Drug policy of California
Cannabis possession has been legalized with the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, passed in November 2016, with recreational sales starting January of the next year.
With respect to many controlled substances, terms such as illegal and prohibited do not include their authorized possession or sale as laid out by applicable laws.
In practice driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated will result in probation for first offenses, along with hefty fines, alcohol education, and community service.
[12] Conditions typically covered by the law include arthritis, cachexia, cancer, chronic pain, HIV or AIDS, epilepsy, migraines, and multiple sclerosis.
The bill allowed for no more than 8 ounces of dried marijuana and/or 6 mature (or 12 immature) plants, unless larger quantities were recommended by a physician.
If passed and signed into law, marijuana would be sold and taxed openly to adults age 21 and older in a manner similar to alcohol.
[14][15] In September 2010, then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 1449 into law, which reduced possession of under 1 ounce of cannabis from a misdemeanor to a civil infraction.
In practice, those charged with cocaine possession will in most cases be given an opportunity to plead guilty and receive no jail time under PC 1000, Prop 36, or felony supervised probation.
Those convicted of possession for sale HS 11351 or sale/trafficking under 11352 will often serve from 1 year in county jail, or 18-month sentence in the state prison based upon the quantities and extent of their drug dealing if it is their first offense.
Those charged with ketamine possession will in most cases be given an opportunity to plead guilty and receive no jail time under PC 1000, Prop 36, or felony supervised probation.
Since January 1, 1995, smoking has been banned in all enclosed workplaces in California, including restaurants and bars (bars were excluded until January 1, 1998), exempting only the following areas: workplaces with five or fewer employees (as long as all workers consent and persons under 18 are prohibited from the smoking area), 65% of the guest rooms of hotels/motels, lobby areas of hotels/motels designated for smoking (not to exceed 25% of the total lobby floor area or, if the lobby area is 2,000 square feet (190 m2) or less, not to exceed 50% of the total lobby floor area), meeting and banquet rooms except while food or beverage functions are taking place (including set-up, service, and clean-up activities or when the room is being used for exhibit activities), retail or wholesale tobacco shops and private smokers lounges (i.e. cigar bars), truck cabs/tractors if no nonsmoking employees are present, non-office warehouse facilities with more than 10,000 square feet (930 m2) of total floor space and 20 or fewer full-time employees working at the facility, theatrical production sites if smoking is an integral part of the story, medical research or treatment sites if smoking is integral to the research or treatment being conducted, private residences except homes licensed as family day care homes during the hours of operation and in those areas where children are present, patient smoking areas in long-term health care facilities, and employee breakrooms designated for smoking.
[34] Psilocybin itself still categorized as a Schedule I Controlled Substance according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration under federal law.
[35] Schedule I drugs are identified as those with the highest potential for substance abuse, and has chemical properties that enables addictive behavior.
Under California Law, possession of Psilocybin Mushrooms can result in a range of penalties varying from a $1,000 fine, mandatory community service, or potentially serving one year in county jail.
[36] Whereas distributing a Schedule I Controlled Substance such as psilocybin is recorded as a felony, with the potential to serve in a jail or state prison.
[37] Following World War II, a new social movement referred to as "Psychedelic Culture" became increasingly popular amongst young adults.
[41] Senate Bill-519 was approved with a 5-3 vote from the Assembly Public Safety Committee for their advocacy towards the use of furthering scientific research behind psychedelic therapy treatment.
[40] Psilocybin has been in the process of undergoing clinical trials as mental health professionals and scientists gather data demonstrating the drugs potential benefits.
[42] University of California, San Francisco has invested in clinical trials of psilocybin as part of a treatment to mental health diagnoses such as Bipolar II Disorder as well as Depression.
[43] In September of 2020, there have been over 1,000 reported clinical trials of Psilocybin therapy research conducted for various diagnoses[44] and have even produced evidence to show that the psychotherapy approach demonstrates prolonged antidepressant effects.
[7] All forms of peyote and its derivatives, including its active compound mescaline are Schedule 1 on the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
[6] Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 4-methyl-2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine (DOM/STP), gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), bufotenin (toad venom) and ibogaine are Schedule 1 on the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
[7] Anabolic steroids, including testosterone and human chorionic gonadotropin are Schedule 3 on the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
[6] On August 31, 2011, California Legislature passed SB 514, which banned the sale of dextromethorphan (DXM), the active ingredient in most over-the-counter cough medicines, to minors.
