AB 1575, as amended, Bonta. Medical cannabis.
(1) Existing law, the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, establishes the licensing and regulation of medical marijuana by the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation. The act requires the Board of Equalization, in consultation with the Department of Food and Agriculture, to adopt a system for reporting the movement of commercial cannabis and cannabis products.
This bill would rename the act as the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act and would rename the licensing authority the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation and would make the bureau, commencing January 1, 2023, subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. The bill would also require the Board of Equalization, in conjunction with the Department of Business Oversight, to form an advisory group made up of representatives from financial institutions, nonbank financial service providers, the medical cannabis industry, law enforcement, and state and federal banking regulators to examine strategies such as integrated point-of-sale systems with state track and trace systems and other measures that will improve financial monitoring of medical cannabis businesses. The bill would require the board, in conjunction with the department, by July 1, 2017, to submit a report to the Legislature with recommendations that will improve financial monitoring of medical cannabis businesses. After the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation posts a notice on its Internet Web site that the licensing authorities have commenced issuing licenses pursuant to the act, the bill would provide that a financial institution that provides financial services customarily provided by financial institutions to other entities to a current licensee under the act is exempt from any criminal law of the state, provided that the financial institution has verified the licensee has a valid license in good standing. The bill would authorize the bureau to provide information to a financial institution to verify the status of a licensee.
(2) Under the act, a city, county, or city and county is authorized to adopt an ordinance that establishes standards, requirements, and regulations for local licenses and permits for commercial marijuana activity that exceed statewide standards. The act, with certain exceptions, provides a city full power and authority to enforce the provisions of the act for facilities issued a state license that are located within the incorporated area of a city, if delegated by the state.
The bill would generally prohibit a city, county, or city and county from adopting an ordinance for packaging safety standards that exceeds statewide standards and would require the State Department of Public Health to establish uniform statewide packaging safety standards. The bill would authorize a city to contract in writing with the county in which it is located to arrange for the county to fulfill any regulatory functions relating to licensees within the city limits if the county agrees to assume such responsibility.
(3) Existing law requires a cultivator or manufacturer to send all medical marijuana and medical marijuana products cultivated and manufactured to a distributor for quality assurance and inspection. Under the act, all packaging and sealing of medical marijuana or medical marijuana products is required to be completed prior to their being transported or delivered to a licensee, qualified patient, or caregiver.
This bill would exempt a cultivator from the requirement of sending medical cannabis to a distributor for quality assurance and inspection if the medical cannabis is to be used, sold, or otherwise provided to a manufacturer for further manufacturing. The bill also would require the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation to specify the manner in which medical cannabis and medical cannabis products meant for wholesale purposes are required to be packaged and sealed prior to transport, testing, quality assurance, quality control testing, or distribution.
(4) The act generally establishes categories of licenses that may be issued and limits a licensee to holding a state license in up to 2 separate license categories. The act provides that, upon licensure, a business shall not be subject to that limitation in a jurisdiction that adopted a local ordinance, prior to July 1, 2015, allowing or requiring qualified businesses to cultivate, manufacture, and dispense medical marijuana or medical marijuana products, with all commercial marijuana activity being conducted by a single qualified business. The act repeals these provisions on January 1, 2026.
This bill would, instead, repeal only the latter provision effective January 1, 2026.
(5) The act specifically establishes a “nursery license,” to be issued by the Department of Food and Agriculture, for the cultivation of medical marijuana solely as a nursery, and authorizes a licensee with a nursery license to transport live plants.
This bill would specify that a licensee with a nursery license may transport live immature plants to a licensed facility, subject to specified tracking, security, and related requirements.
(6) The act specifically establishes a “dispensary license,” to be issued by the bureau, and requires a licensed dispensary to implement sufficient security measures, including, at a minimum, certain specified security measures, such as establishing limited access areas accessible only to authorized dispensary personnel. The act authorizes a dispensary to deliver in a city, county, or city and county that does not explicitly prohibit delivery by local ordinance.
This bill would require dispensaries to implement the additional security measure of requiring all medical cannabis and medical cannabis products used for display purposes, samples, or immediate sale to be stored out of reach of any individual who is not employed by the dispensary. The bill would require the bureau to establish specified regulations regarding delivery of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products by a dispensary and specified requirements for all dispensary employees who deliver medical cannabis or medical cannabis products.
(7) The act prohibits a licensed testing laboratory from acquiring or receiving medical cannabis products except from a licensed facility and prohibits a licensed testing laboratory from distributing, delivering, transferring, transporting, or dispensing medical cannabis or medical cannabis products, as specified.
This bill would instead prohibit a licensed testing laboratory from transferring or transporting medical cannabis or medical cannabis products except to the licensed facility from which the medical cannabis or medical cannabis products were acquired or received.
(8) Under the act, each licensing authority is required to establish a scale of application, licensing, and renewal fees based on the cost of enforcing the act.
This bill would specify that these fees shall be in addition to, and shall not limit, any fees or taxes imposed by any city, county, or city and county in which the licensee operates.
(9) The act requires a licensed testing laboratory to analyze samples of medical marijuana or medical marijuana products according to either the most current version of the cannabis inflorescence monograph published by the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia or a scientifically valid methodology that, in the opinion of the accrediting body, is demonstrably equal or superior.
This bill would, instead, require a licensed testing laboratory to analyze samples in the final form in which the patient will consume the medical cannabis or medical cannabis product using a scientifically valid methodology approved by the accrediting body.
(10) Existing law authorizes the University of California to create the California Marijuana Research Program, the purpose of which is to develop and conduct studies intended to ascertain the general medical safety and efficacy of marijuana, and if found valuable, to develop medical guidelines for the appropriate administration and use of marijuana.
This bill would provide that it is not a violation of state law or any local ordinance or regulation for a business or research institution that has state authorization to engage in the research of medical cannabis, medical cannabis products, or devices used for the medical use of cannabis or cannabis products, to possess, transport, purchase, or otherwise obtain from a licensee who is authorized to provide or deliver medical cannabis small amounts of medical cannabis or medical cannabis products to conduct research and development related to medical cannabis or medical cannabis products. The bill would require a business or research institution engaged in the research of medical cannabis to obtain written authorization from its local jurisdiction that it has met all requirements of the local ordinance to conduct research on medical cannabis, medical cannabis products, or devices used for the medical use of cannabis or cannabis products. The bill would provide that it is not a violation of state law for certain licensees to sell medical cannabis or medical cannabis products in an amount not to exceed 8 ounces per month to a business or research institution engaged in the research of medical cannabis if the business or research institution provides to the licensee a copy of the written authorization to conduct research within their jurisdiction and a copy of the local ordinance, and would require the licensee to keep on file that written authorization for at least 3 years and make it available upon request to local authorities for auditing purposes.
(11) Existing law imposes various civil penalties for a violation of specified provisions of law in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance, including marijuana, on land under the management of specified state and federal agencies or within the ownership of a timberland production zone, as prescribed. Existing law also imposes various civil penalties for a violation of those specified provisions of law in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance, including marijuana, on land that the person owns, leases, or otherwise uses or occupies with the consent of the landowner.
The bill would provide that activities that are in full compliance with the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act are not subject to the above-described civil penalties.
(12) The California Seed Law regulates seed sold in California, and prohibits a city, county, or district from adopting or enforcing an ordinance that regulates plants, crops, or seeds without the consent of the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
This bill would provide that an ordinance that regulates cannabis or marijuana, or medical cannabis or medical marijuana, as defined, shall not require the consent of the secretary.
(13) Under existing law, collectives and cooperatives that cultivate cannabis are not, solely on that basis, subject to certain criminal penalties, including unauthorized possession, cultivation, and transportation of marijuana. This exception for collectives and cooperatives expires one year after the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation posts a notice on its Internet Web site that the bureau has commenced issuing licenses pursuant to the act and existing law is repealed on the date the bureau issues a license.
This bill would, instead, provide that the above exception is repealed one year after the bureau posts its notice on its Internet Web site. The bill would also specify that a collective or cooperative subject to this exception may operate on a for-profit basis, a not-for-profit basis, or any combination thereof, but would provide the protections of the exception to for-profit collectives and cooperatives only if they have a valid Board of Equalization seller’s permit and a valid local license, permit, or other authorization. The bill would also specify that a licensee under the act may operate on a for-profit basis, a not-for-profit basis, or any combination thereof. The bill would additionally provide that a collective or cooperative that cultivates cannabis and manufactures medical cannabis products is not, solely on that basis, subject to certain criminal penalties if specified requirements are met, including that the collective or cooperative is in possession of a valid sellers permit issued by the State Board of Equalization.
The bill would provide that it is unlawful to display an advertisement, as defined, for qualified patients, persons with valid identification cards, and the designated primary caregivers of qualified patients and persons with identification cards, who associate within the state in order collectively or cooperatively to cultivate cannabis for medical purposes, without first verifying a valid Board of Equalization issued seller’s permit. The bill would make a violation of that provision an infraction, punishable by a fine of $500. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. One year after the bureau posts the above-described notice on its Internet Web site, the bill would require all advertisements for licensees to include the valid state license number of the licensee, and would authorize the bureau to provide information to verify that a state license is active and in good standing for purposes of complying with this provision.
(14) Existing law provides that a qualified patient or a person with an identification card, a designated primary caregiver, and any individual who provides assistance to a qualified patient or a person with an identification card, or his or her designated primary caregiver, are not, solely on that basis, subject to certain criminal penalties, including unauthorized possession, cultivation, and transportation of marijuana. Existing law specifies that this provision does not authorize any individual or group to cultivate or distribute marijuana.
This bill would instead specify that this provision does not authorize any individual or group to cultivate or distribute cannabis in any manner other than set forth in the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act or in the Compassionate Use Act of 1996.
(15) This bill would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes to the provisions of the act, including changing the term marijuana to cannabis throughout.
(16) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
The heading of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with
2Section 19300) of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code
3 is amended to read:
4
Section 19300 of the Business and Professions Code
9 is amended to read:
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Medical
11Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act.
Section 19300.5 of the Business and Professions Code
13 is amended to read:
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions
2shall apply:
3(a) “Accrediting body” means a nonprofit organization that
4requires conformance to ISO/IEC 17025 requirements and is a
5signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation
6Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Testing.
7(b) “Applicant,” for purposes of Article 4 (commencing with
8Section 19319), means the following:
9(1) (A) Owner or owners of a proposed facility.
10(B) An “owner” means a person having an
aggregate ownership
11interest, other than a security interest, lien, or encumbrance, of 5
12percent or more in the licensee or who has the power to direct, or
13cause to be directed, the management or control of the licensee.
14(2) If the applicant is a publicly traded company, “owner” means
15the chief executive officer, a member of the board of directors, or
16a person or entity with an aggregate ownership interest of 5 percent
17or more. If the applicant is a nonprofit entity, “owner” means both
18the chief executive officer and any member of the board of
19directors.
20(c) “Batch” means a specific quantity of medical cannabis or
21medical cannabis product that is intended to have uniform character
22and quality, within specified limits, and is produced according to
23a single manufacturing
order during the same cycle of manufacture.
24(d) “Bureau” means the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation
25within the Department of Consumer Affairs.
26(e) “Cannabinoid” or “phytocannabinoid” means a chemical
27compound that is unique to and derived from cannabis.
28(f) “Cannabis” or “marijuana” means all parts of the plant
29Cannabis sativa Linnaeus, Cannabis indica, or Cannabis ruderalis,
30whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin, whether crude
31or purified, extracted from any part of the plant; and every
32compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation
33of the plant, its seeds, or resin. “Cannabis” or “marijuana” also
34means the separated resin, whether crude or
purified, obtained
35from marijuana. “Cannabis” or “marijuana” also means marijuana
36as defined by Section 11018 of the Health and Safety Code as
37enacted by Chapter 1407 of the Statutes of 1972. “Cannabis” or
38“marijuana” does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber
39produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the
40plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture,
P9 1or preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted
2therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant
3that is incapable of germination. For the purposes of this chapter,
4“cannabis” or “marijuana” does not mean “industrial hemp” as
5defined by Section 11018.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
6(g) “Cannabis concentrate” or “marijuana concentrate” means
7manufactured cannabis that has undergone a process to concentrate
8the
cannabinoid active ingredient, thereby increasing the product’s
9potency. An edible medical cannabis product is not considered
10food, as defined by Section 109935 of the Health and Safety Code,
11or a drug, as defined by Section 109925 of the Health and Safety
12Code.
13(h) “Caregiver” or “primary caregiver” has the same meaning
14as that term is defined in Section 11362.7 of the Health and Safety
15Code.
