Who remembers Jack Herer? Perhaps you saw the 1999 documentary about his alter ego, the "Emperor of Hemp." Jack Herer created several versions of a marijuana initiative over his lifetime; unfortunately it was Proposition 64 (Adult Use of Marijuana Act) which passed in 2004, creating a set of laws so dubious that voters were uncertain whether to be for or against it. Now, proponents for the Cannabis Hemp Heritage Act 2020 want to set things right. They are basing this new petition on the one created by Jack Herer. At a recent meeting the California Libertarian Party endorsed the petition.

The following is a summary of the CHHA2020 petition whose sponsors hope to get on the ballot for next year with your help. 

• Decriminalizes cannabis hemp. Creates and funds new cannabis hemp based industries and jobs. 
• Permits the use of marijuana by adults 21 and older and licenses, regulates, enforces, and taxes recreational marijuana sales just like beer and wine.
• Requires that 50% of excise taxes collected from sales of recreational cannabis be made available to be used for the development, promotion, and assistance in the creation of industrial, nutritional, and medicinal cannabis hemp industries.
• Prohibits any and all taxation of medicinal cannabis, and expands the accessibility of medicinal cannabis used in accordance with Proposition 215.
• Requires all state laws and local ordinances that conflict with CHHA2020 be repealed or amended to conform.
• Prohibits cities and counties from imposing discriminatory, excessive, or prohibitive zoning requirements and fees on cannabis outlets.
• Allows farmers to grow industrial hemp and hemp seed, and allows industries and entrepreneurs to use the crop for the many uses and applications that hemp provides, both historically and modern.
• Restricts the use in California of genetically modified Cannabis seeds.
• Eliminates the unfair practice of drug testing for Cannabis metabolites, which can be retained in the human body for months. Impairment testing for non-metabolized cannabis, a more effective and accurate measurement for impairment or recent usage, would replace the metabolite test.
• Mandates that the state establish performance based standards, similar to those established for alcohol, to determine levels of impairment for safe operation of motor vehicles and other equipment. 
• Allows for the release and discharge of people currently being punished for non–violent marijuana offenses, saving taxpayers millions of dollars annually and freeing up jail space, judicial and crime-fighting resources.
• Removes Cannabis from the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act, which currently allows the Federal Government to Regulate Cannabis as a Schedule I drug.
• Prohibits California Law enforcement from assisting Federal Drug agents attempting to enforce federal laws that are no longer illegal by reason of this legislation.
• Allows for personal use and possession of Cannabis grown for personal consumption.
• Caps the excise tax for commercial sales at 10% of retail price. Caps the license fees for commercial production, distribution, and sales at $1000.
• Allows a physician to approve or recommend medicinal cannabis without fear of repercussion to all patients, regardless of age.
• Cannabis users' right to bear arms shall not be restricted.

To read the full version of the initiative or to sign the petition go to ccha2020.com