PART 5. Medical Marijuana
18100.
For purposes of this part, the following definitions shall apply:(a) “Bureau” means the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation in the Department of Consumer Affairs.
(b) “Certified testing laboratory” means a laboratory that is certified by the bureau to perform random sample testing of medical marijuana pursuant to the certification standards for these facilities promulgated by the bureau.
(c) “Chief” means the Chief of the Bureau of Medical
Marijuana Regulation.
(d) “Department” means the Department of Consumer Affairs.
(e) “Director” means the Director of Consumer Affairs.
(c)
(f) “Dispensary” means a distribution operation that provides
medical marijuana or medical
marijuana derived products or devices for the use of medical marijuana or medical marijuana products to patients.
(d)
(g) “Fund” means the Medical Marijuana Regulation Fund established pursuant to Section 18101.4 18113.
(e)
(h) “Licensed cultivation site” means a facility that plants, grows, cultivates, harvests, dries, or processes medical marijuana for medical use and that is licensed pursuant to this part.
(f)
(i) “Licensed dispensing facility” means a dispensary or other facility that provides
medical marijuana for medical use, medical marijuana products, or devices for the use of medical marijuana or medical marijuana products that is licensed pursuant to this part.
(j) “Licensed manufacturer” means a person who extracts, prepares, derives, produces, compounds, or repackages medical marijuana or medical marijuana products into consumable and nonconsumable forms and that is licensed pursuant to this part.
(g)“Licensed processing facility” means a facility where marijuana or marijuana products are inspected, packaged, labeled, or otherwise prepared, warehoused, or stored prior to being provided to another facility licensed pursuant to this part, to a patient with a medical marijuana recommendation, or otherwise distributed, and that is licensed pursuant to this part.
(h)
(k) “Licensed transporter” means an individual or entity licensed by the bureau to transport medical marijuana to and from facilities licensed pursuant to this part.
(i)
(l) “Marijuana” means all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa, cannabis indica, or cannabis ruderalis, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin, whether crude or purified, extracted from any part of the
plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or resin. “Marijuana” does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination. “Marijuana” also means marijuana, as defined by Section 11018 of the Health and Safety Code.
18101.(a)(1)There is hereby created in the Department of Consumer Affairs the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation. The bureau shall be administered by an executive officer who shall be a civil servant appointed pursuant to civil service rules by the Governor, and who shall be known as the Executive Officer of the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation.
(2)Funds for the establishment and support of the bureau shall be advanced as a loan by the Department of Consumer Affairs and shall be repaid by the initial proceeds from fees collected pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 18101.1, paragraph (9) of subdivision (f) of Section 18101.2, and
subdivision (b) of Section 18101.3.
(b)(1)The bureau shall have the power to license persons for the cultivation, manufacture, transportation, storage, distribution, and sale of medical marijuana within the state and to collect licensing fees in connection with these actions.
(2)The bureau shall exercise its authority pursuant to paragraph (1) consistent with subdivision (f) of Section 1 of the act that added this section and consistent with the provisions of this part.
18101.1.The bureau shall have the authority, subject to local ordinances, to license persons for the cultivation, manufacture, transportation, storage, and sale of medical marijuana within the state, and to levy appropriate related licensing fees not to exceed the reasonable costs of enforcement and administration of this part. The bureau shall not issue a license if the applicant has not met all requirements pursuant to this part. A license, once issued, shall be suspended within 10 days of notification to the bureau by a local agency that a licensee is no longer in compliance with any local ordinance or regulation. The bureau shall have the power necessary for the administration of this part, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a)Establishing statewide minimum standards for the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, storage, distribution, provision, donation, and sale of medical marijuana and medical marijuana products, and procedures for the issuance, renewal, suspension, and revocation of licenses.
(b)Establishing a scale of application, license, and renewal fees, to be imposed by the state, for licenses for the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, distribution, and sale of medical marijuana and medical marijuana products. The bureau may charge separate fees for each license application for cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, distribution, and sale. The total fees imposed pursuant to this part shall be based on the actual costs of administering and enforcing this part.
(c)Making and proscribing any rule that may be necessary or proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this part and to enable it to exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred upon it by this part and in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. For the performance of its duties, the bureau has the powers as set forth in Article 2 (commencing with Section 11180) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(d)Approving or denying applications, subject to local ordinances, for cultivation, manufacturing, labeling, transportation, distribution, provision, donation, and sale of medical marijuana pursuant to this part.
(e)The bureau shall, with input from local agencies, deny, suspend, or revoke any license issued pursuant to this part, or fine any licensee, if the bureau determines that the granting or continuance of the license would be contrary to public welfare or morals or that a person holding or seeking a license has violated any law prohibiting conduct involving moral turpitude or an applicable local ordinance.
(f)Imposing any penalty authorized by this part or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this part.
(g)Taking any action with respect to a license application in accordance with procedures established pursuant to this part.
(h)The bureau shall make recommendations to the Legislature pertaining to the
establishment of an appeals and judicial review process for persons aggrieved by a final decision of the bureau.
(i)Developing any forms, identification certificates, and applications that are necessary or convenient in the discretion of the bureau for the administration of this part or any of the rules or regulations adopted pursuant to this part.
(j)Overseeing the operation of the Medical Marijuana Regulation Fund established pursuant to Section 18101.4.
(k)Establishing reasonable fees for processing all applications, licenses, notices, or reports required to be submitted to the bureau. The amount of the fees shall reflect, but shall not exceed, the direct and indirect costs of the bureau for the administration of this part and
the rules or regulations adopted pursuant to this part.
(l)The bureau may consult with other state agencies, departments, or public or private entities for the purposes of establishing statewide standards and regulations.
18101.