16(i) “Certificate of accreditation” means a certificate issued by
17an accrediting body to a licensed testing laboratory, entity, or site
18to be registered in the state.
19(j) “Chief” means Chief of the Bureau of Medical Cannabis
20Regulation within the Department of Consumer Affairs.
21(k) “Commercial cannabis activity” or “commercial marijuana
22activity” includes cultivation, possession, manufacture, processing,
23storing, laboratory testing, labeling, transporting, distribution,
24provision, donation, or sale of medical cannabis or a medical
25cannabis product, regardless of whether the activity is undertaken
26on a for-profit or nonprofit basis, or any combination thereof, and
27regardless of whether the activity is for compensation or is
28gratuitous, except as set forth in Section 19319, related to
29qualifying patients and primary caregivers.
30(l) “Cultivation” means any activity involving the planting,
31growing, harvesting, drying, curing, grading, or trimming of
32
cannabis.
33(m) “Cultivation site” means a facility where medical cannabis
34is planted, grown, harvested, dried, cured, graded, or trimmed, or
35that does all or any combination of those activities, that is owned
36and operated by a person who holds a valid state license and a
37valid local license, permit, or other authorization.
38(n) “Cultivator” means a person that conducts the planting,
39growing, harvesting, drying, curing, grading, or trimming of
P10 1medical cannabis and that holds both a valid state license and a
2valid local license, permit, or other authorization.
3(o) “Delivery” means the commercial transfer of medical
4cannabis or medical cannabis products from a dispensary, up to
5an amount determined by the
bureau, to a primary caregiver or
6qualified patient as defined in Section 11362.7 of the Health and
7Safety Code, or a testing laboratory. “Delivery” also includes the
8use by a dispensary of any technology platform owned and
9controlled by the dispensary, or independently licensed under this
10chapter, that enables qualified patients or primary caregivers to
11arrange for or facilitate the commercial transfer by a licensed
12dispensary of medical cannabis or medical cannabis products.
13(p) “Dispensary” means a commercial facility with a fixed
14location, whether or not there is direct access by customers, where
15medical cannabis or medical cannabis products are offered, either
16individually or in any combination, for retail sale, including an
17establishment that delivers, unless delivery is expressly prohibited
18by local ordinance, medical cannabis and
medical cannabis
19products as part of a retail sale.
20(q) “Dispensing” means any activity involving the retail sale of
21medical cannabis or medical cannabis products from a dispensary.
22(r) “Distribution” means the procurement, sale, and transport
23of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products between entities
24licensed pursuant to this chapter.
25(s) “Distributor” means a person licensed under this chapter to
26engage in the business of purchasing or taking custody of medical
27cannabis from a licensed cultivator, or medical cannabis products
28from a licensed manufacturer, for sale or transfer to a licensed
29dispensary and who holds a valid state license pursuant to this
30chapter and a valid local license, permit, or other
authorization at
31the physical location of the distributor.
32(t) “Dried flower” means all dead medical cannabis that has
33been harvested, dried, cured, or otherwise processed, excluding
34leaves and stems.
35(u) “Edible cannabis product” or “edible marijuana product”
36means manufactured cannabis that is intended to be used, in whole
37or in part, for human consumption, including, but not limited to,
38chewing gum. An edible medical cannabis product is not
39considered food as defined by Section 109935 of the Health and
P11 1Safety Code or a drug as defined by Section 109925 of the Health
2and Safety Code.
3(v) “Fund” means the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety
4Act Fund established pursuant to Section 19351.
5(w) “Identification program” means the universal identification
6certificate program for commercial medical cannabis activity
7authorized by this chapter.
8(x) “Labor peace agreement” means an agreement between a
9licensee and a bona fide labor organization that, at a minimum,
10protects the state’s proprietary interests by prohibiting labor
11organizations and members from engaging in picketing, work
12stoppages, boycotts, and any other economic interference with the
13applicant’s business. This agreement means that the applicant has
14agreed not to disrupt efforts by the bona fide labor organization
15to communicate with, and attempt to organize and represent, the
16applicant’s employees. The agreement shall provide a bona fide
17labor organization access at reasonable times to areas in which the
18
applicant’s employees work, for the purpose of meeting with
19employees to discuss their right to representation, employment
20rights under state law, and terms and conditions of employment.
21This type of agreement shall not mandate a particular method of
22election or certification of the bona fide labor organization.
23(y) “Licensee” means a person issued a state license under this
24chapter to engage in commercial cannabis activity.
25(z) “Licensing authority” means the state agency responsible
26for the issuance, renewal, or reinstatement of the license, or the
27state agency authorized to take disciplinary action against the
28licensee.
29(aa) “Live plants” means living medical cannabis flowers and
30plants, including
seeds, immature plants, and vegetative stage
31plants.
32(ab) “Lot” means a batch, or a specifically identified portion of
33a batch, having uniform character and quality within specified
34limits. In the case of medical cannabis or a medical cannabis
35product produced by a continuous process, “lot” means a
36specifically identified amount produced in a unit of time or a
37quantity in a manner that ensures its having uniform character and
38quality within specified limits.
39(ac) “Manufactured medical cannabis” or “manufactured medical
40marijuana” means raw cannabis that has undergone a process
P12 1whereby the raw agricultural product has been transformed into a
2concentrate, an edible cannabis product, or a topical product.
3(ad) “Manufacturer” means a person that conducts the
4production, preparation, propagation, or compounding of
5manufactured medical cannabis, as described in subdivision (ac),
6or medical cannabis products either directly or indirectly or by
7extraction methods, or independently by means of chemical
8synthesis or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis
9at a fixed location that packages or repackages medical cannabis
10or medical cannabis products or labels or relabels its container,
11that holds a valid state license pursuant to this chapter, and that
12holds a valid local license, permit, or other authorization.
13(ae) “Manufacturing site” means a location that produces,
14prepares, propagates, or compounds manufactured medical
15cannabis or medical cannabis products, directly or indirectly, by
16extraction methods, independently by
means of chemical synthesis,
17or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis, and is
18owned and operated by a person that holds a valid state license
19pursuant to this chapter and a valid local license, permit, or other
20authorization.
21(af) “Medical cannabis,” “medical cannabis product,” “cannabis
22product,” “medical marijuana,” “medical marijuana product,” or
23“marijuana product” means a product containing cannabis,
24including, but not limited to, concentrates and extractions, intended
25to be sold for use by medical cannabis patients in California
26pursuant to the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Proposition 215),
27found at Section 11362.5 of the Health and Safety Code. For the
28purposes of this chapter, “medical cannabis” or “medical
29marijuana” does not include “industrial hemp” as defined by
30Section 81000 of the Food and Agricultural
Code or Section
3111018.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
32(ag) “Nursery” means a licensee that produces only clones,
33immature plants, seeds, and other agricultural products used
34specifically for the planting, propagation, and cultivation of medical
35
cannabis.
36(ah) “Permit,” “local license,” or “local permit” means an
37official document granted by a local jurisdiction that specifically
38authorizes a person to conduct commercial cannabis activity in
39the local jurisdiction.
P13 1(ai) “Person” means an individual, firm, partnership, joint
2venture, association, corporation, limited liability company, estate,
3trust, business trust, receiver, syndicate, or any other group or
4combination acting as a unit and includes the plural as well as the
5singular number.
6(aj) “State license” or “license” means a state license issued
7pursuant to this chapter.
8(ak) “Topical product” means a product manufactured
such that
9its final stage is in the form of a topical drug, as defined by the
10Center for Drug Evaluation and Research under the federal Food
11and Drug Administration. A topical product is not considered a
12drug as defined by Section 109925 of the Health and Safety Code.
13(al) “Testing laboratory” means a facility, entity, or site in the
14state that offers or performs tests of medical cannabis or medical
15cannabis products and that is both of the following:
16(1) Accredited by an accrediting body that is independent from
17all other persons involved in the medical cannabis industry in the
18state.
19(2) Licensed pursuant to this chapter.
16 20(am) “Transport” means the transfer of medical cannabis or
21medical cannabis products from the permitted business location
22of one licensee to the permitted business location of another
23licensee, for the purposes of conducting commercial cannabis
24activity authorized pursuant to this chapter.
25(an) “Transporter” means a person issued a state license by the
26bureau to transport medical cannabis or medical cannabis products
27in an amount above a threshold determined by the bureau between
28facilities that have been issued a state license pursuant to this
29chapter.
Section 19302 of the Business and Professions Code
31 is amended to read:
(a) There is in the Department of Consumer Affairs
33the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation, under the supervision
34and control of the director. The director shall administer and
35enforce the provisions of this chapter.
36(b) Commencing January 1, 2023, the bureau shall be subject
37to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.
Section 19302.1 of the Business and Professions Code
39 is amended to read:
(a) The Governor shall appoint a chief of the bureau,
2subject to confirmation by the Senate, at a salary to be fixed and
3determined by the Director of Consumer Affairs with the approval
4of the Director of Finance. The chief shall serve under the direction
5and supervision of the Director of Consumer Affairs and at the
6pleasure of the Governor.
7(b) Every power granted to or duty imposed upon the director
8under this chapter may be exercised or performed in the name of
9the director by a deputy or assistant director or by the chief, subject
10to conditions and limitations that the director may prescribe. In
11addition to every power granted or duty imposed with this chapter,
12the director
shall have all other powers and duties generally
13applicable in relation to bureaus that are part of the Department
14of Consumer Affairs.
15(c) The director may employ and appoint all employees
16necessary to properly administer the work of the bureau, in
17accordance with civil service laws and regulations.
18(d) The Department of Consumer Affairs shall have the sole
19authority to create, issue, renew, discipline, suspend, or revoke
20licenses for the transportation, storage unrelated to manufacturing
21activities, distribution, and sale of medical cannabis within the
22state and to collect fees in connection with activities the bureau
23regulates. The bureau may create licenses in addition to those
24identified in this chapter that the bureau deems necessary to
25effectuate its duties under
this chapter.
26(e) The Department of Food and Agriculture shall administer
27the provisions of this chapter related to and associated with the
28cultivation of medical cannabis. The Department of Food and
29Agriculture may create, issue, and suspend or revoke cultivation
30licenses for violations of this chapter.
31(f) The State Department of Public Health shall administer the
32provisions of this chapter related to and associated with the
33manufacturing and testing of medical cannabis. The State
34Department of Public Health may create, issue, and suspend or
35revoke manufacturing and testing licenses for a violation of this
36chapter. The State Department of Public Health shall seek and
37include feedback from the scientific community and cannabis
38testing industry when promulgating testing regulations.
The State
39Department of Public Health shall review and update medical
P15 1cannabis testing standards on an annual basis, incorporating new
2testing technology, such as DNA testing for contaminants.
Section 19306 of the Business and Professions Code
4 is amended to read:
(a) The bureau may convene an advisory committee
6to advise the bureau and licensing authorities on the development
7of standards and regulations pursuant to this chapter, including
8best practices and guidelines to ensure qualified patients have
9adequate access to medical cannabis and medical cannabis
10products. The advisory committee members shall be determined
11by the chief.
12(b) The advisory committee members may include, but are not
13limited to, representatives of the medical cannabis industry,
14representatives of medical cannabis cultivators, appropriate local
15and state agencies, appropriate local and state law enforcement,
16physicians, environmental and public health experts, and
medical
17cannabis patient advocates.
Section 19310 of the Business and Professions Code
19 is amended to read:
The licensing authority may, on its own motion at any
21time before a penalty assessment is placed into effect and without
22any further proceedings, review the penalty, but that review shall
23be limited to its reduction.
Section 19310.5 is added to the Business and
25Professions Code, to read:
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact a statute
27that improves the medical cannabis industry’s ability to comply
28with federal law and regulations that would allow improved access
29to banking services.
30(b) (1) The State Board of Equalization, in conjunction with
31the Department of Business Oversight, shall form an advisory
32group made up of representatives from financial institutions,
33nonbank financial service providers, the medical cannabis industry,
34law enforcement, and federal banking regulators. By July 1, 2017,
35the board, in conjunction with the department, shall submit a report
36to the Legislature with recommendations from the advisory group
37that
will improve financial monitoring of medical cannabis
38businesses.
39(2) A report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be
40submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government
P16 1Code. The requirement for submitting a report imposed in
2paragraph (1) is inoperative on July 1, 2021, pursuant to Section
310231.5 of the Government Code.
4(c) The advisory group shall examine strategies, such as the use
5of integrated point-of-sale systems with state track and trace
6systems and other measures that will improve financial monitoring
7of medical cannabis businesses.
