Research shows that an in-person visit from a constituent like you is six times more likely to influence an undecided lawmaker than a visit from a paid lobbyist. That means you have a lot of power to shape the future of medical and adult use cannabis in California. When you register for the California Citizen Lobby Day, we will make an appointment for you to meet with your State Assembly Member and Senator to talk about legislation that affects you and your loved ones. 

More than forty medical and adult use cannabis bills are pending in the State Legislature this year. Some make changes to the the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MCRSA) and the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), Proposition 64. Others will impose new taxes, create new cannabis crimes, affect cannabis court cases, and more. If you do not talk to your representatives about these bills, they will only hear from cannabis opponents, law enforcement, and others who do not have your best interests in mind. 

Despite progress in commercial licensing, legal patients and consumers still face pervasive discrimination in employment, housing, and access to health care. We are also planting seeds this year for important legislation in 2018 to protect medical cannabis patients from discrimination. ASA and California NORML hope to sponsor bills next year to prevent employment discrimination, and to protect legal patients who must also use opiate drugs. Your participation this year can help make that happen.

We know citizen lobbying can work to pass bills that protect patients' rights. The State Legislature adopted the Medical Cannabis Organ Transplant Act (AB 258), which prevents patients from being denied an organ transplant because they use medical cannabis, as a direct result of grassroots participation in previous lobby days. 

We know the best outcomes result from having those affected by legislation at the table when it is being discussed. That is why getting medical and adult use cannabis patients and other stakeholders into legislative offices in a top priority for ASA and California NORML. Register today to be a part of it!