Download Classes of Membership Print-ready PDF version
The State Chapter, and all duly Local Chapters of Cannabis Liberation League – CA, a California based 501-C-4, recognizes and supports the following classes of membership:
Class I Members (Incorporators / Executive Directors). The Incorporators/ Executive Directors of Cannabis Liberation League-California serve on the Board of Directors, in the capacity of Executive Directors. Each Executive Director may or may not serve as Officers of the State Chapter, at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Executive Directors are At Large Members of the State Chapter.
Membership Rights. The rights, privileges, preferences, restrictions and conditions of membership for Class I Members are as follows:
Incorporators shall serve in perpetuity as Executive Directors of the State Chapter. They may not be removed from office except by resignation, death or incapacitation.
Voting Rights. The voting rights of Class I Members are as follows:
Executive Directors have one vote each at every regular or special meeting of the State Chapter, in any election or matter presented to the Board of Directors for a vote. Executive Directors may individually veto any proceedings of the State Chapter, provided that the cause(s) for the veto shall be stipulated in the minutes, and that every veto is subject to re-evaluation by the Board of Directors, when the cause(s) for the veto are properly addressed. Executive Directors may elect to increase the number of officers and their titles on the Board of Directors, provided that a majority of the Executive Directors and a majority of the Officers (Class II Members) vote in favor of an expansion.
Class II Members – State Chapter Officers of the Board of Directors. The Officers of the State Chapter consist of an odd number of individuals, consisting minimally of Chair, President/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Secretary, Vice President /Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Treasurer/ Chief Financial Officer (CFO). A Vice Chair and Membership Representative may be added at the discretion of the Executive Directors, with the consent of the Board of Directors. Officers of the State Chapter shall initially be appointed by the unanimous consent of the Executive Directors, for periods of 2 or 3 years, respectively, after which time they shall be subject to run in staggered elections. All Officers shall then be nominated by the general membership of all Local Chapters, and then elected by the Membership Advisory Board for staggered, 2-year terms. The Board of Directors of the State Chapter shall always consist of an odd number of individuals (including the Executive Directors). Officers of the State Chapter are At Large Members of the State Chapter.
Membership Rights. The rights, privileges, preferences, restrictions and conditions of membership for Class II Members are as follows:
The Board of Directors is charged with overseeing all funds allocated to the State Chapter, in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of CLL-CA.
The Board of Directors is entrusted to fulfill the Purposes and Mission of CLL-CA.
The Board of Directors is empowered to align CLL-CA with affiliated organizations, throughout the State of California.
The Board of Directors is tasked with appointing the State PAC Intermediary (oversees State P.A.C. Bank Account and serves at the discretion of the Officers of CLL-CA Political Action Committee).
The Board of Directors is authorized to pair funding with the CLL-CA Political Action Committee, directed for educational uses in State or Local campaigns.
Voting Rights. The voting rights of Class II Members are as follows:
State Chapter Officers have one vote each at every regular or special meeting in any election or matter presented to the Board of Directors for a vote. Excepting in cases of suspension or removal from office, or in cases of a veto by any Executive Director, all votes shall be determined by a majority vote of the total Board of Directors. In cases of suspension or removal from office, all votes must be unanimous (excluding the vote(s) of the subject(s) of suspension or removal).
Class III Members – Membership Advisory Board. Membership Advisory Board (M.A.B.) members serves for terms of three (3) years and are limited to three (3) consecutive terms. Membership Advisory Board members are divided into two groups: Advocacy Representatives are initially appointed by the unanimous consent of the Executive Directors, for a period of 1 year. Thereafter, all Advocacy Representatives are nominated and elected from amongst the general membership of all Chapters in good standing; according to their respective category of membership. Only members within each category may nominate, run or vote for the M.A.B. position representing that category. One Membership Representative shall be annually elected by the Board of Officers / Executive Committee of each Chapter in good standing and shall be selected from amongst the Membership of that Chapter. There shall be no limit to the number of Membership Representatives, other than by the number of Chapters operating in good standing within the State.