Section 19316 of the Business and Professions Code
9 is amended to read:
(a) (1) Pursuant to Section 7 of Article XI of the
11California Constitution, a city, county, or city and county may,
12except as described in paragraph (2), adopt ordinances that establish
13additional standards, requirements, and regulations for local
14licenses and permits for commercial cannabis activity. Standards,
15requirements, and regulations regarding health and safety, testing,
16security, and worker protections established by the state shall be
17the minimum standards for all licensees statewide.
18(2) Packaging safety standards shall be uniform across the state
19and shall be established by the State Department of Public Health,
20in accordance
with Section 19347.
21(3) For purposes of this subdivision, packaging safety standards
22do not include packaging requirements related to appellations of
23origin or other branding or marketing materials.
24(b) For facilities issued a state license that are located within
25the incorporated area of a city, the city shall have full power and
26authority to enforce this chapter and the regulations promulgated
27by the bureau or any licensing authority, if delegated by the state.
28Notwithstanding Sections 101375, 101400, and 101405 of the
29Health and Safety Code or any contract entered into pursuant
30thereto, or any other law, the city shall further assume complete
31responsibility for any regulatory function relating to those licensees
32within the city limits that would otherwise be performed by the
33county
or any county officer or employee, including a county
34health officer, without liability, cost, or expense to the county. A
35
city may contract in writing with the county in which it is located
36to arrange for the county to fulfill any regulatory functions relating
37to those licensees within the city limits if the county has agreed to
38assume such responsibility.
39(c) Nothing in this chapter, or any regulations promulgated
40thereunder, shall be deemed to limit the authority or remedies of
P17 1a city, county, or city and county under any provision of law,
2including, but not limited to, Section 7 of Article XI of the
3California Constitution.
Section 19318 of the Business and Professions Code
5 is repealed.
Section 19319.5 is added to the Business and
7Professions Code, to read:
(a) It is not a violation of this chapter or any other
9state law, for a business or research institution engaged in the
10research of medical cannabis, medical cannabis products, or devices
11used for the medical use of cannabis or cannabis products, to
12possess, transport, purchase, or otherwise legally obtain from a
13licensee who is permitted to provide or deliver medical cannabis
14pursuant to subdivisions (n) and (o) of Section 19300.7, small
15amounts of medical cannabis or medical cannabis products, not to
16exceed eight ounces per month, as necessary to conduct research
17and development related to medical cannabis or medical cannabis
18products in a city, county, or city and county that expressly
19authorizes that activity by local
ordinance. A business or research
20institution engaged in the research of medical cannabis shall obtain
21written authorization from its local jurisdiction that the business
22or institution has met all requirements of the local ordinance to
23conduct research on medical cannabis, medical cannabis products,
24or devices used for the medical use of cannabis or cannabis
25products.
26(b) It is not a violation of this chapter or any other state law for
27a licensee, pursuant to subdivisions (n) and (o) of Section 19300.7,
28to sell medical cannabis or medical cannabis products in an amount
29not to exceed eight ounces per month to a business or research
30institution engaged in the research of medical cannabis, if the
31business or research institution provides to the licensee a copy of
32the written authorization to conduct research within the business’s
33or
institution’s jurisdiction and a copy of the local ordinance. The
34licensee shall keep on file that written authorization for at least
35three years and make it available upon request to local authorities
36for auditing purposes.
Section 19320 of the Business and Professions Code,
38as added by Section 4 of Chapter 689 of the Statutes of 2015, is
39amended to read:
(a) Licensing authorities administering this chapter
2may issue state licenses only to qualified applicants engaging in
3commercial cannabis activity pursuant to this chapter. One year
4after the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation posts a notice
5on its Internet Web site that the licensing authorities have
6commenced issuing licenses, no person shall engage in commercial
7cannabis activity without possessing both a state license and a
8local permit, license, or other authorization. An entity seeking
9licensure pursuant to this chapter shall obtain a local license,
10permit, or other authorization prior to applying for state licensure.
11State licensing entities shall not issue a license to any applicant
12that is unable to provide documentation confirming
authorization
13to operate from the local government in which the applicant
14proposes to operate. A licensee shall not commence activity under
15the authority of a state license until the applicant has obtained, in
16addition to the state license, a license or permit from the local
17jurisdiction in which he or she proposes to operate, following the
18requirements of the applicable local ordinance.
19(b) Revocation of a local license, permit, or other authorization
20shall terminate the ability of a medical cannabis business to operate
21within that local jurisdiction until the local jurisdiction reinstates
22or reissues the local license, permit, or other required authorization.
23Local authorities shall notify the bureau upon revocation of a local
24license. The bureau shall inform relevant licensing authorities.
25(c) Revocation of a state license shall terminate the ability of a
26medical cannabis licensee to operate within California until the
27licensing authority reinstates or reissues the state license. Each
28licensee shall obtain a separate license for each location where it
29engages in commercial medical cannabis activity. However,
30transporters only need to obtain licenses for each physical location
31where the licensee conducts business while not in transport, or any
32equipment that is not currently transporting medical cannabis or
33medical cannabis products, permanently resides.
34(d) In addition to the provisions of this chapter, local
35jurisdictions retain the power to assess fees and taxes, as applicable,
36on facilities that are licensed pursuant to this chapter and the
37business activities of those licensees.
38(e) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to supersede or
39limit state agencies, including the State Water Resources Control
P19 1Board and Department of Fish and Wildlife, from establishing fees
2to support their medical cannabis regulatory programs.
Section 19320 of the Business and Professions Code,
4as added by Section 8 of Chapter 719 of the Statutes of 2015, is
5amended to read:
(a) Licensing authorities administering this chapter
7may issue state licenses only to qualified applicants engaging in
8commercial cannabis activity pursuant to this chapter. One year
9after the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation posts a notice
10on its Internet Web site that the licensing authorities have
11commenced issuing licenses, no person shall engage in commercial
12cannabis activity without possessing both a state license and a
13local permit, license, or other authorization. An entity seeking
14licensure pursuant to this chapter shall obtain a local license,
15permit, or other authorization prior to applying for state licensure.
16State licensing entities shall not issue a license to any applicant
17that is unable to provide documentation confirming
authorization
18to operate from the local government in which the applicant
19proposes to operate. A licensee shall not commence activity under
20the authority of a state license until the applicant has obtained, in
21addition to the state license, a license or permit from the local
22jurisdiction in which he or she proposes to operate, following the
23requirements of the applicable local ordinance.
24(b) Revocation of a local license, permit, or other authorization
25shall terminate the ability of a medical cannabis business to operate
26within that local jurisdiction until the local jurisdiction reinstates
27or reissues the local license, permit, or other required authorization.
28Local authorities shall notify the bureau upon revocation of a local
29license. The bureau shall inform relevant licensing authorities.
30(c) Revocation of a state license shall terminate the ability of a
31medical cannabis licensee to operate within California until the
32licensing authority reinstates or reissues the state license. Each
33licensee shall obtain a separate license for each location where it
34engages in commercial medical cannabis activity. However,
35transporters only need to obtain licenses for each physical location
36where the licensee conducts business while not in transport, or any
37equipment that is not currently transporting medical cannabis or
38medical cannabis products, permanently resides.
39(d) In addition to the provisions of this chapter, local
40jurisdictions retain the power to assess fees and taxes, as applicable,
P20 1on facilities that are licensed pursuant to this chapter and the
2business activities of those licensees.
3(e) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to supersede or
4limit state agencies, including the State Water Resources Control
5Board and Department of Fish and Wildlife, from establishing fees
6to support their medical cannabis regulatory programs.
Section 19321 of the Business and Professions Code
8 is amended to read:
(a) The Department of Consumer Affairs, the
10Department of Food and Agriculture, and the State Department of
11Public Health shall promulgate regulations for implementation of
12their respective responsibilities in the administration of this chapter.
13The secretary or director of each licensing authority may prescribe,
14adopt, and enforce emergency regulations necessary to implement
15this chapter.
16(b) begin deleteExcept as described in subdivision (e), a end deletebegin insertA end insertstate license
17issued pursuant to this section shall be valid
for 12 months from
18the date of issuance. The state license shall be renewed annually.
19Each licensing authority shall establish procedures for the renewal
20of a state license.
21(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 19320, a facility
22or entity that is operating in compliance with local zoning
23ordinances and other state and local requirements on or before
24January 1, 2018, may continue its operations until its application
25for licensure is approved or denied pursuant to this chapter. In
26issuing licenses, the licensing authority shall prioritize a facility
27or entity that can demonstrate to the licensing authority’s
28satisfaction that it was in operation and in good standing with the
29local jurisdiction by January 1, 2016.
30(d) Issuance of a state license or a determination of
compliance
31with local law by the licensing authority shall in no way limit the
32ability of the City of Los Angeles to prosecute any person or entity
33for a violation of, or otherwise enforce, Proposition D, approved
34by the voters of the City of Los Angeles on the May 21, 2013,
35ballot for the city, or the city’s zoning laws. Nor may issuance of
36a state license or determination of compliance with local law by
37the licensing authority be deemed to establish, or be relied upon,
38in determining satisfaction with the immunity requirements of
39Proposition D or local zoning law, in court or in any other context
40or forum.
Section 19322 of the Business and Professions Code
2 is amended to read:
(a) A person or entity shall not submit an application
4for a state license pursuant to this chapter unless that person or
5entity first receives a license, permit, or authorization specific to
6commercial cannabis activity from a local jurisdiction. An applicant
7for any type of state license issued pursuant to this chapter shall
8do all of the following:
9(1) Electronically submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint
10images and related information required by the Department of
11Justice for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence
12
and content of a record of state or federal convictions and arrests,
13and information as to the existence and content of a record of state
14or federal convictions and arrests for which the Department of
15Justice establishes that the person is free on bail or on his or her
16own recognizance, pending trial or appeal.
17(A) The Department of Justice shall provide a response to the
18licensing authority pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of
19Section 11105 of the Penal Code.
20(B) The licensing authority shall request from the Department
21of Justice subsequent notification service, as provided pursuant to
22Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code, for applicants.
23(C) The Department of Justice shall charge the applicant a
fee
24sufficient to cover the reasonable cost of processing the requests
25
described in this paragraph.
26(2) Provide documentation issued by the local jurisdiction in
27which the proposed business is operating certifying that the
28applicant is or will be in compliance with all local ordinances and
29regulations.
30(3) Provide evidence of the legal right to occupy and use the
31proposed location. For an applicant seeking a cultivator, distributor,
32manufacturing, or dispensary license, provide a statement from
33the owner of real property or their agent where the cultivation,
34distribution, manufacturing, or dispensing commercial medical
35cannabis activities will occur, as proof to demonstrate the
36landowner has acknowledged and consented to permit cultivation,
37distribution, manufacturing, or dispensary activities to be conducted
38on the property by the
tenant applicant.
39(4) If the application is for a cultivator or dispensary license,
40provide evidence that the proposed location is located beyond at
P22 1least a 600-foot radius from a school, as required by Section
211362.768 of the Health and Safety Code.
3(5) Provide a statement, signed by the applicant under penalty
4of perjury, that the information provided is complete, true, and
5accurate.
6(6) (A) For an applicant with 20 or more employees, provide
7a statement that the applicant will enter into, or demonstrate that
8it has already entered into, and abide by the terms of a labor peace
9agreement.
10(B) For the purposes of this paragraph,
“employee” does not
11include a supervisor.
12(C) For purposes of this paragraph, “supervisor” means an
13individual having authority, in the interest of the licensee, to hire,
14transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, assign,
15reward, or discipline other employees, or responsibility to direct
16them or to adjust their grievances, or effectively to recommend
17such action, if, in connection with the foregoing, the exercise of
18that authority is not of a merely routine or clerical nature, but
19requires the use of independent judgment.
20(7) Provide the applicant’s valid seller’s permit number issued
21pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) of Division 2
22of the Revenue and Taxation Code or indicate that the applicant
23is currently applying for a seller’s permit.
24(8) Provide any other information required by the licensing
25authority.
26(9) For an applicant seeking a cultivation license, provide a
27statement declaring the applicant is an “agricultural employer,” as
28defined in the Alatorre-Zenovich-Dunlap-Berman Agricultural
29Labor Relations Act of 1975 (Part 3.5 (commencing with Section
301140) of Division 2 of the Labor Code), to the extent not prohibited
31by law.
32(10) For an applicant seeking licensure as a testing laboratory,
33register with the State Department of Public Health and provide
34any information required by the State Department of Public Health.
35(11) Pay all applicable fees required for licensure by the
36licensing
authority.
