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        Local Governments Race to Pass Marijuana Measures in California

   by VOA News

   Local governments in California are pushing to meet a March 1 deadline
   for authorizing or outlawing marijuana cultivation.

   Lawmakers say the deadline was included by mistake in California's
   first comprehensive medical marijuana regulations, approved by the
   state's legislature in September.

   At issue is one paragraph in the 70-page document that would give the
   state authority to license growers in jurisdictions that do not have
   laws on the books by March 1 specifically authorizing or outlawing
   marijuana cultivation.

   An emergency bill to strike the deadline is ready to go through the
   state legislature. However, the League of California Cities is advising
   its members to enact bans ahead of the March 1 deadline as a precaution
   to preserve local control.

   Unless local bans are lifted or modified, they would make medical
   marijuana growers in those areas automatically ineligible for the
   limited number of agriculture licenses to cultivate marijuana.

   The state expects to start issuing licenses in 2018.

   Pot advocates hoped the passage of comprehensive medical marijuana
   regulations would encourage cities that have outlawed pot-related
   businesses to reconsider.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/local-governments-race-pass-marijuana
   -measures-california/3160297.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/local-governments-race-pass-marijuana-measures-california/3160297.html