issuance of identification cards to patients and primary caregivers under the Compassionate Use Act, and grants immunity from arrest for violation of proscribed provisions relating to the cultivation, possession, transportation, and sale of marijuana, if conditions of the act are met.

The Medical Marijuana Program prohibits a medical marijuana cooperative, collective, dispensary, operator, establishment, or provider from being located within a 600-foot radius of a school.

This bill would, also, prohibit a marijuana cooperative, collective, dispensary, operator, establishment, or provider from being located within a 600-foot radius of a residential zone or residential use unless a local ordinance, which may be more or less restrictive than the standard, is passed by the city council or county board of supervisors specifically regulating the location of these establishments in relation to residential zones or residential use. The bill would define “city” for these purposes to mean a general law city, a charter city, and a city and county. The bill would declare establishment of proximity standards to be of statewide concern and not a municipal affair. By changing the definition of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.