37(b) For applicants seeking licensure to cultivate, distribute, or
38
manufacture medical cannabis or medical cannabis products, the
39application shall also include a detailed description of the
P23 1applicant’s operating procedures for all of the following, as
2required by the licensing authority:
3(1) Cultivation.
4(2) Extraction and infusion methods.
5(3) The transportation process.
6(4) Inventory procedures.
7(5) Quality control procedures.
Section 19322.5 is added to the Business and
9Professions Code, to read:
A licensee may operate as a for-profit business, as a
11not-for-profit entity, or as a combination of both.
The heading of Article 5 (commencing with Section
1319326) of Chapter 3.5 of Division 8 of the Business and Professions
14Code is amended to read:
15
Section 19326 of the Business and Professions Code
19 is amended to read:
(a) A person other than a transporter shall not transport
21medical cannabis or medical cannabis products from one licensee
22to another licensee, unless otherwise specified in this chapter.
23(b) (1) A cultivator or a manufacturer shall send medical
24cannabis and medical cannabis products cultivated or manufactured
25to a distributor, as defined in Section 19300.5, for quality assurance
26and inspection by the distributor and for a batch testing by a testing
27laboratory prior to distribution to a dispensary, except as provided
28in paragraph (2). Those licensees holding a Type 10A license in
29addition to a cultivation license or a manufacturing license shall
30send
medical cannabis and medical cannabis products to a
31distributor for presale inspection and for a batch testing by a testing
32laboratory prior to dispensing any product. The licensing authority
33shall fine a licensee who violates this subdivision in an amount
34determined by the licensing authority to be reasonable.
35(2) A cultivator is not required to send medical cannabis to a
36distributor if the medical cannabis is to be used, sold, or otherwise
37distributed by methods approved pursuant to this chapter to a
38manufacturer for further manufacturing.
39(c) (1) Upon receipt of medical cannabis or medical cannabis
40products from a cultivator or a manufacturer, the distributor shall
P24 1first ensure a random sample of the medical cannabis or medical
2cannabis product is tested by a
testing laboratory.
3(2) Upon issuance of a certificate of analysis by the testing
4laboratory that the product is fit for manufacturing or retail, the
5cultivator or manufacturer shall send medical cannabis and medical
6cannabis products from the approved associated batch to the
7distributor. All medical cannabis and medical cannabis products
8shall then undergo a quality assurance review by the distributor
9prior to distribution to ensure the identity, quality, and content of
10the medical cannabis or medical cannabis product, and for tracking
11and taxation purposes by the state. Cultivators and manufacturers
12shall package or seal all medical cannabis and medical cannabis
13products in tamper-evident packaging and use a unique identifier,
14as prescribed by the Department of Food and Agriculture, for the
15purpose of identifying and tracking medical
cannabis or medical
16cannabis products. Medical cannabis and medical cannabis products
17shall be labeled as required by Section 19347, except as otherwise
18specified in this chapter. All packaging and sealing shall be
19completed prior to medical cannabis or medical cannabis products
20being transported or delivered to a licensee, qualified patient, or
21caregiver, except as otherwise specified in this chapter. The bureau
22shall specify the manner in which medical cannabis and medical
23cannabis products meant for wholesale purposes shall be packaged
24and sealed prior to transport, testing, quality assurance, quality
25control testing, or distribution.
26(3) This section does not limit the ability of a cultivator,
27manufacturer, or dispensary to directly enter into contracts with
28one another indicating the price and quantity of medical cannabis
29or
medical cannabis products to be distributed. However, a
30distributor responsible for executing the contract is authorized to
31collect a fee for the services rendered, including, but not limited
32to, costs incurred by a testing laboratory, as well as applicable state
33or local taxes and fees.
34(d) Medical cannabis and medical cannabis products shall be
35tested by a testing laboratory, prior to retail sale or dispensing, as
36follows:
37(1) Medical cannabis from dried flower shall, at a minimum,
38be tested for concentration, pesticides, mold, and other
39contaminants.
P25 1(2) Medical cannabis extracts shall, at a minimum, be tested for
2concentration and purity of the product.
3(3) This chapter shall not prohibit a licensee from performing
4on-site testing for the purposes of quality assurance of the product
5in conjunction with reasonable business operations. On-site testing
6by the licensee shall not be certified by the State Department of
7Public Health.
8(e) All commercial cannabis activity shall be conducted between
9licensees.
10(f) The bureau shall promulgate regulations relating to the
11amounts of each batch of medical cannabis or medical cannabis
12product that a cultivator or manufacturer is required to send to a
13distributor for inspection and a testing laboratory for testing. The
14regulations shall focus on reducing diversion, ensuring the quality
15of the product for the health and safety of patients, and allowing
16for efficiency in
enforcement.
Section 19328 of the Business and Professions Code
18 is amended to read:
(a) Except as specified in paragraph (9), a licensee may
20only hold a state license in up to two separate license categories,
21as follows:
22(1) Type 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, or 2B licensees may also hold either
23a Type 6 or 7 state license.
24(2) Type 6 or 7 licensees, or a combination thereof, may also
25hold either a Type 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, or 2B state license.
26(3) Type 6 or 7 licensees, or a combination thereof, may also
27hold a Type 10A state license.
28(4) Type 10A licensees may also hold either a
Type 6 or 7 state
29license, or a combination thereof.
30(5) Type 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, or 2B licensees, or a combination
31thereof, may also hold a Type 10A state license.
32(6) Type 10A licensees may apply for Type 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A,
33or 2B state license, or a combination thereof.
34(7) Type 11 licensees shall apply for a Type 12 state license,
35but shall not apply for any other type of state license.
36(8) Type 12 licensees may apply for a Type 11 state license.
37(9) A Type 10A licensee may apply for a Type 6 or 7 state
38license and hold a 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4 or
39
combination thereof if, under the 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B,
404 or combination of licenses thereof, no more than four acres of
P26 1total canopy size of cultivation by the licensee is occurring
2throughout the state during the period that the respective licenses
3are valid. All cultivation pursuant to this section shall comply with
4local ordinances. By January 1, 2025, the bureau shall review the
5appropriateness of continuing licensure under this paragraph and
6shall report its recommendation for elimination or extension of
7these provisions to the Legislature.
8(b) Except as provided in subdivision (a), a person or entity that
9holds a state license is prohibited from licensure for any other
10activity authorized under this chapter, and is prohibited from
11holding an ownership interest in real property, personal property,
12or other
assets associated with or used in any other license category.
13(c) (1) In a jurisdiction that adopted a local ordinance, prior to
14July 1, 2015, allowing or requiring qualified businesses to cultivate,
15manufacture, and dispense medical cannabis or medical cannabis
16products, with all commercial cannabis activity being conducted
17by a single qualified business, upon licensure that business shall
18not be subject to subdivision (a) if it meets all of the following
19conditions:
20(A) The business was cultivating, manufacturing, and dispensing
21medical cannabis or medical cannabis products on July 1, 2015,
22and has continuously done so since that date.
23(B) The business has been in full compliance with all applicable
24
local ordinances at all times prior to licensure.
25(C) The business is registered with the State Board of
26Equalization for tax purposes.
27(2) A business licensed pursuant to paragraph (1) is not required
28to conduct all cultivation or manufacturing within the bounds of
29a single local jurisdiction, but all cultivation and manufacturing
30shall have commenced prior to July 1, 2015, and have been in full
31compliance with applicable local ordinances.
32(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026,
33and as of that date is repealed.
Section 19328 is added to the Business and
35Professions Code, to read:
(a) A licensee may only hold a state license in up to
37two separate license categories, as follows:
38(1) Type 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, or 2B licensees may also hold either
39a Type 6 or 7 state license.
P27 1(2) Type 6 or 7 licensees, or a combination thereof, may also
2hold either a Type 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, or 2B state license.
3(3) Type 6 or 7 licensees, or a combination thereof, may also
4hold a Type 10A state license.
5(4) Type 10A licensees may also hold either a Type 6 or 7 state
6license, or a
combination thereof.
7(5) Type 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, or 2B licensees, or a combination
8thereof, may also hold a Type 10A state license.
9(6) Type 10A licensees may apply for Type 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A,
10or 2B state license, or a combination thereof.
11(7) Type 11 licensees shall apply for a Type 12 state license,
12but shall not apply for any other type of state license.
13(8) Type 12 licensees may apply for a Type 11 state license.
14(9) A Type 10A licensee may apply for a Type 6 or 7 state
15license and hold a 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4 or
16combination thereof if, under the 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B,
174 or
combination of licenses thereof, no more than four acres of
18total canopy size of cultivation by the licensee is occurring
19throughout the state during the period that the respective licenses
20are valid. All cultivation pursuant to this section shall comply with
21local ordinances.
22(b) Except as provided in subdivision (a), a person or entity that
23holds a state license is prohibited from licensure for any other
24activity authorized under this chapter, and is prohibited from
25holding an ownership interest in real property, personal property,
26or other assets associated with or used in any other license category.
27(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
Section 19332 of the Business and Professions Code,
29as added by Section 1 of Chapter 688 of the Statutes of 2015, is
30amended to read:
(a) The Department of Food and Agriculture shall
32promulgate regulations governing the licensing of indoor and
33outdoor cultivation sites.
34(b) The Department of Pesticide Regulation, in consultation
35with the Department of Food and Agriculture, shall develop
36standards for the use of pesticides in cultivation, and maximum
37tolerances for pesticides and other foreign object residue in
38harvested cannabis.
P28 1(c) The State Department of Public Health shall develop
2standards for the production and labeling of all edible medical
3cannabis products.
4(d) The Department of Food and Agriculture, in consultation
5with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the State Water
6Resources Control Board, shall ensure that individual and
7cumulative effects of water diversion and discharge associated
8with cultivation do not affect the instream flows needed for fish
9spawning, migration, and rearing, and the flows needed to maintain
10natural flow variability.
11(e) The Department of Food and Agriculture shall have the
12authority necessary to implement the regulations it adopts pursuant
13to this chapter. The regulations shall do all of the following:
14(1) Provide that weighing or measuring devices used in
15connection with the sale or distribution of medical cannabis are
16required to meet standards equivalent to Division 5 (commencing
17
with Section 12001).
18(2) Require that medical cannabis cultivation by licensees is
19conducted in accordance with state and local laws related to land
20conversion, grading, electricity usage, water usage, agricultural
21discharges, and similar matters. Nothing in this chapter, and no
22regulation adopted by the department, shall be construed to
23supersede or limit the authority of the State Water Resources
24Control Board, regional water quality control boards, or the
25Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement and enforce their
26statutory obligations or to adopt regulations to protect water quality,
27water supply, and natural resources.
28(3) Establish procedures for the issuance and revocation of
29unique identifiers for activities associated with a medical cannabis
30cultivation
license, pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section
3119337). All medical cannabis shall be labeled with the unique
32identifier issued by the Department of Food and Agriculture.
33(4) Prescribe standards, in consultation with the bureau, for the
34reporting of information as necessary related to unique identifiers,
35pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 19337).
36(f) The Department of Pesticide Regulation, in consultation with
37the State Water Resources Control Board, shall promulgate
38regulations that require that the application of pesticides or other
39pest control in connection with the indoor or outdoor cultivation
40of medical cannabis meets standards equivalent to Division 6
P29 1(commencing with Section 11401) of the Food and Agricultural
2Code and its implementing regulations.
3(g) State cultivator license types issued by the Department of
4Food and Agriculture include:
5(1) Type 1, or “specialty outdoor,” for outdoor cultivation using
6no artificial lighting of less than or equal to 5,000 square feet of
7total canopy size on one premises, or up to 50 mature plants on
8noncontiguous plots.
9(2) Type 1A, or “specialty indoor,” for indoor cultivation using
10exclusively artificial lighting of less than or equal to 5,000 square
11feet of total canopy size on one premises.
12(3) Type 1B, or “specialty mixed-light,” for cultivation using a
13combination of natural and supplemental artificial lighting at a
14maximum threshold to be determined by the
licensing authority,
15of less than or equal to 5,000 square feet of total canopy size on
16one premises.
17(4) Type 2, or “small outdoor,” for outdoor cultivation using
18no artificial lighting between 5,001 and 10,000 square feet,
19inclusive, of total canopy size on one premises.
20(5) Type 2A, or “small indoor,” for indoor cultivation using
21exclusively artificial lighting between 5,001 and 10,000 square
22
feet, inclusive, of total canopy size on one premises.
23(6) Type 2B, or “small mixed-light,” for cultivation using a
24combination of natural and supplemental artificial lighting at a
25maximum threshold to be determined by the licensing authority,
26between 5,001 and 10,000 square feet, inclusive, of total canopy
27size on one premises.
