These bills did not advance to the opposite chamber by June 4 and therefore will not become law in 2021.
LICENSING: SB-59.
Cannabis licenses & Governor’s Budget, May Revision.
* Attention, provisional license holders!.*
SB-59. Cannabis licenses.
Eighty percent of California’s licenses are provisional and at risk if CEQA compliance has not yet been achieved by legal deadlines. This bill would have extended deadlines several years, to July 2028, if passed but it was pulled by the sponsor (Senator Caballero) in late May.
The governor, in his budget proposal, included $100 million to help with the transition from provisional to annual licenses. He had hoped to also offer an extension, giving provisional license holders an extra 6 months until June 30, 2022 to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The extension did not make it in the state budget bill approved on June 14.
Bottom line: the provisional license issue is unresolved. SB 59 would have granted adequate time for local jurisdictions and provisional license holders. Since that is off the table, we will be watching for the impact of the $100 million funding and for a solution before the end of the year that avoids the collapse of the state’s licensed supply chain.
VETERINARY MEDICINAL CANNABIS: AB-384.
Cannabis and cannabis products: animals: veterinary medicine.
Under current law, veterinarians can be disciplined for recommending medicinal cannabis for an animal. This bill would have enabled vets to provide such recommendations under certain circumstances.
AB 384 will not advance in 2021.
EMPLOYMENT DRUG SCREENING: AB-1256.
Employment discrimination: cannabis screening test.
This bill would have prohibited an employer from discriminating against a person in hiring, termination, or employment because their drug screening test reveals the presence of THC.
AB 1256 will not advance in 2021.
HEMP TESTING & RETAIL SALE: AB-1435.
Noncannabis cannabinoids.
This bill would have created testing and labeling requirements for non-cannabis cannabinoids (NCCs), such as hemp-derived CBD, which would be allowed in the cannabis supply chain. It would have imposed a per-milligram excise tax.
AB 1435 will not advance in 2021.
CANNABIS CARRIED IN DELIVERY VEHICLES: AB-1014.
Cannabis: retailers: delivery: vehicles.
Right now, a delivery employee may carry $3,000-$5,000 of cannabis goods in the vehicle, based on orders received before the driver departed the premises. This bill would have created different value tiers by type of vehicle, and required development of transportation safety standards, a delivery vehicle inspection process, and a certification process.
AB 1014 will not advance in 2021.
Don’t forget: Right now, the bills above are proposals (not laws), and licensees should continue following current rules and regulations.
Stay tuned for updates in early Fall!
Nicole Howell talks psychedelics legislation and policies on “How to Launch an Ecosystem”. (June 2)
If you have any questions about how the above or would like to discuss how it could impact your business, please contact your attorney directly or call our main line at 877-257-2442.
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