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How will California's new cannabis laws help state reach goal of full legalization?

By Andrew Bracken / Producer, KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host

Published September 21, 2022 at 4:20 PM PDT

This story was published more than 2 years ago.

A pile of dried cannabis buds is seen here, Aug. 31, 2017.

On Sunday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he'd signed a slew of new bills aimed at strengthening the state’s cannabis laws. The laws are focused on bolstering California’s legal cannabis industry, protecting employees who use marijuana away from the workplace, sealing past marijuana-related convictions and expanding access to medical marijuana.

“For too many Californians, the promise of cannabis legalization remains out of reach,” Newsom said. “These measures build on the important strides our state has made toward this goal, but much work remains to build an equitable, safe and sustainable legal cannabis industry. I look forward to partnering with the legislature and policymakers to fully realize cannabis legalization in communities across California.”

San Diego journalist and managing editor of San Diego Magazine, Jackie Bryant, joined Midday Edition on Wednesday to talk about why the legal cannabis industry has struggled in California and what has to happen before cannabis becomes fully legal in California.

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Andrew Bracken

Andrew Bracken is a producer for KPBS Midday Edition. He is also the producer and host for the KPBS podcast series "My First Day" and "San Diego Conversations," a collaboration with KPBS and the National Conflict Resolution Center.

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Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

What do you want to hear host Jade Hindmon talk about on Midday?