28(7) Type 3, or “outdoor,” for outdoor cultivation using no
29artificial lighting from 10,001 square feet to one acre, inclusive,
30of total canopy size on one premises. The Department of Food and
31Agriculture shall limit the number of licenses allowed of this type.
32(8) Type 3A, or “indoor,” for indoor cultivation using
33exclusively artificial lighting between 10,001 and 22,000 square
34feet,
inclusive, of total canopy size on one premises. The
35Department of Food and Agriculture shall limit the number of
36licenses allowed of this type.
37(9) Type 3B, or “mixed-light,” for cultivation using a
38combination of natural and supplemental artificial lighting at a
39maximum threshold to be determined by the licensing authority,
40between 10,001 and 22,000 square feet, inclusive, of total canopy
P30 1size on one premises. The Department of Food and Agriculture
2shall limit the number of licenses allowed of this type.
3(10) Type 4, or “nursery,” for cultivation of medical cannabis
4solely as a nursery. A Type 4 licensee may transport live immature
5
plants to a licensed facility, subject to the tracking, security, and
6related requirements in accordance with Article 7 (commencing
7with Section 19334), Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 19335),
8and Article 8 (commencing with Section 19337).
Section 19332 of the Business and Professions Code,
10as added by Section 13 of Chapter 719 of the Statutes of 2015, is
11amended to read:
(a) The Department of Food and Agriculture shall
13promulgate regulations governing the licensing of indoor and
14outdoor cultivation sites.
15(b) The Department of Pesticide Regulation, in consultation
16with the Department of Food and Agriculture, shall develop
17standards for the use of pesticides in cultivation, and maximum
18tolerances for pesticides and other foreign object residue in
19harvested cannabis.
20(c) The State Department of Public Health shall develop
21standards for the production and labeling of all edible medical
22cannabis products.
23(d) The
Department of Food and Agriculture, in consultation
24with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the State Water
25Resources Control Board, shall ensure that individual and
26cumulative effects of water diversion and discharge associated
27with cultivation do not affect the instream flows needed for fish
28spawning, migration, and rearing, and the flows needed to maintain
29natural flow variability.
30(e) The Department of Food and Agriculture shall have the
31authority necessary to implement the regulations it adopts pursuant
32to this chapter. The regulations shall do all of the following:
33(1) Provide that weighing or measuring devices used in
34connection with the sale or distribution of medical cannabis are
35required to meet standards equivalent to Division 5 (commencing
36
with Section 12001).
37(2) Require that medical cannabis cultivation by licensees is
38conducted in accordance with state and local laws related to land
39conversion, grading, electricity usage, water usage, agricultural
40discharges, and similar matters. Nothing in this chapter, and no
P31 1regulation adopted by the department, shall be construed to
2supersede or limit the authority of the State Water Resources
3Control Board, regional water quality control boards, or the
4Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement and enforce their
5statutory obligations or to adopt regulations to protect water quality,
6water supply, and natural resources.
7(3) Establish procedures for the issuance and revocation of
8unique identifiers for activities associated with a medical cannabis
9cultivation
license, pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section
1019337). All medical cannabis shall be labeled with the unique
11identifier issued by the Department of Food and Agriculture.
12(4) Prescribe standards, in consultation with the bureau, for the
13reporting of information as necessary related to unique identifiers,
14pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 19337).
15(f) The Department of Pesticide Regulation, in consultation with
16the State Water Resources Control Board, shall promulgate
17regulations that require that the application of pesticides or other
18pest control in connection with the indoor or outdoor cultivation
19of medical cannabis meets standards equivalent to Division 6
20(commencing with Section 11401) of the Food and Agricultural
21Code and its implementing regulations.
22(g) State cultivator license types issued by the Department of
23Food and Agriculture include:
24(1) Type 1, or “specialty outdoor,” for outdoor cultivation using
25no artificial lighting of less than or equal to 5,000 square feet of
26total canopy size on one premises, or up to 50 mature plants on
27noncontiguous plots.
28(2) Type 1A, or “specialty indoor,” for indoor cultivation using
29exclusively artificial lighting of less than or equal to 5,000 square
30feet of total canopy size on one premises.
31(3) Type 1B, or “specialty mixed-light,” for cultivation using a
32combination of natural and supplemental artificial lighting at a
33maximum threshold to be determined by the licensing
authority,
34of less than or equal to 5,000 square feet of total canopy size on
35one premises.
36(4) Type 2, or “small outdoor,” for outdoor cultivation using
37no artificial lighting between 5,001 and 10,000 square feet,
38inclusive, of total canopy size on one premises.
P32 1(5) Type 2A, or “small indoor,” for indoor cultivation using
2exclusively artificial lighting between 5,001 and 10,000 square
3feet, inclusive, of total canopy size on one premises.
4(6) Type 2B, or “small mixed-light,” for cultivation using a
5combination of natural and supplemental artificial lighting at a
6maximum threshold to be determined by the licensing authority,
7between 5,001 and 10,000 square feet, inclusive, of total canopy
8size on one premises.
9(7) Type 3, or “outdoor,” for outdoor cultivation using no
10artificial lighting from 10,001 square feet to one acre, inclusive,
11of total canopy size on one premises. The Department of Food and
12Agriculture shall limit the number of licenses allowed of this type.
13(8) Type 3A, or “indoor,” for indoor cultivation using
14exclusively artificial lighting between 10,001 and 22,000 square
15feet, inclusive, of total canopy size on one premises. The
16Department of Food and Agriculture shall limit the number of
17licenses allowed of this type.
18(9) Type 3B, or “mixed-light,” for cultivation using a
19combination of natural and supplemental artificial lighting at a
20maximum threshold to be determined by the licensing authority,
21between
10,001 and 22,000 square feet, inclusive, of total canopy
22size on one premises. The Department of Food and Agriculture
23shall limit the number of licenses allowed of this type.
24(10) Type 4, or “nursery,” for cultivation of medical cannabis
25solely as a nursery. A Type 4 licensee may transport live immature
26plants to a licensed facility, subject to the tracking, security, and
27related requirements in accordance with Article 7 (commencing
28with Section 19334), Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 19335),
29and Article 8 (commencing with Section 19337).
Section 19332.5 of the Business and Professions
31Code is amended to read:
(a) Not later than January 1, 2020, the Department
33of Food and Agriculture in conjunction with the bureau, shall make
34available a certified organic designation and organic certification
35program for medical cannabis, if permitted under federal law and
36the National Organic Program (Section 6517 of the federal Organic
37Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq.)), and
38Article 7 (commencing with Section 110810) of Chapter 5 of Part
395 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code.
P33 1(b) The bureau may establish appellations of origin for medical
2cannabis grown in California.
3(c) It is unlawful for medical cannabis to
be marketed, labeled,
4or sold as grown in a California county when the medical cannabis
5was not grown in that county.
6(d) It is unlawful to use the name of a California county in the
7labeling, marketing, or packaging of medical cannabis products
8unless the product was grown in that county.
Section 19334 of the Business and Professions Code
10 is amended to read:
(a) State licenses to be issued by the Department of
12Consumer Affairs are as follows:
13(1) (A) “Dispensary,” as defined in this chapter.
14(B) A dispensary may be one of the following:
15(i) “Storefront dispensary” for licensees who have a brick and
16mortar dispensary with direct physical access for the public.
17(ii) “Nonstorefront dispensary” for licensees who have a brick
18and mortar dispensary that does not have a storefront with direct
19physical access for the public.
20(C) Any of the dispensaries listed in subparagraph (B) may
21deliver in a city, county, or city and county that does not expressly
22prohibit delivery by local ordinance.
23(2) “Distributor,” or “Type 11 licensee,” for the distribution of
24medical cannabis and medical cannabis products from manufacturer
25to dispensary. A distributor shall hold a Type 12, or transporter,
26license and register each location where product is stored for the
27purposes of distribution. A distributor shall not hold a license in
28a cultivation, manufacturing, dispensing, or testing license category
29and shall not own, or have an ownership interest in, a facility
30
licensed in those categories other than a security interest, lien, or
31encumbrance on property that is used by a licensee. A distributor
32shall be bonded and insured at a minimum level established by the
33licensing authority.
34(3) “Transporter” or “Type 12 licensee” for transporters of
35medical cannabis or medical cannabis products between licensees.
36A transporter shall be bonded and insured at a minimum level
37established by the licensing authority.
38(b) The bureau shall establish both of the following:
P34 1(1) Minimum security requirements for the commercial
2transportation and delivery of medical cannabis and medical
3cannabis products.
4(2) Advertising, marketing, signage, and other labeling
5requirements and restrictions, including a prohibition on
6advertising, marketing, and other promotion of the medical
7cannabis or medical cannabis products provided by a person
8engaging in commercial cannabis activity but not in full compliance
9with this chapter.
10(A) The bureau may provide information to verify a state license
11is active and in good standing for purposes of complying with this
12paragraph.
13(B) One year after the bureau posts a notice on its Internet Web
14site that the licensing authorities have commenced issuing licenses
15pursuant to the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, all
16advertisements for licensees under this chapter shall include the
17valid state license number of the licensee.
18(c) A dispensary shall implement sufficient security measures
19to both deter and prevent unauthorized entrance into areas
20containing medical cannabis or medical cannabis products and
21theft of medical cannabis or medical cannabis products at the
22dispensary. These security measures shall include, but not be
23limited to, all of the following:
24(1) Preventing individuals from remaining on the premises of
25the dispensary if they are not engaging in activity expressly related
26to the operations of the dispensary.
27(2) Establishing limited access areas accessible only to
28authorized dispensary personnel.
29(3) Storing all finished medical cannabis and medical cannabis
30products
in a secured and locked room, safe, or vault, and in a
31manner as to prevent diversion, theft, and loss, except for limited
32amounts of cannabis used for display purposes, samples, or
33immediate sale.
34(4) Requiring all medical cannabis and medical cannabis
35products used for display purposes, samples, or immediate sale to
36be stored out of reach of any individual who is not employed by
37the dispensary.
38(d) A dispensary shall notify the licensing authority and the
39appropriate law enforcement authorities within 24 hours after
40discovering any of the following:
P35 1(1) Significant discrepancies identified during inventory. The
2level of significance shall be determined by the bureau.
3(2) Diversion, theft, loss, or any criminal activity involving the
4dispensary or any agent or employee of the dispensary.
5(3) The loss or unauthorized alteration of records related to
6cannabis, registered qualifying patients, primary caregivers, or
7dispensary employees or agents.
8(4) Any other breach of security.
Section 19335 of the Business and Professions Code
10 is amended to read:
(a) The Department of Food and Agriculture, in
12consultation with the bureau, shall establish a track and trace
13program for reporting the movement of medical cannabis items
14throughout the distribution chain that utilizes a unique identifier
15pursuant to Section 11362.777 of the Health and Safety Code and
16secure packaging and is capable of providing information that
17captures, at a minimum, all of the following:
18(1) The licensee receiving the product.
19(2) The transaction date.
20(3) The cultivator from which the product originates, including
21the associated
unique identifier, pursuant to Section 11362.777 of
22the Health and Safety Code.
23(b) (1) The Department of Food and Agriculture shall create
24an electronic database containing the electronic shipping manifests,
25which shall include, but not be limited to, the following
26information:
27(A) The quantity, or weight, and variety of products shipped.
28(B) The estimated times of departure and arrival.
29(C) The quantity, or weight, and variety of products received.
30(D) The actual time of departure and arrival.
31(E) A categorization of the product.
32(F) The license number and the unique identifier pursuant to
33Section 11362.777 of the Health and Safety Code issued by the
34licensing authority for all licensees involved in the shipping
35process, including cultivators, transporters, distributors, and
36dispensaries.
37(2) (A) The database shall be designed to flag irregularities for
38all licensing authorities in this chapter to investigate.
39Notwithstanding Section 30, all licensing authorities pursuant to
40this chapter may access the database and share information related
P36 1to licensees under this chapter, including social security and
2individual taxpayer identifications.
3(B) The Department of Food and Agriculture shall immediately
4inform the
bureau upon the finding of an irregularity or suspicious
5finding related to a licensee, applicant, or commercial cannabis
6activity for investigatory purposes.
7(3) Licensing authorities and state and local agencies may, at
8any time, inspect shipments and request documentation for current
9inventory.
10(4) The bureau shall have 24-hour access to the electronic
11database administered by the Department of Food and Agriculture.
12(5) The Department of Food and Agriculturebegin delete shall be authorized begin insert mayend insert enter into
13toend deletebegin delete memoranda of understandingsend deletebegin insert
a memorandum
14of understandingend insert withbegin insert aend insert licensingbegin delete authoritiesend deletebegin insert authorityend insert for data
15sharing purposes, as deemed necessary by the Department of Food
16and Agriculture.