The following persons are exempt from the requirement of licensure under this part:(a) A patient who cultivates, possesses, stores, manufactures, or transports marijuana exclusively for his or her personal medical use and who does not sell, distribute, donate, or provide marijuana to any other person or entity.
(b) A primary caregiver who cultivates, possesses, stores, manufactures, transports, or provides marijuana exclusively for the personal medical purposes to no more than five specified qualified patients for whom he or she is the primary caregiver within the meaning of Section 11362.7 of the Health and Safety Code and who does not receive remuneration for these activities, except for
compensation in full compliance with subdivision (c) of Section 11362.765 of the Health and Safety Code. Nothing in this section shall permit primary caregivers to organize themselves as cooperatives or collectives of caregivers.
18102.
(a) There is hereby created in the Department of Consumer Affairs the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation, under the supervision and control of the Chief of the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation.(b) Protection of the public shall be the highest priority for the bureau in exercising its licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions. Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests sought to be promoted, the protection of the public shall be paramount.
(c) The bureau shall have the authority to license persons for the cultivation, manufacture, transportation, storage, distribution, and sale of medical marijuana within the state and to collect
licensing fees in connection with these actions.
(d) The Governor shall appoint the chief at a salary to be fixed and determined by the director with the approval of the Director of Finance. The chief shall serve in accordance with the State Civil Service Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 18500) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
(e) The duty of enforcing and administering this part shall be vested in the chief, who is responsible to the director. The chief may adopt and enforce those rules and regulations that he or she determines are reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of this part and declaring the policy of the bureau, including a system for the issuance of citations for violations of this part as specified in Section 125.9.
(f) The chief, as necessary to carry out the provisions of
this part, and in accordance with the State Civil Service Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 18500) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code), may appoint and fix the compensation of personnel, including, but not limited to, clerical, inspection, investigation, and auditing personnel, as well as an assistant chief. These personnel shall perform their respective duties under the supervision and the direction of the chief.
(g) Every power granted to, or duty imposed upon, the chief under this part may be exercised or performed in the name of the chief by a deputy or assistant chief, subject to conditions and limitations that the chief may prescribe.
(h) The bureau shall exercise its authority pursuant to this part consistent with Section 1 of the act that added this section and consistent with the provisions of this part.
18103.
Funds for the establishment and support of the bureau shall be advanced as a loan by the department and shall be repaid by the initial proceeds from fees collected pursuant to this part or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this part.18104.
The bureau shall have the authority necessary for the implementation of this part, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(a) Establishing any rule or regulation that is necessary or proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this part and to enable the bureau to exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred upon it by this part and in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. For the performance of its duties, the bureau has the powers as set forth in Article 2 (commencing with Section 11180) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(b) Licensing persons for the
cultivation, manufacture, transportation, storage, distribution, and sale of medical marijuana within the state.
(c) Setting application, licensing, and renewal fees for licenses issued pursuant to this part. Fees may be scaled and shall be in an amount determined by the department sufficient to cover the reasonable regulatory costs of enforcing and administering this part.
(d) Establishing standards for the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, storage, distribution, provision, donation, and sale of medical marijuana and medical marijuana products.
(e) Establishing procedures for the issuance, renewal, suspension, denial, and revocation of licenses.
(f) Imposing a penalty authorized by this part or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this
part.
(g) Taking action with respect to a license application in accordance with procedures established pursuant to this part.
(h) Overseeing the operation of the Medical Marijuana Regulation Fund established pursuant to Section 18113.
(i) Consulting with other state agencies, departments, or public or private entities for the purposes of establishing statewide standards and regulations.
18105.
(a) On or before July 1, 2016, the bureau shall promulgate regulations for implementation and enforcement of this part, including, but not limited to, all of the following:(1) Procedures for the issuance, renewal, suspension, denial, and revocation of licenses.
(2) Application, licensing, and renewal forms and fees.
(3) A time period in which the bureau shall approve or deny an application for a license to operate pursuant to this part.
(4) Qualifications for licensees.
(5) Standards for
certification of testing laboratories to perform random sample testing of all medical marijuana products, including standards for onsite testing.
(A) Certification of testing laboratories shall be consistent with general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration activities, including sampling, using standard methods established by the International Organization for Standardization, specifically ISO/IEC 17025.
(B) These requirements shall apply to all entities, including third-party laboratories, engaged in the testing of medical marijuana pursuant to this part.
(6) Requirements to ensure conformance with standards analogous to state statutory environmental, agricultural, consumer protection, and food and product safety requirements. At a minimum, these standards shall do all of the following:
(A) Prescribe sanitation standards analogous to the California Retail Food Code (Part 7 (commencing with Section 113700) of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code) for food preparation, storage, handling, and sale of edible medical marijuana products.
(B) Require that edible medical marijuana products produced, distributed, provided, donated, or sold by licensees shall be limited to nonpotentially hazardous food, as established by the State Department of Public Health pursuant to Section 114365.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
(C) Provide standards for labeling edible medical marijuana products to ensure that the products cannot be mistaken for food not containing marijuana.
(D) Require that facilities in which edible medical marijuana products are
prepared shall be constructed in accordance with applicable building standards, health and safety standards, and other state laws.
(E) Provide that weighing or measuring devices used in connection with the sale or distribution of medical marijuana are required to meet standards analogous to Division 5 (commencing with Section 12001).
(F) Require that the application of pesticides or other pest control in connection with the indoor or outdoor cultivation of medical marijuana shall meet standards analogous to Division 6 (commencing with Section 11401) of the Food and Agricultural Code and its implementing regulations.
(b) On or before July 1, 2016, the bureau shall also promulgate regulations for minimum statewide health and safety standards and quality assurance standards associated with the cultivation, transport,
storage, manufacture, and sale of all medical marijuana produced in this state. Local agencies shall have primary responsibility for enforcement of these standards in accordance with bureau regulations.
18101.2.18106.
