Bill To Legalize Pot Moves Forward

SACRAMENTO -Its first victory could also be the last gasp for a California bill to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol.

The state Assembly’s public safety committee voted for the bill, 4-to-3, Tuesday.

But the health committee also must approve the measure by Friday before the full Assembly can consider it, an unlikely scenario.

The health committee is not considering the bill during its meeting Tuesday. And the bill’s backers would have to get a special waiver to reconvene the health committee later this week.

If the bill does die, a spokesman for the bill’s author, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, says the San Francisco Democrat would hold off on reintroducing legislation until after the November election, which could feature a marijuana legalization ballot proposition.