17(6) Information received and contained in records kept by the
18Department of Food and Agriculture or licensing authorities for
19the purposes of administering this section are confidential and
20shall not be disclosed pursuant to the California Public Records
21Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7
22of Title 1 of the Government Code), except as necessary for
23authorized
employees of the State of California or any city, county,
24or city and county to perform official duties pursuant to this chapter
25or a local ordinance.
26(7) Upon the request of a state or local law enforcement agency,
27licensing authorities shall allow access to or provide information
28contained within the database to assist law enforcement in their
29duties and responsibilities pursuant to this chapter.
Section 19340 of the Business and Professions Code
31 is amended to read:
(a) Deliveries, as defined in this chapter, can only be
33made by a dispensary and in a city, county, or city and county that
34does not explicitly prohibit it by local ordinance.
35(b) Upon approval of the licensing authority, a licensed
36dispensary that delivers medical cannabis or medical cannabis
37products shall comply with both of the following:
38(1) The city, county, or city and county in which the licensed
39dispensary is located, and in which each delivery is made, do not,
40by ordinance, explicitly prohibit delivery.
P37 1(2) All employees of a dispensary
delivering medical cannabis
2or medical cannabis products shall carry a copy of the dispensary’s
3current license authorizing those services with them during
4deliveries and the employee’s government-issued identification,
5and shall present that license and identification upon request to
6state and local law enforcement, employees of regulatory
7authorities, and other state and local agencies enforcing this
8chapter.
9(c) A county shall have the authority to impose a tax, pursuant
10to Article 11 (commencing with Section 19348), on each delivery
11transaction completed by a licensee.
12(d) During delivery, the licensee shall maintain a physical copy
13of the delivery request and shall make it available upon request of
14the licensing authority and law enforcement officers. The delivery
15request
documentation shall comply with state and federal law
16regarding the protection of confidential medical information.
17(e) The qualified patient or primary caregiver requesting the
18delivery shall maintain a copy of the delivery request and shall
19make it available, upon request, to the licensing authority and law
20enforcement officers.
21(f) A local jurisdiction shall not prevent carriage of medical
22cannabis or medical cannabis products on public roads by a licensee
23acting in compliance with this chapter.
24(g) The bureau shall establish the following regulations
25regarding the delivery of medical cannabis and medical cannabis
26products:
27(1) Employee training standards
that ensure qualified patients
28and primary caregivers have adequate information regarding the
29medical cannabis or medical cannabis products that a dispensary
30delivers, and to provide employees with information regarding
31state and federal laws and regulations.
32(2) Protocols to provide qualified patients and primary caregivers
33with information regarding laws, regulations, and local ordinances
34relevant to providing medical cannabis or medical cannabis
35products to qualified patients and primary caregivers in the local
36jurisdiction in which the dispensary is located and the
local
37jurisdiction in which the qualified patients and primary caregivers
38are located.
39(3) A system for registering and maintaining the status of all
40delivery personnel of dispensaries, including protocols for
P38 1suspending the registrations of individuals who move out of this
2state, who discontinue employment at a dispensary, or who are
3under suspension or inspection by a dispensary or local or state
4agencies. This system shall be made available to local and state
5law enforcement, qualified patients, primary caregivers, and any
6other entity deemed appropriate by the bureau. Any fees associated
7with registration of delivery personnel shall be set by the bureau
8and shall not exceed the reasonable amount necessary to cover the
9costs to regulate the delivery personnel and maintain the system.
10(4) The operating hours for delivery.
11(5) A requirement that any person who delivers medical cannabis
12or medical cannabis products be employed by or contract with
13only one dispensary at a time.
14(6) Minimum requirements for patient information that is stored
15by each delivery operation, including, but not limited to, the contact
16information for the patient and, if applicable, his or her primary
17caregiver, the physician’s recommendation, and the identification
18card issued pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section
1911362.7) of Chapter 6 of Division 10 of the Health and Safety
20Code. All identifying information obtained about a qualified patient
21or primary caregiver shall be obtained and stored in compliance
22with
the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (Part 2.6
23(commencing with Section 56) of Division 1 of the Civil Code)
24and all other privacy laws and regulations.
25(h) The bureau shall establish requirements for all dispensary
26employees who deliver medical cannabis or medical cannabis
27products, including, but not limited to, the following:
28(1) Possession of a valid driver’s license issued by the
29Department of Motor Vehicles.
30(2) Provide the bureau with a current address.
31(3) Provide the bureau with necessary automobile and insurance
32information.
33(4) Registration with the bureau.
Section 19342 of the Business and Professions Code
35 is amended to read:
(a) For the purposes of testing medical cannabis or
37medical cannabis products, licensees shall use a licensed testing
38laboratory that has adopted a standard operating procedure using
39methods consistent with general requirements for the competence
40of testing and calibration activities, including sampling, using
P39 1standard methods established by the International Organization
2for Standardization, specifically ISO/IEC 17020 and ISO/IEC
317025 to test medical cannabis and medical cannabis products that
4are approved by an accrediting body that is a signatory to the
5International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual
6Recognition Arrangement.
7(b) An agent of a
testing laboratory shall obtain samples
8according to a statistically valid sampling method for each lot.
9(c) A testing laboratory shall analyze samples according to the
10following:
11(1) In the final form which the patient will consume the medical
12cannabis or medical cannabis product, including moisture content
13and other attributes.
14(2) A scientifically valid methodology approved by the
15accrediting body.
16(d) If a test result falls outside the specifications authorized by
17law or regulation, the testing laboratory shall follow a standard
18operating procedure to confirm or refute the original result.
19(e) A testing laboratory shall destroy the remains of the sample
20of medical cannabis or medical cannabis product upon completion
21of the analysis.
Section 19344 of the Business and Professions Code
23 is amended to read:
(a) A testing laboratory shall issue a certificate of
25analysis for each lot, with supporting data, to report both of the
26following:
27(1) Whether the chemical profile of the lot conforms to the
28specifications of the lot for compounds, including, but not limited
29to, all of the following:
30(A) Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
31(B) Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCA).
32(C) Cannabidiol (CBD).
33(D) Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDA).
34(E) The terpenes described in the most current version of the
35cannabis inflorescence monograph published by the American
36Herbal Pharmacopoeia.
37(F) Cannabigerol (CBG).
38(G) Cannabinol (CBN).
39(H) Any other compounds required by the State Department of
40Public Health.
P40 1(2) That the presence of contaminants does not exceed the levels
2that are the lesser of either the most current version of the American
3
Herbal Pharmacopoeia monograph or the State Department of
4Public Health. For purposes of this paragraph, contaminants
5include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
6(A) Residual solvent or processing chemicals.
7(B) Foreign material, including, but not limited to, hair, insects,
8or similar or related adulterant.
9(C) Microbiological impurity, including total aerobic microbial
10count, total yeast mold count, P. aeruginosa, aspergillus spp., s.
11aureus, aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, or G2, or ochratoxin A.
12(D) Whether the batch is within specification for odor and
13appearance.
14(b) Residual levels of volatile organic compounds shall be below
15those set by the State Department of Public Health. The State
16Department of Public Health shall conduct periodic audits of the
17results of testing laboratories to verify their accuracy.
Section 19345 of the Business and Professions Code
19 is amended to read:
(a) Except as provided in this chapter, a licensed testing
21laboratory shall not acquire or receive medical cannabis or medical
22cannabis products except from a licensed facility in accordance
23with this chapter, and shall not transfer or transport medical
24cannabis or medical cannabis products, except to the licensed
25facility from which the medical cannabis or medical cannabis
26products were acquired or received. All transfer or transportation
27shall be performed pursuant to a specified chain of custody
28protocol.
29(b) A licensed testing laboratory may receive and test samples
30of medical cannabis or medical cannabis products from a qualified
31patient or primary caregiver only if he or she
presents his or her
32valid recommendation for cannabis for medical purposes from a
33physician. A licensed testing laboratory shall not certify samples
34from a qualified patient or caregiver for resale or transfer to another
35party or licensee. All tests performed by a licensed testing
36laboratory for a qualified patient or caregiver shall be recorded
37with the name of the qualified patient or caregiver and the amount
38of medical cannabis or medical cannabis product received.
39(c) The State Department of Public Health shall develop
40procedures to ensure that testing of cannabis occurs prior to
P41 1
transport to dispensaries or any other business, specify how often
2licensees shall test cannabis and that the cost of testing shall be
3borne by the licensed cultivators, and require destruction of
4harvested batches whose testing samples indicate noncompliance
5with health and safety standards promulgated by the State
6Department of Public Health, unless remedial measures can bring
7the cannabis into compliance with quality assurance standards as
8promulgated by the State Department of Public Health.
9(d) The State Department of Public Health shall establish a
10licensing fee, and laboratories shall pay a fee to be licensed.
11Licensing fees shall not exceed the reasonable regulatory cost of
12the licensing activities.
Section 19347 of the Business and Professions Code
14 is amended to read:
(a) Prior to delivery or sale at a dispensary, medical
16cannabis products shall be labeled and in a tamper-evident package.
17Labels and packages of medical cannabis products shall meet the
18following requirements:
19(1) Medical cannabis packages and labels shall not be made to
20be attractive to children.
21(2) All medical cannabis product labels shall include the
22following information, prominently displayed and in a clear and
23legible font:
24(A) Manufacture date and source.
25(B) The statement “SCHEDULE I
CONTROLLED
26SUBSTANCE.”
27(C) The statement “KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
28AND ANIMALS” in bold print.
29(D) The statement “FOR MEDICAL USE ONLY.”
30(E) The statement “THE INTOXICATING EFFECTS OF THIS
31PRODUCT MAY BE DELAYED BY UP TO TWO HOURS.”
32(F) The statement “THIS PRODUCT MAY IMPAIR THE
33ABILITY TO DRIVE OR OPERATE MACHINERY. PLEASE
34USE EXTREME CAUTION.”
35(G) For packages containing only dried flower, the net weight
36of medical cannabis in the package.
37(H) A warning if nuts or other known allergens are used.
38(I) List of pharmacologically active ingredients, including, but
39not limited to, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD),
40and other cannabinoid content, the THC and other cannabinoid
P42 1amount in milligrams per serving, servings per package, and the
2THC and other cannabinoid amount in milligrams for the package
3total.
4(J) Clear indication, in bold type, that the product contains
5medical cannabis.
6(K) Identification of the source and date of cultivation and
7manufacture.
8(L) Any other requirement set by the State Department of Public
9Health.
10(M) Information associated with the unique
identifier issued by
11the Department of Food and Agriculture pursuant to Section
1211362.777 of the Health and Safety Code.
13(b) Only generic food names may be used to describe edible
14medical cannabis products, pursuant to regulations promulgated
15by the State Department of Public Health.
Section 19350 of the Business and Professions Code
17 is amended to read:
Each licensing authority shall establish a scale of
19application, licensing, and renewal fees, based upon the cost of
20enforcing this chapter, as follows:
21(a) Each licensing authority shall charge each licensee a
22licensure and renewal fee, as applicable. The licensure and renewal
23fee shall be calculated to cover the costs of administering this
24chapter. The licensure fee may vary depending upon the varying
25costs associated with administering the various regulatory
26requirements of this chapter as they relate to the nature and scope
27of the different licensure activities, including, but not limited to,
28the track and trace program required pursuant to Section 19335,
29but
shall not exceed the reasonable regulatory costs to the licensing
30authority.
31(b) The total fees assessed pursuant to this chapter shall be set
32at an amount that will fairly and proportionately generate sufficient
33total revenue to fully cover the total costs of administering this
34chapter.
35(c) All state license fees shall be set on a scaled basis by the
36licensing authority, dependent on the size of the business.
37(d) The licensing authority shall deposit all fees collected
38pursuant to this chapter in a fee account specific to that licensing
39authority, to be established in the Medical Cannabis Regulation
40and Safety Act Fund. Moneys in the licensing authority fee
P43 1
accounts shall be used, upon appropriation of the Legislature, by
2the designated licensing authority for the administration of this
3chapter.
4(e) The fees established by licensing authorities pursuant to this
5chapter shall be in addition to, and shall not limit, any fees or taxes
6imposed by a city, county, or city and county in which the licensee
7operates.
Section 19351 of the Business and Professions Code
9 is amended to read:
(a) The Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act
11Fund is hereby established within the State Treasury. Moneys in
12the fund shall be available upon appropriation by the Legislature.
13Notwithstanding Section 16305.7 of the Government Code, the
14fund shall include any interest and dividends earned on the moneys
15in the fund.