(a) Except as provided in Section 11362.5 of, and Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11362.7) of Chapter 6 of Division 10 of, the Health and Safety Code, a person shall not sell or provide medical marijuana other than at a licensed dispensing facility.(b) Except as provided in Section 11362.5 of, and Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11362.7) of Chapter 6 of Division 10 of, the Health and Safety Code, a person shall not grow
medical marijuana other than at a licensed cultivation site.
(c) Except as provided in Section 11362.5 of, and Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11362.7) of Chapter 6 of Division 10 of, the Health and Safety Code, a person shall not process manufacture medical marijuana or medical marijuana products other than at a licensed processing facility
a licensed manufacturer.
(d) A person shall not transport medical marijuana from one facility licensed pursuant to this part to another, other than a licensed transporter.
(e) A licensed manufacturer may obtain medical cannabis from a licensed cultivator and may furnish medical cannabis products to a licensed dispensary.
(e)
(f) To meet the requirements of Article 8 (commencing with Section 111658) of Chapter 6 of Part 5 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code, medical marijuana and medical marijuana products shall be tested by a certified testing laboratory.
(f)The bureau shall require, prior to issuing a license pursuant to this part, all of the following:
(1)The name of the owner or owners of a proposed facility, including all persons or
entities having an ownership interest other than a security interest, lien, or encumbrance on any property that will be used by the applicant.
(2)The name, address, and date of birth of each principal officer and board member.
(3)The address and telephone number of the proposed facility.
(4)A description of the scope of business of the proposed facility.
(5)A certified copy of the local jurisdiction’s approval to operate within its borders.
(6)Operating and inventory control procedures to ensure security and prevent diversion.
(7)Detailed operating procedures for the proposed facility, which shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for facility and operational security, prevention of diversion, employee screening, storage of medical marijuana, personnel policies, and recordkeeping procedures.
(8)A completed application, as required by the bureau.
(9)Payment of a fee, in an amount to be determined by the bureau, not to exceed the amount necessary, but that is sufficient to cover, the actual costs of the administration of this part.
(10)(A)An applicant’s fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence and content of
a record of state and federal convictions and arrests, and information as to the existence and content of a record of state and federal convictions and arrests for which the Department of Justice establishes that the person is free on bail, or on his or her own recognizance, pending trial or appeal.
(B)The Department of Justice shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the reasonable cost of processing the requests described in the paragraph.
(11)In the case of a cultivation site, the GPS coordinates of the site.
(12)Any other information as required by the bureau.
(13)The bureau shall deny a license based on a past felony criminal conviction for drug
trafficking, a felony conviction for embezzlement, a felony conviction involving fraud or deceit, or any violent or serious felony conviction pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of, or subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7 of, the Penal Code. The bureau may also deny a license based on a past criminal conviction if the crime was substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of the business for which the license will be issued.
(g)The bureau shall deny a license if the application fails to state with sufficient specificity the jurisdiction in which the applicant proposes to establish operations.
(h)(1)Each application for a license approved by the bureau pursuant to this part is separate and distinct, and the bureau may charge a
separate fee for each. A licensee shall not hold a license in more than one class of specified medical marijuana activities, except that a licensee may have a transporter license in addition to a license to cultivate, process, or dispense medical marijuana.
(2)A licensee shall not be an officer, director, member, owner, or shareholder in another entity licensed pursuant to this part. The officers, directors, owners, members, or shareholders of a licensee in one class of license may not hold a license in another class, and may not be an officer, director, member, owner, or shareholder of an entity licensed pursuant to this part.
18101.3.18107.
Beginning January 1, 2015, the bureau shall provide for provisional licenses, as follows:(a) The bureau shall request that every Every city, county, or city and county provide that permits activities licensed under
this part shall submit to the bureau with a list of approved entities providing medical marijuana to qualified patients and caregivers within the city’s, county’s, or city and county’s jurisdiction, if any, the location at which the entity is operating, and the names of the persons who operate the entity.
(1) If the jurisdiction represents that the entity has been operating in compliance with local laws and regulations, or has limited immunity under local laws, including, but not limited to, Measure D, approved by the voters of the City of Los Angeles at the May 21, 2013, general election, the bureau shall issue a provisional license to the entity until the time that the entity’s application for a license has been approved or denied under this part, but no later than 90 days after the bureau begins accepting applications for
licenses.
(2) The bureau shall
may consult with relevant local agencies in making a determination on whether a provisional license applicant is in compliance with any applicable ordinance. The bureau shall may issue a provisional license to an individual or entity once the bureau has obtained confirmation from the relevant local agency that the six months prior to January 1, 2015, the applicant was regularly cultivating or distributing medical marijuana collectively or cooperatively in full compliance with any applicable local ordinance. The bureau shall continue to issue provisional licenses until such time as the licensee’s application for a standard license has been approved or denied under this part, but no later than 90 days after the bureau begins accepting applications. To qualify for a provisional license, an applicant shall be required to disclose to the bureau the following information in writing on or before January 20, 2015, in order to obtain provisional licensure:
(A)The names, addresses, and dates of birth of each principal officer, owner, or board member.
(B)The common street address and assessor’s parcel number of the property at which the applicant will conduct any activity under the authority of the license.
(C)The common street address and assessor’s parcel number of the property at which any cultivation activity was or is to be conducted.
(D)For the six months prior to January 1, 2015, the quantity of medical marijuana cultivated at a location and the quantity expected to be cultivated from January 1, 2015, to June 30, 2015, inclusive. The applicant shall make its records of current activity and activity for the six months prior to January 1, 2015, available to the bureau upon request.
(b)The bureau shall charge an application fee of eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for each provisional license.
(b) An applicant for provisional licensure shall do all of the following:
(1) Pay a fee not to exceed eight thousand dollars ($8,000) or an amount determined by the bureau to cover the reasonable regulatory costs of enforcing and administering this section.
