California lawmakers reach agreement on regulating medical marijuana

Lawmakers who have been negotiating a plan to regulate medical marijuana in California said late Thursday that they have reached an agreement on legislation to be acted on by Friday's deadline.

The proposal would create a new state office that, along with cities, would issue licenses for medical cannabis dispensaries. Marijuana growers also would face regulations enforced by the state. Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) said the compromise drops a proposed excise tax that would have brought in $60 million for policing and environmental protection.

“This package is the end product of countless hours meeting with stakeholders and extensive negotiations with the governor’s office,” Wood said.

The regulations of the billion-dollar industry will be divided between a couple of bills in the Senate and Assembly.

They will create a new Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation that would oversee a multiagency licensing and regulatory effort, relying on expertise from the California Department...

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