SJR 20, introduced by Senator Carole Migden, urges the President and Congress of the United States to enact legislation requiring federal law enforcement to respect state medical marijuana laws, to cease raids of medical marijuana dispensaries that are operating legally under California and local law, and to return any assets seized from medical marijuana dispensaries and collectives to the states in which they are located.

On July 2, 2008, the California Senate passed the resolution on a 24-15 vote. It heads next to the Assembly.

SJR 20 Resources:

• SJR 20 bill text
• SJR 20 fact sheet
• DEA escalation fact sheet

SJR 20 Talking Points:

• SJR 20 sends a message to Congress and the President that Californians are best equipped to deal with the implementation of their state medical marijuana law.;
• SJR 20 recognizes the efficacy of medical marijuana and the plight of medical marijuana patients and their providers, and asks the federal government to take action to protect safe access to their medicine;
• Most, if not all, of the dispensaries raided by the DEA collect and pay sales tax to the State Board of Equalization. Many of these facilities also report and pay income tax to the California Franchise Tax Board and the federal Internal Revenue Service. In fact, the federal seizure of assets from medical marijuana dispensaries threatens an estimated $100 million in sales tax annually;
• California voters do not want patients and their providers to face criminal penalties for using or providing medical marijuana. In 1996, 56% of voters approved Proposition 215, which allowed the medical use of marijuana. A 2004 Field Poll reported that three-out-of-four voters now support medical marijuana.