(2) Provide, in writing, the following information:
(A) The names, addresses, and dates of birth of each principal officer, owner, or board member.
(B) The common street address and assessor’s parcel number of the property at which the applicant will conduct any activity under the authority of the license.
(C) The common street address and assessor’s parcel number of the property at which any cultivation activity was or is to be conducted.
(D) The quantity of medical marijuana cultivated at a location from July 1, 2014, to January 1, 2015, inclusive, and the quantity expected to be cultivated from January 1, 2015, to June 30, 2015, inclusive. The applicant shall make its records of current activity and activity for the period from July 1, 2014, to January 1, 2015, inclusive, available to the bureau upon request.
(c) Upon receipt of the application materials and fee required in subdivision (b), the bureau may issue a provisional license and send a proof of issuance to the applicant, provided the applicant has not committed any act or crime constituting grounds for the denial of licensure under Section 18110.
(c)
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the bureau shall not issue a provisional license to any an
individual or entity, or for any a premises, against whom there are pending state or local administrative or judicial proceedings or actions initiated by a city, county, or city and county under any applicable local ordinance or who has been determined through those proceedings to have violated any applicable local ordinance, or that knowingly provides false or fraudulent information on an application for licensure.
(e) Once the bureau begins issuing provisional licenses, a dispensary, in order to benefit from the limited immunities provided in Section
11362.775 of the Health and Safety Code, may only provide patients medical marijuana and medical marijuana products obtained from provisionally licensed entities.
(f) Provisional licensees shall record each shipment of medical marijuana by weight and destination, and shall comply with state and federal rules and regulations regarding reporting and taxation of income received.
18101.35.Beginning July 1, 2016, the bureau shall provide for standard licenses as follows:
(a)The bureau shall request that every city, county, or city and county provide the bureau with a list of approved entities providing medical marijuana to qualified patients and caregivers within the city’s, county’s, or city and county’s jurisdiction, if any, the location at which the entity is operating, and the names of the persons who operate the entity.
(b)If the jurisdiction represents that the entity has been operating in compliance with local laws and regulations, or has limited immunity under local laws, including, but not limited
to, Measure D, approved by the voters of the City of Los Angeles at the May 21, 2013, general election, the bureau shall issue a license to the entity if it meets the licensing requirements of this part.
(c)The bureau shall consult with relevant local agencies in making a determination as to whether a standard license applicant is in compliance with local ordinances. The bureau shall issue a standard license only after it has obtained confirmation from the relevant local agency that the applicant has satisfied all local permitting requirements for cultivating or distributing medical marijuana in compliance with local ordinances, and fulfilled all other requirements under this part.
(d)The bureau shall charge an application fee of eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for each
standard license.
18108.
(a) Beginning January 1, 2016, the bureau shall provide for standard licenses.(b) An applicant for licensure pursuant to this part shall do all following:
(1) Pay the fee or fees required by this part for each license being applied for.
(2) Register with the bureau on forms prescribed by the chief. The forms shall contain sufficient information to identify the licensee, including all of the following:
(A) Name of the owner or owners of a proposed facility, including all persons or entities having an ownership interest other than a security interest,
lien, or encumbrance on any property that will be used by the applicant.
(B) The name, address, and date of birth of each principal officer and board member.
(C) The address and telephone number of the proposed facility.
(D) In the case of a cultivation site, the GPS coordinates of the site.
(3) Describe, in writing, the scope of business of the proposed facility.
(4) A certified copy of the local jurisdiction’s approval to operate within its borders.
(5) Detailed operating procedures, in writing, for the proposed facility, which shall include, but not be limited to, procedures for facility and operational security,
prevention of diversion, employee screening, storage of medical marijuana, personnel policies, and recordkeeping procedures.
(6) An applicant’s fingerprint images.
(A) The bureau shall electronically submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of all licensed cultivation site applicants, licensed dispensing facility applications, manufacturing applicants, or transport applicants, as defined in Section 18100, for the purpose of obtaining information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal convictions and arrests, and information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal convictions and arrests for which the Department of Justice establishes that the person is free on bail, or on his or her own recognizance, pending trial or appeal.
(B) The Department of Justice shall provide a response to the department pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code.
(C) The bureau shall request from the Department of Justice subsequent notification service, as provided pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code, for persons described in subparagraph (A).
(D) The Department of Justice shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the reasonable cost of processing the requests described in this paragraph.
(7) A statement signed by the applicant under penalty of perjury that the information provided is true.
(8) Any other information as required by the bureau.
(c) Every city, county, or city and county that permits activities licensed under this part shall submit to the bureau a list of approved entities providing medical marijuana to qualified patients and caregivers within the city’s, county’s, or city and county’s jurisdiction, if any, the location at which the entity is operating, and the names of the persons who operate the entity.
(d) If the jurisdiction represents that the entity has been operating in compliance with local laws and regulations, or has limited immunity under local laws, including, but not limited to, Measure D, approved by the voters of the City of Los Angeles at the May 21, 2013, general election, the bureau may issue a license to the entity if it meets the licensing requirements of this part.
(e) The bureau may consult with relevant local agencies in
making a determination as to whether a standard license applicant is in compliance with local ordinances. The bureau may issue a standard license only after it has obtained confirmation from the relevant local agency that the applicant has satisfied all local permitting requirements for cultivating or distributing medical marijuana in compliance with local ordinances, and fulfilled all other requirements under this part.
(f) Each application for a license approved by the bureau pursuant to this part is separate and distinct, and the bureau may charge a separate fee for each.
(g) A licensee shall not hold a license in more than one class of specified medical marijuana activities, except as follows:
(1) A licensee may have a transporter license in addition to a license to cultivate, dispense, or manufacture medical
marijuana or medical marijuana products.
