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As local officials successfully closed down dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries throughout most of Riverside County – including Lake Elsinore and Wildomar – Monday about 300 California cannabis advocates met with each of the state’s 120 legislative offices to urge the passage of AB2312 and SB1182.

AB 2312 seeks to establish a state regulatory system for medical marijuana under the Department of Consumer Affairs. Under the proposal, medicinal cannabis dispensaries would become state-licensed. It would also require cities and counties to allow at least one marijuana dispensary for every 50,000 residents -- unless local voters specifically approve a ban or tighter restrictions. Read the full text of the measure here.

SB 1182 clarifies the dispensing of medicinal cannabis in California. Read about the proposal here.

As part of Monday’s efforts by the advocates, hundreds rallied on the steps of the state Capitol to demonstrate their support for what they are calling “sensible, statewide regulation of medical cannabis in keeping with the voter-approved Prop 215.”

Proposition 215, or the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, is a voter-enacted California law that legalized marijuana for medicinal use.

Addressing Monday's rally were Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), United Food and Commercial Workers Director Dan Rush, Californians for Cannabis Policy Reform leader Dale Sky Jones, and Americans for Safe Access California Director Don Duncan and Executive Director Steph Sherer. All showed support to the advocates.

"Today the medical cannabis movement has shown state legislators that we're diverse and we're organized. We've come together to pass AB2312, to create sensible statewide regulations for safe access for patients and safe communities across the state of California," said Steph Sherer, Executive Director of ASA.