California Gov. Gavin Newsom has more than likely brought some relief to many ill patients in the state.
One bill that Newsom signed includes measures that make it easier for ill people to receive cannabis medication at no cost.
Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, remarked on low-income medicinal marijuana patients have struggled to get their medication due to the state’s “ridiculous taxes.”
“Compassion programs save lives by providing free medicine to people in need,” Wiener said in prepared remarks. “We should not burden these programs with taxes meant for businesses, and we should not force people with serious health problems onto the unregulated cannabis market.”
One of the other eight laws the Governor signed recently also allows marijuana businesses to claim state tax deductions.
According to Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles, the tax deductions “will play a vital role in leveling the playing field for legal cannabis businesses.” The law allows cannabis companies to claim them from 2020 to 2024.
Newsom signed other cannabis-related bills that include a bill authorizing the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, at UC San Diego, to cultivate cannabis for use in scientific study. Another bill sets a deadline of 60 days for cannabis businesses with 20 or more employees to sign a labor peace agreement, allowing employees to unionize without their employer’s interference.
