California Emergency Licensing Regulations for Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis

Bureau Cannabis Control

California’s three state cannabis licensing authorities have proposed emergency licensing regulations for commercial medicinal and adult-use cannabis.  The Department of Consumer Affairs’ Bureau of Cannabis Control, the Department of Public Health’s Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch, and the Department of Food and Agriculture’s CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Division each developed the new regulations to reflect the law defined in California’s Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA).

The regulations and their summaries are provided here:

Bureau of Cannabis Control Emergency Regulations

CA Department of Food and Agriculture Emergency Regulations

CA Department of Public Health Emergency Regulations

On June 27, 2017, the California Governor signed MAUCRSA, which creates one regulatory system for both medicinal and adult-use cannabis.  Prior to that law’s passage, state licensing authorities had released proposed regulations to govern the implementation of the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MCRSA).  (Read more about state cannabis law at California Cannabis Law.)  The public hearings and comments from a broad cross section of stakeholders that were informing that regulatory process have also been taken into consideration in the drafting of these proposed emergency regulations.

The licensing authorities expect the emergency regulations to be effective in December 2017.  The implementation date for the issuance of the state commercial cannabis licenses remains the same: January 1, 2018.  However, California will only be able to license those businesses that are in compliance will all local laws.

In addition, the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency will hold a workshop with state-chartered banks and credit unions next month to discuss regulatory and compliance issues, as well as potential approaches to banking cannabis-related businesses.

Contact us to learn more about California state or local cannabis regulations, cannabis regulatory compliance, and cannabis litigation.

CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Draft Program Environmental Impact Report

CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Draft Program Environmental Impact Report

The CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for public review and comment was released on June 15, 2017.  The release of the Draft PEIR triggers a 45-day public review and comment period which ends on July 31, 2017, 5pm (PST).

Four workshops will be held to provide the public and regulatory agencies an opportunity to ask questions and submit verbal comments on the Draft PEIR.

CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing, a division of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), ensures public safety and environmental protection by licensing and regulating commercial cannabis cultivators in California.  CalCannabis also manages the state’s track-and-trace system, which tracks all commercial cannabis and cannabis products — from cultivation to sale.  Learn more about California Cannabis Licensing.