(2) A licensed dispensary may obtain a license to cultivate in a space not to exceed 1,000 square feet.
(h) A licensee shall not be an officer, director, member, owner, or shareholder in another entity licensed pursuant to this part. The officers, directors, owners, members, or shareholders of a licensee in one class of license may not hold a license in another class, and may not be an officer, director, member, owner, or shareholder of an entity licensed pursuant to this part.
18109.
(a) Upon receipt of the application materials and fee required in Section 18108, the bureau may, provided the applicant has not committed any act or crime constituting grounds for the denial of licensure under Section 18110, issue the license and send a proof of issuance to the applicant.(b) The chief shall, by regulation, prescribe conditions upon which a person whose license has previously been denied, suspended, or revoked, may be issued a license.
18110.
(a) An application for licensure may be denied and a license may be suspended or revoked on any of the following grounds:(1) The granting or continuance of the license would be contrary to the public welfare or morals.
(2) A person holding or seeking a license has violated any law prohibiting conduct involving moral turpitude.
(3) Past felony criminal conviction for drug trafficking, a felony conviction for embezzlement, a felony conviction involving fraud or deceit, or any violent or serious felony conviction pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of, or subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7 of, the Penal
Code.
(4) A city, county, or city and county notifies the bureau that a licensee or applicant for licensure within their jurisdiction is in violation of local ordinances or is otherwise not authorized to conduct the activities associated with licensure pursuant to this part.
(5) The application fails to state with sufficient specificity the jurisdiction in which the applicant proposes to establish operations.
(b) The chief, upon his or her determination, may deny, suspend, or revoke a license issued pursuant to this part for any of the following acts or omissions that are done by a licensee, applicant, or employee, partner, officer, or member of an entity licensed pursuant to this part:
(1) Making or authorizing in any manner or by any means whatever a
written or oral statement that is untrue or misleading, and that is known, or that by exercise of reasonable care should be known, to be untrue or misleading.
(2) Any other conduct that constitutes fraud.
(3) Conduct constituting gross negligence.
(4) Failure to comply with the provisions of this part, Article 8 (commencing with Section 111658) of Chapter 6 of Part 5 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code, or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this part.
(5) Conduct that constitutes grounds for denial of licensure pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 480) of Division 1.5.
18111.
(a) Upon denying, suspending, or revoking a provisional or standard license issued pursuant to this part, the chief shall notify the applicant or licensee, in writing, by personal service or mail addressed to the address of the applicant or licensee set forth in the application. The applicant or licensee shall be given a hearing within 30 days thereafter if he or she files with the bureau a written request for hearing. Otherwise, the denial, suspension, or revocation is deemed affirmed.(b) All proceedings to deny, suspend, or revoke a license shall be conducted pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
18112.
A state agency is not authorized or required by this section to enforce a city, county, city and county, or local law, ordinance, rule, or regulation regarding the site or operation of a licensee licensed pursuant to this part.18101.4.18113.
(a) The Medical Marijuana Regulation Fund is hereby established within the State Treasury. Notwithstanding Section 16305.7 of the Government Code, the fund shall include any interest and dividends earned on the money in the fund.(b) All fees collected pursuant to this part shall be deposited into the Medical Marijuana Regulation Fund. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, all moneys within the fund are hereby continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal year, to the bureau solely for the purposes of fully funding and
administering this part, including, but not limited to, the costs incurred by the bureau for its administrative expenses.
(c) All moneys collected pursuant to this part as a result of penalties imposed under this part shall be deposited directly into the General Fund, to be available upon appropriation.
(d) The bureau may establish and administer a grant program to allocate moneys from the Medical Marijuana Regulation Fund to state and local entities for the purpose of assisting with medical marijuana regulation and the enforcement of this part and other state and local laws applicable to licensees.
18102.18114.
(a) A facility licensed pursuant to this part shall not acquire, cultivate, process, possess, store, manufacture, distribute, sell, deliver, transfer, transport, or dispense medical marijuana for any purpose other than those authorized by Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11362.7) of Chapter 6 of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code.(b) A licensed dispensing facility shall not acquire, cultivate, process, possess, store, manufacture,
distribute, sell, deliver, transfer, transport, or dispense medical marijuana plants or medical marijuana products except through a licensed cultivation site or processing facility a licensed manufacturer.
18103.18115.
(a) A licensed transporter shall ship only to facilities licensed pursuant to this part and only in response to a request for a specific quantity and variety from those facilities.(b) Prior to transporting any medical marijuana product, a licensed transporter shall do the following:
(1) Complete a shipping manifest using a form prescribed by the bureau.
(2) Securely transmit a copy of the manifest to the licensee that
will receive the medical marijuana product, and to the bureau, prior to transport.
(c) The licensed transporter making the shipment and the licensee receiving the shipment shall maintain each shipping manifest and make it available to local code enforcement officers, any other locally designated enforcement entity, and the bureau upon request.
18104.18116.
(a) Transported medical marijuana products shall:(1) Be transported only in a locked, safe and secure storage compartment that is securely affixed to the interior of the transporting vehicle.
(2) Not be visible from outside the vehicle.
(b) Any vehicle transporting medical marijuana products shall travel directly from one licensed facility to another licensed facility authorized to receive the
shipment.
18105.18117.
(a) All transport vehicles shall be staffed with a minimum of two employees. At least one transport team member shall remain with the vehicle at all times that the vehicle contains medical marijuana.(b) Each transport team member shall have access to a secure form of communication by which each member can communicate with personnel at the licensed facility at all times that the vehicle contains medical marijuana.
(c) Each transport team member shall possess documentation of licensing
and a government-issued identification card at all times when transporting or delivering medical marijuana and shall produce it to any representative of the department or law enforcement official upon request.
