By Anthony Saude

Sacramento – It’s was a busy week for California’s lawmakers as Friday marked the last day for any bills to be passed ahead of their recess. Any Bill that the governor has in his possession that was previously passed on or after September 15 must be signed or vetoed by October 15 or those bills become law by default.

Governor Brown got to work earlier this week on some legislation already in his possession. On Monday September 18, he signed 24 bills into law and vetoed two others.  With the new recreational marijuana laws taking effect in 2018 this bill would make our laws on using marijuana while driving or riding in cars consistent with our laws on consuming alcohol while driving or riding in vehicles. SB 65 aims at making sure drivers or passengers in vehicles do not smoke or consume marijuana in any form. “This bill simply makes our laws on using marijuana while driving or riding in cars consistent with our laws on consuming alcohol while driving or riding in vehicles. Sen. Jerry Hill, a Democrat representing San Mateo and authored this bill. SB 65 it is viewed as a needed enhancement to Prop. 64. That proposition, which was approved by California’s voters in 2017, stipulated that it’s illegal to have open pot containers in vehicles but doesn’t address the use of cannabis by other passengers or in other forms.

The bill adds marijuana consumption to the law prohibiting alcohol consumption, which is an infraction currently punishable with a base fine of $70,” Hill’s office said.

Governor Brown has combined the Prop 215 (compassionate use act) and Prop 64 (The adult use of medical marijuana) laws so AB 65 of changes to state and city regulations that need to be defined to allow law enforcement to do their jobs with more efficiency. “Joe Nicchitta of the, Los Angeles of Cannabis Management, and hundreds of other key people are involved in very carefully evaluating every step of the process”, Los Angeles Sheriff Department-Walnut/Diamond Bar (LASD) station Lieutenant Anthony Baudino said. “There is a lot to sort out and the 5 million dollars Prop 64 allotted for CHP training isn’t even going to scratch the surface of what will be needed over the next decade or so”. Just think about how many different changes have been made to the drinking and driving laws over the last 20 years. Each change requiring more training, more money, lots of complaints and bad publicity for the officers of the law.

Key people in California and Colorado that travel back and forth to make sure they have all the information about their experiences as we move forward in the process. Lt. Baudino said “contrary to popular belief only 5 counties out of 20 in Colorado have agreed to the law in their county”. “It is still up to the counties if they want to allow it, even in California. The difference he says is that in California it is viewed as the next great gold rush and every wants their piece of the pie”.

Driving is serious business; you are hurling a 4000 lb chunk of steel down a concrete road at dangerous speeds next to another chunk of steel doing the same thing. You should be holding the steering wheel and watching the road not smoking a joint or eating an edible. Driving a car isn’t a recreational thing and you can wait to take your medicine when you get home.

One of the bills that Brown vetoed also had to do with marijuana. SB 663 was aimed at ensuring cannabis packages and labels are not attractive to children.

Brown said in his veto message, “Current law already prohibits cannabis and cannabis products from being designed to be attractive to children,” he added that state licensing authorities are already working on labeling restrictions.