Membership Rights. The rights, privileges, preferences, restrictions and conditions of membership for Class III Members are as follows:
The Membership Advisory Board is responsible for providing direct input from the combined membership of all Local Chapters, to the State Chapter at regular and special meetings of its Officers Board of Directors. Each Advisor is independently responsible for providing input that accurately reflects the stated interests of his or her category of constituency. Advocacy Representatives are responsible for representing the interests of their respective Sub-Committees, while Membership Representatives are responsible for representing the interests of their respective Chapters.
The M.A.B. is responsible for assisting the State Chapter with fundraising and marketing efforts, and with the co-development and funding of events, products and services that the State Chapter produces.
The M.A.B. is tasked with requesting funds from C.L.A. Political Action Committee, for uses in State political campaigns.
Voting Rights. The voting rights of Class III Members are as follows:
Individuals on the Membership Advisory Board have one vote each at every regular or special meeting in any election or matter presented to the M.A.B. for a vote.
The M.A.B. sets its own meeting agendas and takes meeting minutes at every regular or special meeting.
The M.A.B. develops and implements its own meeting rules and internal regulations, in strict accordance with Chapter Licensing Agreement, Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation of Cannabis Liberation League – CA. All such rules and regulations are immediately provided to the State Chapter, upon their completion and formal authorization by the M.A.B. These rules and regulations are then published online via every Chapter’s web page and social media account, are physically posted on-sight at any Chapter facilities and are provided digitally to any Chapter member in good standing, upon request.
The Membership Advisory Board may vote on whether to include any matter as an Agenda Item at any regular meeting of the State Chapter.
The Membership Advisory Board is also tasked with voting to elect the State Chapter Officers nominated to the CLL-CA State Chapter by the state-wide Class IV Membership, in staggered terms of two years, after each Officer has completed their first term of service upon appointment by the Executive Directors.
Recommendations approved by the M.A.B. are always included within the Agenda of the next upcoming regular meeting of the State Chapter, provided that State Chapter requires at least 5 days’ written notice, digitally or physically served to any active Officer or Executive Director, to include item(s) on the agenda. Matters addressed to State Chapter after this deadline are automatically scheduled for the next regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors.
The M.A.B. votes to request funds from CLL-CA Political Action Committee directed for use in State campaigns.
The M.A.B. does not have voting rights at any regular or special meeting of the CLL-CA State Chapter, in any election or matter presented to the State Chapter Board of Directors for a vote.
Class IV Members – Local and At-Large Chapter Members. Local Chapter Members shall consist of every member in good standing, of every Local Chapter authorized and operating in accordance with the Local Chapter License Agreement, within the State of California. At Large Members shall consist of every State Chapter Member in good standing, having no Local Chapter affiliation.
Local Chapter Members and At Large Members must complete the Membership Agreement in order to apply for membership with any Chapter. Every Chapter Member may only apply for membership with one Chapter at any given time. At Large Members are members of the State Chapter. All Class IV Members may only join a Local Chapter, or the State Chapter, at any given time, and must withdraw their membership in one, in order to join another. The Executive Committee of the Local Chapter, and the State Chapter Board of Directors, respectively, have the sole discretion to accept or reject all membership applications for their Chapter, in accordance with the Local Chapter License Agreement or State Chapter Bylaws, respectively. In order to remain in good standing, Local Chapter Members and At Large Members must abide by the policies and procedures of their Local or State Chapters.
The categories of membership available for all Class IV Members (subject to local conditions) are as follows: Cannabis Advocates; Licensed Cannabis Cultivators; Licensed Cannabis Distributors; Licensed Cannabis Manufacturers; Licensed Cannabis Dispensaries; Licensed Cannabis Testing Labs; Supportive Businesses and Professionals, and; Supportive NGO’s and Non-Profit Entities.