(d) This part shall not be construed to authorize or permit any licensee to transport, or cause to be transported, medical marijuana or medical marijuana products outside the state.
18105.5.18118.
A local jurisdiction shall not prevent transportation through or to a licensed entity by a licensed transporter who acts in compliance with this part into, out of, or through its boundaries, or to a licensed entity, by a licensed transporter who acts in compliance with this part.18106.(a)The bureau shall promulgate, by July 1, 2016, regulations for implementation and enforcement of this part, including all of the following:
(1)Procedures for the issuance, renewal, suspension, and revocation of licenses.
(2)Application, licensing, and renewal forms and fees.
(3)A time period in which the bureau shall approve or deny an application for a license to operate a facility or dispensary.
(4)Qualifications for licensees.
(5)Standards for certification of testing laboratories to perform random sample testing of all marijuana products intended for sale, to identify and eliminate chemical residue, microbiological contaminants, and mold.
(6)Requirements to ensure conformance with standards analogous to state statutory environmental, agricultural, consumer protection, and food and product safety requirements. At a minimum, these standards shall do all of the following:
(A)Prescribe sanitation standards analogous to the California Retail Food Code (Part 7 (commencing with Section 113700) of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code) for food preparation, storage, and handling and sale of edible marijuana products.
(B)Require
that edible marijuana products produced, distributed, provided, donated, or sold by licensees shall be limited to nonpotentially hazardous food as established by the State Department of Public Health pursuant to Section 114365.5 of Health and Safety Code.
(C)Provide standards for labeling edible marijuana products to ensure that the products cannot be mistaken as food not containing marijuana.
(D)Require that facilities in which edible marijuana products are prepared shall be constructed in accordance with applicable building standards, health and safety standards, and other state laws.
(E)Provide that any weighing or measuring devices used in connection with the sale or distribution of marijuana are required to
meet standards analogous to Division 5 (commencing with Section 12001).
(F)Require that any application of pesticides or other pest control in connection with the indoor or outdoor cultivation of marijuana shall meet standards analogous to Division 6 (commencing with Section 11401) of the Food and Agricultural Code and its implementing regulations.
(b)The bureau shall promulgate, by July 1, 2016, regulations for minimum statewide health and safety standards and quality assurance standards pursuant to Section 111658 of the Health and Safety Code associated with the cultivation, transport, storage, and sale of all medical marijuana produced in this state. Local agencies shall have primary responsibility for enforcement of these standards in accordance with bureau
regulations.
(c)An application for or renewal of a license shall not be approved if the bureau determines any of the following:
(1)The applicant fails to meet the requirements of this part or any regulation adopted pursuant to this part or any applicable city county, or city and county ordinance or regulation.
(2)The applicant, or any of its officers, directors, owners, members, or shareholders is a minor.
(3)The applicant has knowingly answered a question or request for information falsely on the application form, or failed to provide information requested.
(4)The applicant, or any of its
officers, directors, owners, members, or shareholders has been sanctioned by the
bureau, a city, county, or city and county, for marijuana activities conducted in violation of this part or any applicable local ordinance or has had a license revoked in the previous five years.
(5)The proposed cultivation, processing, possession, storage, manufacturing, testing, transporting, distribution, provision, or sale of medical marijuana will violate any applicable local law or ordinance.
(6)(A)The bureau shall deny an application for a license if issuance of that license would tend to create a law enforcement problem, or if issuance would result in or add to an undue concentration of licenses.
(B)For purposes of this paragraph, the following definitions shall
apply:
(i)“Population within the census tract or census division” means the population as determined by the most recent United States decennial or special census. The population determination shall not operate to prevent an applicant from establishing that an increase of resident population has occurred within the census tract or census division.
(ii)“Reported crimes” means the most recent yearly compilation by the local law enforcement agency of reported offenses of criminal homicide, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, theft, and motor vehicle theft, combined with all arrests for other crimes, both felonies and misdemeanors, except traffic citations.
(iii)“Reporting districts” means
geographical areas within the boundaries of a single governmental entity (city or the unincorporated area of a county) that are identified by the local law enforcement agency in the compilation and maintenance of statistical information on reported crimes and arrests.
(iv)“Undue concentration” means:
(I)The applicant premises are located in a crime reporting district that has a 20 percent greater number of reported crimes than the average number of reported crimes as determined from all crime reporting districts within the jurisdiction of the local law enforcement agency.
(II)The ratio of licenses to population within the census tract or census division in which the applicant premises are located exceeds the
ratio of licenses to population in the county in which the applicant premises are located.
(d)The bureau may consult with other state agencies, state departments, public entities, or private entities for the purposes of establishing statewide standards and regulations.
(e)The bureau may assist state taxation authorities in the development of uniform policies for the state taxation of licensees.
(f)The bureau may assist the Division of Occupational Safety and Health in the Department of Industrial Relations in the development of industry-specific regulations related to the activities of licensees.
18119.
An application for or renewal of a license shall not be approved if the bureau determines any of the following:(a) The applicant fails to meet the requirements of this part or any regulation adopted pursuant to this part or any applicable city, county, or city and county ordinance or regulation. Local governments shall submit to the bureau documentation detailing their renewal requirements.
(b) The applicant, or any of its officers, directors, owners, members, or shareholders is a minor.
(c) The applicant has knowingly answered a question or request for information falsely on the application form, or failed to provide information
requested.
(d) The applicant, or any of its officers, directors, owners, members, or shareholders has been sanctioned by the bureau, a city, county, or city and county, for medical marijuana activities conducted in violation of this part or any applicable local ordinance or has had a license revoked in the previous five years.
(e) The proposed cultivation, processing, possession, storage, manufacturing, testing, transporting, distribution, provision, or sale of medical marijuana will violate any applicable local law or ordinance.
18120.
The bureau may assist state taxation authorities in the development of uniform policies for the state taxation of licensees.18121.
