California Emergency Licensing Regulations for Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis

Bureau Cannabis Control

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

The regulations and their summaries are provided here:

Bureau of Cannabis Control Emergency Regulations

CA Department of Food and Agriculture Emergency Regulations

CA Department of Public Health Emergency Regulations

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

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

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

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

Legalization of Cannabis in Colorado Associated with Reductions in Opioid Deaths

Marijuana and Opioids

Researchers from the University of North Texas School of Public Health, the University of Florida, and Emory University published a study which found that legalization of cannabis in Colorado was associated with short-term reductions in opioid-related deaths.  The study was published in the American Journal of Public Health.

The researchers set out to examine the association between Colorado’s legalization of recreational cannabis use and opioid-related deaths.  They compared changes in opioid-related deaths before and after Colorado stores began selling recreational cannabis.

The study results showed that Colorado’s legalization of recreational cannabis sales and use resulted in a 0.7 deaths per month reduction in opioid-related deaths.  This reduction represented a reversal of the upward trend in opioid-related deaths in Colorado.

See the study – Recreational Cannabis Legalization and Opioid-Related Deaths in Colorado.

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