The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) announced on March 4 that it will release a list of changes to state regulations on cannabis. According to a press release, these changes are intended to “simplify and simplify” existing cannabis regulations, as well as “strengthen consumer protection and make permanent changes that are currently in effect as emergency regulations.”
According to DCC Director Nicole Elliott, these changes are a reflection of the department’s intent to continue improving the state’s cannabis programs. “This proposal is a direct result of the DCC’s engagement with stakeholders and the thoughtful feedback received through previous messages, conversations, meetings and rule-making processes,” Elliott said in press release. We are deep [committed] To create a cannabis regulatory structure that works with all Californians, including the Californian cannabis industry, consumers and communities.”
This latest round of regulation proposals also marks the start of 45 days Public Comment Opportunitywhich will expire on April 19, 2022. Public comments can be Sent via email or given during a live hearing On two different days: March 23 and April 19 Webinar March 3 To educate viewers about the rule-making timeline and how to share comments.
Suggested changes can be read in full here, which includes a variety of suggestions, ranging from video surveillance and the sale of live cannabis plants, requirements for cannabis events, certificate of analysis and much more. The DCC summarizes some of these key changes to include distributors no longer requiring hard copies of product test results, allowing the sale of prepackaged foods and beverages in consumption lounges, restrictions on ingredients for inhaled cannabis products, and bans on medical devices or applicators such as “nasal sprays”. eye drops, or dose inhalers.
According to an article written by a cannabis lawyer Hilary Bricken“Unlike other states, California has not implemented sweeping changes to cannabis regulations with huge impacts on the industry,” Brecken wrote. “Instead, it has adopted a series of emergency rules with substantial changes here and there since 2018.”
“The changes to the DCC appear to be technical reforms and more standardization rather than massive regulatory shifts,” she continued. “The DCC states in its initial statement of reasons that the need for these rules is to “unify, clarify and promulgate” consistent licensing and enforcement regulations across all types of cannabis licenses in California.” Bricken goes into more detail with some highlights of these changes as well, picking out 15 different points of interest.
If approved, these regulations are expected to enter into force in the fall of 2022. Emergency regulations put in place in September 2021 It will also be approved permanently as well.
California has a few billing proposals in the works currently, to explore some other essentials for the industry. On February 15, Assembly member Bill Quirk introduced the AB-2188, which will end Discrimination in the workplace For positive drug tests when cannabinoid metabolites are detected. “The bill would make it illegal for California employers to penalize or discriminate against a person when making decisions about hiring, termination, or other aspects of employment if the discrimination is based on a person’s use of cannabis outside of work hours or the presence of a non-psychoactive person disclosed. on cannabis metabolites in a pharmacological examination commissioned by the employer,” Lawyer Lauren Mendelson said: From the legal offices of Omar Figueroa in an email to High Times.
In January, assembly member Mia Ponta sponsored a bill requiring courts to update any cases involving cannabis convictions. “California made a promise. I am focused on making sure California delivers on its promises,” Punta said. “This bill would allow us to automatically shut down eligible criminal records for cannabis.”
As for the overall performance of the cannabis industry in California, Americans for Safe Access Annual Review “State of the States” California is classified as “C+”. With high scores in “Consumer Protection and Product Safety” (154/200) and “Software Functionality” (85/100) and lower scores in “Affordability” (40/100), making it an average among nations in the country.
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