The bureau may assist the Division of Occupational Safety and Health in the Department of Industrial Relations in the development of industry-specific regulations related to the activities of licensees.18122.
(a) For licensees licensed pursuant to this part located within the incorporated area of a city, the city shall have full power and authority to enforce this part and Article 8 (commencing with Section 111658) of Chapter 6 of Part 5 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code and the rules, regulations, and standards promulgated by the bureau. The city shall further assume complete responsibility for any regulatory function relating to those licensees within the city limits that would otherwise be performed by the county or any county officer or employee, without liability, cost, or expense to the county.(b) For licensed facilities located within the unincorporated area of a county, the county shall have full power and authority to enforce
this part and Article 8 (commencing with Section 111658) of Chapter 6 of Part 5 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code and the rules, regulations, and standards promulgated by the bureau.
18107.18123.
(a) A person shall not distribute any form of advertising for physician recommendations for medical marijuana in California unless the advertisement bears the following notice to consumers:NOTICE TO CONSUMERS: The Compassionate Use Act of 1996 ensures that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes where medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person’s health would benefit from the use of
medical marijuana. Physicians are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California and arrive at the decision to make this recommendation in accordance with accepted standards of medical responsibility.
(b) Advertising for physician recommendations for medical marijuana shall meet all requirements of Section 651. Price advertising shall not be fraudulent, deceitful, or misleading, including statements or advertisements of bait, discounts, premiums, gifts, or statements of a similar nature.
18108.18124.
(a) A facility licensed pursuant to this part shall implement sufficient security measures to both deter and prevent unauthorized entrance into areas containing marijuana and theft of marijuana at those facilities. These security measures shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:(1) Allow only qualifying patients, the patient’s primary caregiver, and facility agents access to the facility.
(2) Prevent individuals from remaining on the premises of the facility if they
are not engaging in activity expressly related to the operations of the facility.
(3) Establish limited access areas accessible only to authorized facility personnel.
(4) Store all finished marijuana in a secured and locked room, safe, or vault, and in a manner as to prevent diversion, theft, and loss.
(b) A facility licensed pursuant to this part shall notify appropriate law enforcement authorities within 24 hours after discovering any of the following:
(1) Discrepancies identified during inventory.
(2) Diversion, theft, loss, or any criminal activity involving the facility or a facility agent.
(3) The loss or unauthorized
alteration of records related to marijuana, registered qualifying patients, personal caregivers, or facility agents.
(4) Any other breach of security.
(c) A licensed cultivation site shall weigh, inventory, and account for on video, all medical marijuana to be transported prior to its leaving its origination location. Within eight hours after arrival at the destination, the licensed dispensing facility shall reweigh, reinventory, and account for on video, all transported marijuana.
18125.
The chief shall keep a complete record of all entities licensed or certified pursuant to this part. This record shall be made available on the bureau’s Internet Web site. 18126.
The bureau shall provide state and local law enforcement, upon their request, with information to verify a license, track transportation manifests, and track inventories of dispensing facilities. 18108.5.18127.
(a) The bureau shall require an annual audit of all licensees licensed pursuant to this part or otherwise licensed by the bureau to cultivate, manufacture, process, transport, store, or sell medical marijuana to be paid for by each licensed vendor and dispensary.(b) Completed audit reports shall also be submitted by the licensee to local code enforcement offices, or the appropriate locally designated enforcement entity, within 30 days of the
completion of the audit.
(c) It is the responsibility of each licensee licensed pursuant to this part or otherwise licensed by the bureau to cultivate, manufacture, process, transport, store, or sell medical marijuana to develop a robust quality assurance protocol that includes all of the provisions of this part.
18108.6.18128.
(a) A laboratory certified by the bureau to perform random sample testing of medical marijuana products pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 18106 18105 shall not acquire, cultivate, process, possess, store, manufacture, distribute, sell, deliver, transfer, transport, or dispense
medical marijuana for any purpose other than those authorized by Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11362.7) of Chapter 6 of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code.(b) A laboratory certified by the bureau to perform random sample testing of medical marijuana products pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 18106 18105 shall not acquire, cultivate, process, possess, store, manufacture, distribute, sell, deliver, transfer, transport, or dispense
medical marijuana plants or medical marijuana products except through a licensed cultivation site, or processing facility
a licensed manufacturer.
18109.18129.
In addition to the provisions of this part, a license granted pursuant to this part shall be subject to the restrictions of the local jurisdiction in which the facility operates or proposes to operate. Even if a license has been granted pursuant to this part, a facility shall not operate in a local jurisdiction that prohibits the establishment of that type of business.18110.18130.
(a) A willful violation of Section 18101.2 18106, including any attempt to falsify information on an application as required by Section 18101.2 18106, or to otherwise defraud or mislead a state or local agency in the course of the
application process, shall be punishable by a civil fine of up to thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000) for each individual violation. This subdivision shall apply to both the provisional and permanent licensing application processes under this part.(b) A technical violation of Section 18101.2 18106 shall, at the bureau’s discretion, be punishable by a civil fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each individual violation. This subdivision shall apply to both the provisional and permanent licensing application processes under this part.
18110.1.18131.
The executive officer or any district attorney, county counsel, city attorney, or city prosecutor may bring an action to enjoin a violation or the threatened violation of any provision of this part, including, but not limited to, a licensee’s failure to correct objectionable conditions following notice or as a result of any rule promulgated pursuant to this part. The action shall be brought in the county in which the violation occurred or is threatened to occur. Any proceeding brought pursuant to this part shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Nothing in this section shall diminish the authority of a local government to take requisite enforcement actions pertaining to its own ordinances or regulations.18111.18132.
Nothing in this part shall prevent a city or other local governing body from taking action as specified in Section 11362.83 of the Health and Safety Code.18112.18133.