16(b) (1) Funds for the establishment and support of the regulatory
17activities pursuant to this chapter shall be advanced as a General
18Fund or special fund loan, and shall be repaid by the initial
19proceeds from fees collected pursuant to this chapter or any rule
20or regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter, by January 1, 2022.
21Should the
initial proceeds from fees not be sufficient to repay the
22loan, moneys from the Medical Cannabis Fines and Penalties
23Account shall be made available to the bureau, by appropriation
24of the Legislature, to repay the loan.
25(2) Funds advanced pursuant to this subdivision shall be
26appropriated to the bureau, which shall distribute the moneys to
27the appropriate licensing authorities, as necessary to implement
28the provisions of this chapter.
29(3) The Director of Finance may provide an initial operating
30loan from the General Fund to the Medical Cannabis Regulation
31and Safety Act Fund that does not exceed ten million dollars
32($10,000,000).
33(c) Except as otherwise provided, all moneys collected pursuant
34to this chapter as a
result of fines or penalties imposed under this
35chapter shall be deposited directly into the Medical Cannabis Fines
36and Penalties Account, which is hereby established within the
37fund, and shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature
38to the bureau, for the purposes of funding the enforcement grant
39program pursuant to subdivision (d).
P44 1(d) (1) The bureau shall establish a grant program to allocate
2moneys from the Medical Cannabis Fines and Penalties Account
3to state and local entities for the following purposes:
4(A) To assist with medical cannabis regulation and the
5enforcement of this chapter and other state and local laws
6applicable to cannabis activities.
7(B) For allocation to state and
local agencies and law
8enforcement to remedy the environmental impacts of cannabis
9cultivation.
10(2) The costs of the grant program under this subdivision shall,
11upon appropriation by the Legislature, be paid for with moneys in
12the Medical Cannabis Fines and Penalties Account.
13(3) The grant program established by this subdivision shall only
14be implemented after the loan specified in subdivision (b) is repaid.
Section 19360 of the Business and Professions Code
16 is amended to read:
(a) A person engaging in commercial cannabis activity
18without a license and associated unique identifiers required by this
19chapter shall be subject to civil penalties of up to twice the amount
20of the license fee for each violation, and the licensing authority,
21state or local authority, or court may order the destruction of
22medical cannabis associated with that violation. Each day of
23operation shall constitute a separate violation of this section. All
24civil penalties imposed and collected pursuant to this section shall
25
be deposited into the Medical Cannabis Fines and Penalties
26Account, established pursuant to Section 19351, except as provided
27in subdivision (b).
28(b) If an action for civil penalties is brought against a licensee
29pursuant to this chapter by the Attorney General, the penalty
30collected shall be deposited into the Medical Cannabis Fines and
31Penalties Account. If the action is brought by a district attorney
32or county counsel, the penalty collected shall be paid to the
33treasurer of the county in which the judgment was entered. If the
34action is brought by a city attorney or city prosecutor, the penalty
35collected shall be paid to the treasurer of the city or city and county
36in which the judgment was entered. If the action is brought by a
37city attorney and is adjudicated in a superior court located in the
38unincorporated area or
another city in the same county, the penalty
39shall be paid one-half to the treasurer of the city in which the
P45 1complaining attorney has jurisdiction and one-half to the treasurer
2of the county in which the judgment is entered.
3(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), criminal penalties shall
4continue to apply to an unlicensed person or entity engaging in
5commercial cannabis activity in violation of this chapter, including,
6but not limited to, those individuals covered under Section 11362.7
7of the Health and Safety Code.
Section 12025 of the Fish and Game Code is amended
9to read:
(a) In addition to any penalties imposed by any other
11law, a person found to have violated the code sections described
12in paragraphs (1) to (11), inclusive, in connection with the
13production or cultivation of a controlled substance on land under
14the management of the Department of Parks and Recreation, the
15Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Forestry and
16Fire Protection, the State Lands Commission, a regional park
17district, the United States Forest Service, or the United States
18Bureau of Land Management, or within the respective ownership
19of a timberland production zone, as defined in Chapter 6.7
20(commencing with Section 51100) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title
215 of the Government Code, of more than 50,000 acres, or while
22trespassing
on other public or private land in connection with the
23production or cultivation of a controlled substance, shall be liable
24for a civil penalty as follows:
25(1) A person who violates Section 1602 in connection with the
26production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a
27civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for
28each violation.
29(2) A person who violates Section 5650 in connection with the
30production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a
31civil penalty of not more than forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for
32each violation.
33(3) A person who violates Section 5652 in connection with the
34production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a
35civil
penalty of not more than forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for
36each violation.
37(4) A person who violates subdivision (a) of Section 374.3 of
38the Penal Code in connection with the production or cultivation
39of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more
40than forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for each violation.
P46 1(5) A person who violates paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) of
2Section 374.3 of the Penal Code in connection with the production
3or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty
4of not more than forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for each
5violation.
6(6) A person who violates subdivision (b) of Section 374.8 of
7the Penal Code in connection with the production or cultivation
8of
a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more
9than forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for each violation.
10(7) A person who violates Section 384a of the Penal Code in
11connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled
12substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand
13dollars ($10,000) for each violation.
14(8) A person who violates subdivision (a) of Section 4571 of
15the Public Resources Code in connection with the production or
16cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty
17of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation.
18(9) A person who violates Section 4581 of the Public Resources
19Code in connection with the production or cultivation of a
20controlled
substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than
21ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation.
22(10) A person who violates Section 2000 in connection with
23the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject
24to a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000)
25for each violation.
26(11) A person who violates Section 2002 in connection with
27the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject
28to a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000)
29for each violation.
30(b) (1) In addition to any penalties imposed by any other law,
31a person found to have violated the code sections described in this
32subdivision in connection with the production
or cultivation of a
33controlled substance on land that the person owns, leases, or
34otherwise uses or occupies with the consent of the landowner shall
35be liable for a civil penalty as follows:
36(A) A person who violates Section 1602 in connection with the
37production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a
38civil penalty of not more than eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for
39each violation.
P47 1(B) A person who violates Section 5650 in connection with the
2production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a
3civil penalty of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000)
4for each violation.
5(C) A person who violates Section 5652 in connection with the
6production or cultivation of a controlled
substance is subject to a
7civil penalty of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000)
8for each violation.
9(D) A person who violates subdivision (a) of Section 374.3 of
10the Penal Code in connection with the production or cultivation
11of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more
12than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for each violation.
13(E) A person who violates paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) of
14Section 374.3 of the Penal Code in connection with the production
15or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty
16of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for each
17violation.
18(F) A person who violates subdivision (b) of Section 374.8 of
19the Penal Code in
connection with the production or cultivation
20of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more
21than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for each violation.
22(G) A person who violates Section 384a of the Penal Code in
23connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled
24substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand
25dollars ($10,000) for each violation.
26(H) A person who violates subdivision (a) of Section 4571 of
27the Public Resources Code in connection with the production or
28cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty
29of not more than eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for each violation.
30(I) A person who violates Section 4581 of the Public Resources
31Code in
connection with the production or cultivation of a
32controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than
33eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for each violation.
34(J) A person who violates Section 2000 in connection with the
35production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a
36civil penalty of not more than eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for
37each violation.
38(K) A person who violates Section 2002 in connection with the
39production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a
P48 1civil penalty of not more than eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for
2each violation.
3(2) Each day that a violation of a code section described in this
4subdivision occurs or continues to occur shall constitute a separate
5violation.
6(c) The civil penalty imposed for each separate violation
7pursuant to this section is in addition to any other civil penalty
8imposed for another violation of this section, or any violation of
9any other law.
10(d) All civil penalties imposed or collected by a court for a
11separate violation pursuant to this section shall not be considered
12to be fines or forfeitures, as described in Section 13003, and shall
13be apportioned in the following manner:
14(1) Thirty percent shall be distributed to the county in which
15the violation was committed pursuant to Section 13003. The county
16board of supervisors shall first use any revenues from those
17penalties to reimburse the costs incurred by the district attorney
18or city attorney in
investigating and prosecuting the violation.
19(2) (A) Thirty percent shall be distributed to the investigating
20agency to be used to reimburse the cost of any investigation directly
21related to the violations described in this section.
22(B) If the department receives reimbursement pursuant to this
23paragraph for activities funded pursuant to subdivision (f) of
24Section 4629.6 of the Public Resources Code, the reimbursement
25funds shall be deposited into the Timber Regulation and Forest
26Restoration Fund, created by Section 4629.3 of the Public
27Resources Code, if there is an unpaid balance for a loan authorized
28by subdivision (f) of Section 4629.6 of the Public Resources Code.
29(3) Forty percent shall be deposited into the
Timber Regulation
30and Forest Restoration Fund, created by Section 4629.3 of the
31Public Resources Code, and used for grants authorized pursuant
32to Section 4629.6 of the Public Resources Code that improve forest
33health by remediating former cannabis growing operations.
34(e) Civil penalties authorized pursuant to this section may be
35imposed administratively by the department if all of the following
36occur:
37(1) The chief deputy director or law enforcement division
38assistant chief in charge of cannabis-related enforcement issues a
39complaint to any person or entity on which an administrative civil
40penalty may be imposed pursuant to this section. The complaint
P49 1shall allege the act or failure to act that constitutes a violation, any
2facts related to natural resources impacts, the
provision of law
3authorizing the civil penalty to be imposed, and the proposed
4penalty amount.
5(2) The complaint and order is served by personal notice or
6certified mail and informs the party served that the party may
7request a hearing not later than 20 days from the date of service.
8If a hearing is requested, it shall be scheduled before the director
9or his or her designee, which designee shall not be the chief deputy
10or assistant chief issuing the complaint and order. A request for a
11hearing shall contain a brief statement of the material facts the
12party claims support his or her contention that no administrative
13penalty should be imposed or that an administrative penalty of a
14lesser amount is warranted. A party served with a complaint
15pursuant to this subdivision waives his or her right to a hearing if
16a hearing is not
requested within 20 days of service of the
17complaint, in which case the order imposing the administrative
18penalty shall become final.
19(3) The director, or his or her designee, shall control the nature
20and order of hearing proceedings. Hearings shall be informal in
21nature, and need not be conducted according to the technical rules
22relating to evidence. The director or his or her designee shall issue
23a final order within 45 days of the close of the hearing. A copy of
24the final order shall be served by certified mail upon the party
25served with the complaint.
26(4) A party may obtain review of the final order by filing a
27petition for a writ of mandate with the superior court within 30
28days of the date of service of the final order. The administrative
29penalty shall be due and payable to the
department within 60 days
30after the time to seek judicial review has expired, or, where the
31party did not request a hearing of the order, within 20 days after
32the order imposing an administrative penalty becomes final.
33(5) The department may adopt regulations to implement this
34subdivision.
35(f) All administrative penalties imposed or collected by the
36department for a separate violation pursuant to this section shall
37not be considered to be fines or forfeitures, as described in Section
3813003, and shall be deposited into the Timber Regulation and
39Forest Restoration Fund, created by Section 4629.3 of the Public
40Resources Code, to repay any unpaid balance of a loan authorized
P50 1by subdivision (f) of Section 4629.6 of the Public Resources Code.
2Any remaining funds from administrative
penalties collected
3pursuant to this section shall be apportioned in the following
4manner:
5(1) Fifty percent shall be deposited into the Timber Regulation
6and Forest Restoration Fund for grants authorized pursuant to
7subdivision (h) of Section 4629.6 of the Public Resources Code,
8with priority given to grants that improve forest health by
9remediating former cannabis growing operations.
10(2) Fifty percent shall be deposited into the Fish and Game
11Preservation Fund.
12(g) Any civil penalty imposed pursuant to this section for the
13violation of an offense described in paragraph (4), (5), or (6) of
14subdivision (a) or subparagraph (D), (E), or (F) of paragraph (1)
15of subdivision (b) for which the person was convicted
shall be
16offset by the amount of any restitution ordered by a criminal court.
17(h) For purposes of this section, “controlled substance” has the
18same meaning as defined in Section 11007 of the Health and Safety
19Code.
20(i) This section does not apply to any activity in full compliance
21with the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (Chapter
223.5 (commencing with Section 19300) of Division 8 of the Business
23and Professions Code).
Section 12029 of the Fish and Game Code is amended
25to read:
(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
27following:
28(1) The environmental impacts associated with cannabis
29cultivation have increased, and unlawful water diversions for
30cannabis irrigation have a detrimental effect on fish and wildlife
31and their habitat, which are held in trust by the state for the benefit
32of the people of the state.