Each of these eight categories of Membership represents a Sub-Committee that Members in that category are automatically eligible to participate in. All Local Chapter Members are automatically members of the Sub-Committee(s) representing their category(ies) of Membership. Every Chapter may have up to eight Sub-Committees, in accordance with the Categories of Membership available at that Chapter. Chapter Members may join under as many of the eight categories as they are qualified to join, as they choose, if they are so qualified to join, and provided they pay the required membership dues for each category in a timely fashion.
Membership Rights. The rights, privileges, preferences, restrictions and conditions of membership for Class IV Members are as follows:
Local and approved At-Large Members may each serve on one or more Sub-Committees of the Local Chapter (one for each membership category that the member joins). Attendance and participation are voluntary, and members are not required to participate. Each Local Sub-Committee is responsible for holding their own regular meetings and keeping their own minutes, and they are responsible for setting their own meeting agendas.
Class IV Members may participate in fundraising activities co-sponsored by the State Chapter and any Local Chapter.
Class IV Members may apply for or receive discounts or scholarships to attend educational seminars produced or sponsored by CLL-CA.
Class IV Members may apply for or receive discounts or scholarships to attend accredited, third-party continuing education courses that are approved by CLL-CA.
Class IV Members must abide by Cannabis Liberation League-CA’s Non-Discrimination Policy, Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and Chapter Agreement.
Class IV Members must maintain timely payments to Local (or State) Chapter for all required membership dues, and any other payments required under terms of Local Chapter Licensing Agreement.
State Chapter At Large members may serve on any Local Chapter’s Sub-Committee, at the Local Chapter’s discretion. Whenever At Large Members are approved to serve on a Local Chapter Sub-committee, they may participate in that Local Chapter’s electoral process.
Voting Rights. The voting rights of Class IV Members in good standing are as follows:
Local and approved At-Large Members are each entitled to cast one vote with respect to those matters submitted to Class IV Members for action by their Local Chapter, in accordance with these procedures.
There shall not be any voting of members by proxy. Votes may be taken by voice, a show of hands or written ballot.
Elections – Regular elections shall be conducted at every Local Chapter, in coordination with the State Chapter. All elections shall take place every year during the month of January.
*Electoral processes conducted within each active Subcommittee, rather than through the general membership of any Chapter:
Every Local Chapter Sub-committee may vote to accept nominations, and vote to elect Advocacy Representatives to the State Chapter Membership Advisory Board. Only Local and approved At Large Members may campaign for and serve as Advocacy Representatives. While the nomination process is conducted at the Local Chapter level, elections are held statewide, through coordination between each Sub-Committee Category, from every Local Chapter.
Every Local Chapter Sub-Committee may vote to include any matters as Agenda Items at any regular meeting of the Local Chapter Executive Committee.
Every Local Chapter Sub-Committee may request funds to be directed at local political campaigns, from the CLL – CA PAC, by completing a request through that chapter’s Local PAC Liaison.
*Electoral processes conducted through the general membership of every Chapter:
Local and approved At Large Members may nominate, campaign for, vote to elect and serve as members of the Local Chapter Executive Committee.
*Electoral processes conducted through the Executive Committee of every Chapter:
The Executive Committee is responsible for holding their own regular or special meetings and keeping minutes, and for setting their own meeting agendas.
The Executive Committee is responsible for appointing the Local PAC Liaison.
The Executive Committee is responsible for appointing one Member, from within the ranks of Local and At Large Membership, to serve on the State Membership Advisory Board as their Chapter Representative. Only Local and approved At Large Members may be appointed as Chapter Representatives.
Class IV Members shall not have any voting rights at any regular or special meeting of the CLL-CA State Chapter, in any election or matter presented to the Officers of the State Chapter for a vote.
Class IV Members shall not have any voting rights at any regular or special meeting of the Membership Advisory Board, in any election or matter presented to the M.A.B. for a vote.