This part shall in no way supersede the provisions of Measure D, approved by the voters of the City of Los Angeles on the May 21, 2013, ballot for the city, which granted medical marijuana businesses and dispensaries qualified immunity consistent with the terms of the measure and local ordinances. Notwithstanding the provisions of this part, marijuana businesses and dispensaries subject to the provisions of Measure D and its qualified immunity shall continue to be subject to the ordinances and regulations of the City of Los
Angeles.18134.
The bureau shall limit the number of licensed cultivation sites statewide to prevent the diversion of medical marijuana for nonmedical purposes. In determining this number, the bureau shall commence its calculation with the number of cultivation sites licensed and permitted pursuant to a city, county, or city and county cultivation ordinance. The bureau shall calculate the number of sites pursuant to this section based upon the following, after consultation with law enforcement representatives, health care providers, and local and statewide health officials:(a) The need to prevent the potential of diversion of medical marijuana for nonmedical purposes.
(b) The number of applicants whose applications
for licensed cultivation sites demonstrate that they will be able to produce consistent products with strict quality controls in full compliance with this part and with all applicable state and local regulations, and the amount of medical marijuana those applicants will be able to provide.
(c) The need for the bureau to ensure that the number of licensed cultivation sites it approves does not exceed the ability of the bureau to enforce the provisions of this part, particularly with respect to conducting regular site visits and audits, ensuring patient safety, and preventing illegal diversion of marijuana.
(d) A license for a facility or cultivation site shall not be issued for a premises that is located in a jurisdiction where the exercise of the rights and privileges conferred by the license are contrary to a valid zoning ordinance of the city, county, or city and
county.
18113.(a)A patient who cultivates, possesses, stores, manufactures, or transports marijuana exclusively for his or her personal medical use and who does not sell, distribute, donate, or provide marijuana to any other person is not considered a licensee under this part and is exempt from licensure under this part.
(b)A primary caregiver who cultivates, possesses, stores, manufactures, transports, or provides marijuana exclusively for the personal medical purposes of no more than five specified qualified patients for whom he or she is the primary caregiver within the meaning of Section 11362.7 of the Health and Safety Code and who does not receive remuneration for these activities
except for compensation in full compliance with subdivision (c) of Section 11362.765 of the Health and Safety Code is not considered a licensee under this part and is exempt from licensure under this part.
18114.18135.
(a) Information identifying the names of patients, their medical conditions, or the names of their primary caregivers received and contained in records kept by the bureau for the purposes of administering this part are confidential and exempt from the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code) and are not subject to disclosure to any individual or private entity, except as necessary for authorized employees of the State of California to perform official duties pursuant to this part:(b) (1) Nothing in this section shall preclude any of the following:
(A) Bureau employees notifying state or local agencies about information submitted to the bureau that the employee suspects is falsified or fraudulent.
(B) Notifications from the bureau to state or local agencies of apparent violations of this part or any applicable local ordinance.
(C) Verification of requests by state or local agencies to confirm licenses and certificates issued by the bureau or other state agency.
(D) Provision of information requested pursuant to a court order or subpoena issued by a court or an administrative agency or local governing body authorized by law to issue subpoenas.
(2) Information shall not be disclosed beyond what is necessary to achieve the goals of a specific investigation or notification or the parameters of a specific court order or subpoena.
18115.18136.
(a) The actions of a licensee or provisional licensee, its employees, and its agents, permitted pursuant to a license or provisional license issued by the bureau or otherwise permitted by this part, that are conducted in accordance to the requirements of this part and regulations adopted pursuant to the authority granted by this part, are not unlawful under state law and shall not be an offense subject to arrest or prosecution.(b) The actions of a person who, in good faith and upon investigation, allows his or her property to be used by a licensee
or provisional licensee, its employees, and its agents, as permitted pursuant to a license or provisional license issued by the bureau or otherwise permitted by this part, are not unlawful under state law and shall not be an offense subject to arrest or prosecution.
(c) This section shall not be deemed to limit the authority or remedies of a city, county, or city and county under any provision of law, including, without limitation, Section 7 of Article XI of the California Constitution.
18116.18137.
(a) A licensee shall not cultivate, process, store, manufacture, transport, or sell medical marijuana in the state unless accurate records are kept at the licensed premises of the growing, processing, storing, manufacturing, transporting, or selling by the licensee in the state. These records shall include the name and address of the supplier of any marijuana received or possessed by the licensee, the location at which the marijuana was cultivated, the amount of marijuana received, the form in which it is received, the name of the employee receiving it, and the date of receipt. These records shall also include
receipts for all expenditures incurred by the licensee and banking records, if any, for all funds obtained or expended in the performance of any activity under the authority of the license, provided that a licensee licensed to act at more than one premises may keep all records at one of the licensed premises. Required records shall be kept for a period of seven years from the date of the transaction.(b) The bureau and any state or local agency may make any examination of the books and records of any licensee and may visit and inspect the premises of any licensee that the bureau may deem necessary to perform its duties under this part.
(c) Any books or records requested by the bureau or any state or local agency shall be provided by the licensee no later than at the end of the next business day after the request is made.
(d) The bureau or any state or local agency may enter and inspect the premises of any facility operated by a licensee between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on any day that the facility is open, or at any reasonable time, to ensure compliance and enforcement of the provisions of this part or any local ordinance.
(e) If a licensee or any employee of a licensee refuses, impedes, obstructs, or interferes with an inspection pursuant to this part or local ordinance, or if the licensee fails to maintain or provide the books and records required by this section, the licensee may be summarily suspended pursuant to this part and the bureau shall directly commence proceedings for the revocation of the license in accordance with this part.
18138.
This part shall not be construed to limit a law enforcement agency’s ability to investigate unlawful activity in relation to a licensee licensed pursuant to this part.