BY NIKKI NELSEN / el Don |
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California lawmakers are seeking proper regulation for marijuana and cannabis-related products , after Proposition 64 ’ s passage permits indoor plant cultivation and recreational marijuana use for all eligible individuals . Consumers cannot possess marijuana in public or be under its influence while driving . People must also be 21 or older to purchase cannabis , unless under a medical doctor ’ s recommendation . “ The City of Santa Ana is ready , willing and able to [ be compliant in order to regulate the industry ]. It ’ s the local law ,” said Santa Ana City Communications Manager José Garcia . California marijuana possession for individuals under 21 requires offenders to submit to drug counseling and community service . Offenders over 18 , possessing more than 28.5 grams of flower or more than 8 grams of concentrated cannabis , will face up to six months in county jail or a $ 500 fine . First-time offenders will face a $ 250 fine . Santa Ana is working to regulate all medicinal and recreational retail locations within the city , with every legal location acquiring and maintaining a permit and paying all required funds to stay operational . In the last three months , Santa Ana has moved towards becoming a full marijuana sector , allowing commercial grows and applications from three applicants . |
State law requires dispensary retailers to go through approved online marijuana databases rather than private cultivators to acquire their products . These databases sell different brands in mass , removing the need for private cultivators .
“ We used to purchase our product from vendors . Vendors used to be one guy and he ’ d call us up , we would sit down and he ’ d do a delivery . It was very unofficial and unorganized — a back door way of doing business ,” said Mark Kapur , manager of From The Earth dispensary in Santa Ana .
Local law supports legally permitted dispensaries that abide by the Adult Use of Marijuana Act within local jurisdiction of the city they are residing in . This contrasts with the drug raids and criminal charges of the past .
State lawmakers also continue to experience difficulty classifying a proper drug dosing for both recreational and medical marijuana consumers , recognizing the differences in an individual ’ s tolerance levels .
“ The problem with marijuana under-the-influence charges is that we don ’ t have a per se limit for marijuana unlike alcohol testing ,” said law firm owner and stand-in Fullerton judge Lorrie A . Walton , who noted that marijuana affects the brain rather than the nervous system .
“ Marijuana is measured in nanograms per milliliter , so if one person has a high nanograms per milliliter count , then someone else who ends
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up in a testing situation at a trial with these tolerance levels could take a lot longer to try these cases ,” Walton said .
California law enforcement officials are also developing marijuana-related DUI protocols . There is a growing interest in forming a test that would show whether the suspect was intoxicated at the time of the offense and the individual ’ s active and inactive THC levels .
The state is attempting to administer blood tests and saliva testing ; however , both tests do not determine how intoxicated the person is at the time of incident , since cannabis remains in the body for about 30 days after initial consumption . Law enforcement must acquire a McNeely warrant at the time of the offense , requiring the driver to submit to a blood draw to determine if the person is under the influence as a result of cannabis .
“ The Orange County crime lab has seen a definite increase in the prevalence of drug-impaired driving cases submitted for testing since the passage of Prop . 64 ,” said Orange County District Attorney ’ s Office spokeswoman Michelle Van Der Linden , who noted that the trend is similar to the cases in other states that have decriminalized marijuana .
“ Our office has been instrumental in creating outreach and education programs designed to educate drivers of the impacts of drug-impaired driving ,” Van Der Linden said .
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Liz Monroy / el Don |