SACRAMENTO, CA (April 20, 2015) – A broad coalition of proponents have filed California’s first open-source voter initiative, the ‘Marijuana Control, Legalization and Revenue Act of 2016’ (MCLR). The proposed law provides much needed statewide guidelines for medical marijuana while also legalizing adult use with appropriate safeguards, and implementing industrial hemp legislation.Many applaud the transparent method of drafting the initiative, which brought in concepts and concerns from thousands of citizens throughout California. “Today’s filing confirms the MCLR open-source process and we hope this broad-based coalition of support will encourage further cooperation,” states John Lee, an MCLR proponent and director of Americans For Policy Reform, a San Jose based political non-profit organization. “We still encourage other advocacy groups to join us at the table,” Mr. Lee continues.
“We will continue to take input from the community during the new public comment period and make any necessary amendments,” states Degé Coutee, an MCLR proponent and president of Patient Advocacy Network, a Los Angeles based charitable medical cannabis patient education and advocacy group. “Our goal is to pass the most sound law possible for California’s cannabis industry and public input is key,” states Ms. Coutee.
“MCLR will implement a fair and equitable approach to regulation and is not in competition with the two initiatives that were filed on April 15th,” states Jennifer Nicoletto, an MCLR proponent and San Francisco Attorney at Law . “Instead these pieces are complementary especially given the fact that proponents of each publicly support one anothers respective efforts,” continues Ms. Nicoletto.
Any questions can be directed to Degé Coutee.