Date: June 24, 2022

Subject: Extensive Legislative Update, CA State Fair and more!

This past week was extremely busy for the Legislature. SB 1097 (Pan) and  SB 1186 (Wiener) both passed out of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee. Our Call to Action to support SB 1186, which is co-sponsored by CCIA, was successful! Thank you to everyone who stepped up to support SB 1186 and oppose SB 1097, it’s engagement efforts like this that make your continued involvement crucial!

SB 1097 (Pan). While our opposition to SB 1097 did not stop the bill from passing out of the committee, it was extremely effective at substantially narrowing the bill, as follows:

• Removes the egregious, rotating labeling requirements 
• Requires the DCC, on/before January 1, 2025, to adopt regulations requiring cannabis products labels to include a prominent warning regarding the risks that cannabis use may contribute to mental health problems
• Requires the DCC, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, stakeholders and the public university system to re-evaluate the existing labeling disclosure language every 5 years thereafter
• Requires the DCC, on/before January 1, 2024, to create and post for public use a single page, flat or folded brochure that provides information on the safe use of cannabis, which is further specified in the amendments
• Provides that the brochure must be printed in 12-point font and offered to all new customers in legal dispensaries and when cannabis is delivered to a new customer on/after March 1 2024
• Requires a re-review of the brochure on/before January 1, 2030 and every 5 years thereafter

While the bill is substantially improved, we remain strongly opposed and will continue to fight to ensure its defeat.

SB 1186 (Wiener). As previously mentioned, our Call to Action to support CCIA co-sponsored bill SB 1186 was successful! The bill would enact the Medicinal Patients’ Right of Access Act. Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) did a phenomenal job presenting the bill. CCIA, as well as Cal NORML, testified in support of the bill, which was overwhelmingly approved despite intense opposition from the League of California Cities and other local government groups. SB 1186 will be heard next week in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
CCIA also provided primary supportive testimony on two other bills:

•  AB 2210 (Quirk), which clarifies that cannabis temporary events may be held at a premise issued a license from the Alcoholic Beverage Control as long as alcohol sales are suspended for the day of the event. Additionally, it reifies that cannabis retail licensees may bring unsold inventory from a temporary event back to their original retail premises if the action is accurately reported in track and trace. 
• SB 1293 (Bradford), which creates a tax credit for cannabis equity applicants and licensees equal to $10,000. CCIA wishes to thank Board Member Mindy Galloway for her expert testimony on this critical legislation for cannabis social equity applicants and licensees.

CCIA also lent support in committee on the following bills which all moved out of their respective committees:

• AB 1706 (Bonta) which provides urgently needed solutions to the delayed implementation of California’s automatic cannabis  record-sealing statute, enacted in 2018 with the passage of AB 1793 (R. Bonta, Chapter 993). 
• AB 1885 (Kalra), which prohibits the Veterinary Medical Board from disciplining a veterinarian for recommending cannabis for animals for potential therapeutic effect or health supplementation purposes and requires the Board to adopt guidelines for veterinarians to follow when recommending cannabis by January 1, 2024. 
• AB 2188 (Quirk), which  would amend the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, making it unlawful for an employer  to discriminate against a person in hiring, termination, or any term or condition of employment,  based on the person’s use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, except employees who work in construction and applicants and employees in positions requiring a federal background investigation or clearance.  

Another bill that moved through the legislature this week was AB 1014 (McCarty) which increases the maximum value of cannabis goods that can be carried for delivery to $10,000. This bill was amended in, and passed out of the Senate Business, Professions, and Economic Development Committee.