33(2) The remediation of existing cannabis cultivation sites is
34often complex and the permitting of these sites requires greater
35department staff time and personnel expenditures. The potential
36for cannabis cultivation sites to significantly impact the state’s fish
37and
wildlife resources requires immediate action on the part of the
38department’s lake and streambed alteration permitting staff.
39(b) In order to address unlawful water diversions and other
40violations of the Fish and Game Code associated with cannabis
P51 1cultivation, the department shall establish the watershed
2enforcement program to facilitate the investigation, enforcement,
3and prosecution of these offenses.
4(c) The department, in coordination with the State Water
5Resources Control Board, shall establish a permanent multiagency
6task force to address the environmental impacts of cannabis
7cultivation. The multiagency task force, to the extent feasible and
8subject to available resources, shall expand its enforcement efforts
9on a statewide level to ensure the reduction of adverse impacts of
10cannabis
cultivation on fish and wildlife and their habitats
11throughout the state.
12(d) In order to facilitate the remediation and permitting of
13
cannabis cultivation sites, the department shall adopt regulations
14to enhance the fees on medical-cannabis-cultivation-related
15activities subject to Section 1602 for cannabis cultivation sites that
16require remediation. The fee schedule established pursuant to this
17subdivision shall not exceed the fee limits in Section 1609.
Section 52334 of the Food and Agricultural Code is
19amended to read:
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, on and after January
211, 2015, a city, county, or district, including a charter city or
22county, shall not adopt or enforce an ordinance that regulates
23plants, crops, or seeds without the consent of the secretary. An
24ordinance enacted before January 1, 2015, shall be considered part
25of the comprehensive program of the department and shall be
26enforceable.
27(b) An ordinance that regulates cannabis or marijuana as defined
28in subdivision (f) of Section 19300.5 of the Business and
29Professions Code, or medical cannabis or medical marijuana, as
30
defined in subdivision (ag) of Section 19300.5 of the Business and
31Professions Code, shall not require the consent of the secretary.
Section 11362.765 of the Health and Safety Code is
33amended to read:
(a) Subject to the requirements of this article, the
35individuals specified in subdivision (b) shall not be subject, on
36that sole basis, to criminal liability under Section 11357, 11358,
3711359, 11360, 11366, 11366.5, or 11570. However, nothing in
38this section shall authorize the individual to smoke or otherwise
39consume cannabis unless otherwise authorized by this article, nor
40shall anything in this section authorize any individual or group to
P52 1cultivate or distribute cannabis in any manner other than as set
2forth in this article, the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety
3Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 19300) of Division
48 of the Business and Professions Code), or as described in the
5
Compassionate Use Act of 1996.
6(b) Subdivision (a) shall apply to all of the following:
7(1) A qualified patient or a person with an identification card
8who transports or processes cannabis for his or her own personal
9medical use.
10(2) A designated primary caregiver who transports, processes,
11administers, delivers, or gives away cannabis for medical purposes,
12in amounts not exceeding those established in subdivision (a) of
13Section 11362.77, only to the qualified patient of the primary
14caregiver, or to the person with an identification card who has
15designated the individual as a primary caregiver.
16(3) An individual who provides assistance to a
qualified patient
17
or a person with an identification card, or his or her designated
18primary caregiver, in administering medical cannabis to the
19qualified patient or person or acquiring the skills necessary to
20cultivate or administer cannabis for medical purposes to the
21qualified patient or person.
22(c) A primary caregiver who receives compensation for actual
23expenses, including reasonable compensation incurred for services
24provided to an eligible qualified patient or person with an
25identification card to enable that person to use cannabis under this
26article, or for payment for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in
27providing those services, or both, shall not, on the sole basis of
28that fact, be subject to prosecution or punishment under Section
2911359 or 11360.
Section 11362.775 of the Health and Safety Code is
31amended to read:
(a) Subject to subdivision (d), qualified patients,
33persons with valid identification cards, and the designated primary
34caregivers of qualified patients and persons with identification
35cards, who associate within the State of California in order
36collectively or cooperatively to cultivate cannabis for medical
37purposes, shall not solely on the basis of that fact be subject to
38state criminal sanctions under Section 11357, 11358, 11359, 11360,
3911366, 11366.5, or 11570. A collective or cooperative that operates
40pursuant to this section may operate for profit, not for profit, or
P53 1any combination thereof. A collective or cooperative that operates
2for profit shall only retain the protections of this section if it
3possesses a valid, Board of
Equalization-issued sellers permit and
4a valid local license, permit, or other authorization.
5(b) (1) It is unlawful for qualified patients, persons with valid
6identification cards, and the designated primary caregivers of
7qualified patients and persons with identification cards, who
8associate within the state in order collectively or cooperatively to
9cultivate cannabis for medical purposes, to submit for placement
10an advertisement that fails to include in the text of the
11advertisement the collective or cooperative’s valid State Board of
12Equalization issued seller’s permit number.
13(2) A violation of this subdivision is an infraction, punishable
14by a fine of five hundred dollars ($500).
15(3) For
purposes of this section, “advertisement” means a notice,
16announcement, or information in a public medium,begin delete includingend delete
17begin insert including,end insert but not limited to, television, Internet Web site,
18billboard, or printed publication, that promotes a location where
19medical cannabis is sold or dispensed or a service that is involved
20in the delivery of medical cannabis.
21(c) A collective or cooperative that operates pursuant to this
22section and manufactures medical cannabis products shall not,
23solely on the basis of that fact, be subject to state criminal sanctions
24under Section 11379.6 if the collective or cooperative abides by
25all of the following requirements:
26(1) Utilizes only nonvolatile solvents, as provided in the Medical
27Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing
28with Section 19300) of Division 8 of the Business and Professions
29Code) or any regulations adopted pursuant to that act.
30(2) Is in possession of a valid sellers permit issued by the State
31Board of Equalization.
32(3) Is in possession of a valid local license, permit, or other
33authorization specific to the manufacturing of medical cannabis
34products.
35(4) For purposes of this subdivision, “manufacturing” includes
36compounding, converting, producing, deriving, processing, or
37preparing, either directly or indirectly by chemical extraction or
38independently
by means of chemical synthesis, medical cannabis
39products.
P54 1(d) This section shall remain in effect only until one year after
2the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation posts a notice on its
3Internet Web site that the licensing authorities have commenced
4issuing licenses pursuant to the Medical Cannabis Regulation and
5Safety Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 19300) of
6Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code), and is repealed
7upon that date.
Section 11362.777 of the Health and Safety Code is
9amended to read:
(a) The Department of Food and Agriculture shall
11establish a Medical Cannabis Cultivation Program to be
12administered by the secretary and, except as specified in
13subdivision (c), shall administer this section as it pertains to the
14cultivation of medical cannabis. For purposes of this section and
15Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 19300) of Division 8 of
16the Business and Professions Code, medical cannabis is an
17agricultural product.
18(b) (1) A person or entity shall not cultivate medical cannabis
19without first obtaining both of the following:
20(A) A license, permit, or other entitlement,
specifically
21permitting cultivation pursuant to these provisions, from the city,
22county, or city and county in which the cultivation will occur.
23(B) A state license issued by the department pursuant to this
24section.
25(2) A person or entity shall not submit an application for a state
26license pursuant to this section unless that person or entity has
27received a license, permit, or other entitlement, specifically
28permitting cultivation pursuant to these provisions, from the city,
29county, or city and county in which the cultivation will occur.
30(3) A person or entity shall not submit an application for a state
31license pursuant to this section if the proposed cultivation of
32cannabis will violate the provisions of a local ordinance or
33
regulation, or if medical cannabis is prohibited by the city, county,
34or city and county in which the cultivation is proposed to occur,
35either expressly or otherwise under principles of permissive zoning.
36(c) (1) Except as otherwise specified in this subdivision, and
37without limiting any other local regulation, a city, county, or city
38and county, through its current or future land use regulations or
39ordinance, may issue or deny a permit to cultivate medical cannabis
40pursuant to this section. A city, county, or city and county may
P55 1inspect the intended cultivation site for suitability before issuing
2a permit. After the city, county, or city and county has approved
3a permit, the applicant shall apply for a state medical cannabis
4cultivation license from the department. A locally issued cultivation
5permit shall only become
active upon licensing by the department
6and receiving final local approval. A person shall not cultivate
7medical cannabis before obtaining both a license or permit from
8the city, county, or city and county and a state medical cannabis
9cultivation license from the department.
10(2) A city, county, or city and county that issues or denies
11conditional licenses to cultivate medical cannabis pursuant to this
12section shall notify the department in a manner prescribed by the
13secretary.
14(3) A city, county, or city and county’s locally issued conditional
15permit requirements must be at least as stringent as the
16department’s state licensing requirements.
17(d) (1) The secretary may prescribe, adopt, and enforce
18regulations
relating to the implementation, administration, and
19enforcement of this section, including, but not limited to, applicant
20requirements, collections, reporting, refunds, and appeals.
21(2) The secretary may prescribe, adopt, and enforce any
22emergency regulations as necessary to implement this section. An
23emergency regulation prescribed, adopted, or enforced pursuant
24to this section shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 3.5
25(commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title
262 of the Government Code, and, for purposes of that chapter,
27including Section 11349.6 of the Government Code, the adoption
28of the regulation is an emergency and shall be considered by the
29Office of Administrative Law as necessary for the immediate
30preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and general
31welfare.
32(3) The secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with
33a county agricultural commissioner to carry out the provisions of
34this section, including, but not limited to, administration,
35investigations, inspections, licensing and assistance pertaining to
36the cultivation of medical cannabis. Compensation under the
37cooperative agreement shall be paid from assessments and fees
38collected and deposited pursuant to this section and shall provide
39reimbursement to the county agricultural commissioner for
40associated costs.
P56 1(e) (1) The department, in consultation with, but not limited
2to, the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation, the State Water
3Resources Control Board, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife,
4shall implement a unique identification program for
medical
5cannabis. In implementing the program, the department shall
6consider issues, including, but not limited to, water use and
7environmental impacts. In implementing the program, the
8department shall ensure that:
9(A) Individual and cumulative effects of water diversion and
10discharge associated with cultivation do not affect the instream
11flows needed for fish spawning, migration, and rearing, and the
12flows needed to maintain natural flow variability.
13(B) Cultivation will not negatively impact springs, riparian
14wetlands, and aquatic habitats.
15(2) The department shall establish a program for the
16identification of permitted medical cannabis plants at a cultivation
17site during the cultivation period. The unique
identifier shall be
18attached at the base of each plant. A unique identifier, such as, but
19not limited to, a zip tie, shall be issued for each medical cannabis
20plant.
21(A) Unique identifiers shall only be issued to those persons
22appropriately licensed by this section.
23(B) Information associated with the assigned unique identifier
24and licensee shall be included in the trace and track program
25specified in Section 19335 of the Business and Professions Code.
26(C) The department may charge a fee to cover the reasonable
27costs of issuing the unique identifier and monitoring, tracking, and
28inspecting each medical cannabis plant.
29(3) The department shall take adequate steps
to establish
30protections against fraudulent unique identifiers and limit illegal
31diversion of unique identifiers to unlicensed persons.
32(f) (1) A city, county, or city and county that issues or denies
33licenses, permits, or other entitlements to cultivate medical
34
cannabis pursuant to this section shall notify the department in a
35manner prescribed by the secretary.
36(2) Unique identifiers and associated identifying information
37administered by a city, county, or city and county shall adhere to
38the requirements set by the department and be the equivalent to
39those administered by the department.
P57 1(g) This section does not apply to a qualified patient cultivating
2cannabis pursuant to Section 11362.5 if the area he or she uses to
3cultivate cannabis does not exceed 100 square feet and he or she
4cultivates cannabis for his or her personal medical use and does
5not sell, distribute, donate, or provide cannabis to any other person
6or entity. This section does not apply to a primary caregiver
7cultivating cannabis pursuant to Section 11362.5
if the area he or
8she uses to cultivate cannabis does not exceed 500 square feet and
9he or she cultivates cannabis exclusively for the personal medical
10use of no more than five specified qualified patients for whom he
11or she is the primary caregiver within the meaning of Section
1211362.7 and does not receive remuneration for these activities,
13except for compensation provided in full compliance with
14subdivision (c) of Section 11362.765. For purposes of this section,
15the area used to cultivate cannabis shall be measured by the
16aggregate area of vegetative growth of live cannabis plants on the
17premises. Exemption from the requirements of this section does
18not limit or prevent a city, county, or city and county from
19exercising its police authority under Section 7 of Article XI of the
20California Constitution.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
22Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
23the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
24district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
25infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
26for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of
27the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within
28the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
29Constitution.
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