Hundreds of new laws took effect in California today, regulating everything from drinking straws and bicycle helmets to worker pay and kids’ meals. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the important, noteworthy and quirky things that took effect New Year’s Day. Minimum Wage Hike: As the state continues its march toward a $15 minimum […]
California
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Reports Find Cannabis Bank Infeasible; Five Things You Need to Know About Public Banking in California
Once an idea batted around mostly in Occupy Wall Street circles, public banking is attracting a surge of interest among policymakers in several states, including California. “We must break Wall Street’s chokehold on state finance and develop our own state bank,” Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom said on the campaign trail. If California had a bank controlled […]
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New Survey Reveals Who Owns Guns in California — and How Many Got Them Without Background Checks
In a state that has some of the nation’s toughest gun control laws, one in four California gun owners own firearms that they somehow managed to buy without undergoing background checks, researchers at UC Davis’ Violence Prevention Research Program reported at a recent meeting. An estimated 4.2 million California adults own guns, 14 percent of […]
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John Cox and Gavin Newsom Debate, Disagree on … Pretty Much Everything
The two men competing to be the next governor of California met for their first (and, alas, probably only) one-on-one stand-off today. If you didn’t see it, that’s because the showdown—which was structured more as a spirited conversation than your standard dueling podiums-style debate—was on the radio, hosted by political reporter Scott Shafer, out of […]
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State-Splitting Initiative Qualifies for November Ballot
An initiative to split California into three states has gathered enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot, according to multiple news reports. Known as the “Cal 3 Initiative,” the measure is being bankrolled by Bay Area venture capitalist Tim Draper and would create three states: “California,” which would stretch along the coast from Los […]
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A Gubernatorial Pot Primer
When Californians head to the polls Tuesday the cannabis industry won’t be on the ballot but it has a lot at stake. Most notably, the state’s next governor will oversee the implementation of new regulations slated to be rolled out later this year to govern what’s expected to become a $5 billion recreational industry by […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Hold My Oreo, There’s Weed to Smoke
With little fanfare, the state of California released its revised cannabis industry regulations last week. The updated regs are largely seen as a baby step between the initial rules released late last year and what will become the final regulations later this year. The latter are largely considered shrug-worthy. “The first step that Neil Armstrong […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
A Real Answer to the Single-Payer Debate
We pay taxes and local fees for water, sewage, garbage and protection, for essential services and infrastructure — an expected, rational cost for the common good. But there is one area of overlooked expense, one fraught with irrationality and inequity; namely, the literally millions of our local dollars going to buy health plans, including some […]
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New California Proposal: A More Perfect Union?
Another move is underway to divide the Golden State, this time with a movement called “New California” issuing a “declaration of independence” this week, garnering news coverage across the country. A map on the movement’s website (which has the theme: A more perfect union) shows the proposed “new” state as including most of California’s counties, […]
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New State Cannabis Regulations Allow for Limitless Grow Sizes
It looks like you’ll be able to munch down on that cannabis beef jerky come January but the stony shrimp cocktail will have to wait. California dropped its long-awaited emergency medicinal and adult-use cannabis regulations yesterday, setting the rules for legal markets slated to open in 45 days on Jan. 1. The new regulations — […]
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California Doubles Down on Sanctuary Status, Arcata Mulls Next Move
An executive order taking aim at sanctuary cities that President Donald Trump signed in his first days in office has cities, states and counties throughout the nation scrambling in all directions — some distancing themselves from the term “sanctuary” and others running toward it. California is placing itself firmly in the latter category. Meanwhile, North Coast municipalities […]
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The Eureka Women’s March through an Indigenous Lens
Videographer and photographer Matika Wilbur created a short film documenting this Saturday’s march. Wilbur, who is Tulalip and Swinomish, is visiting the Karuk and Hupa Nations as part of her year-long project in which she visits all 105 tribes of California. More information is available at www.project562.com. Wilbur sent the Journal this statement: “I’ve had the opportunity to […]