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AB-1034 Cannabis: retail preparation, sale, or consumption of noncannabis food and beverage products.(2021-2022)

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Date Published: 03/04/2021 09:00 PM
AB1034:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  March 04, 2021

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1034

Introduced by Assembly Member Bloom

February 18, 2021

An act to amend Sections 26070 and 26071 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to cannabis. An act to amend Section 26200 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to cannabis.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1034, as amended, Bloom. Commercial cannabis licenses: free cannabis. Cannabis: retail preparation, sale, or consumption of noncannabis food and beverage products.
Existing law, the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), an initiative measure, authorizes a person who obtains a state license under AUMA to engage in commercial adult-use cannabis activity pursuant to that license and applicable local ordinances. The Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA), among other things, consolidates the licensure and regulation of commercial medicinal and adult-use cannabis activities, including retail commercial cannabis activity. MAUCRSA gives the Bureau of Cannabis Control in the Department of Consumer Affairs the power, duty, purpose, responsibility, and jurisdiction to regulate commercial cannabis activity in the state as provided by the act. Existing administrative law specifies that a licensed retailer may sell only cannabis accessories, the licensee’s branded merchandise, and cannabis goods.
MAUCRSA does not supersede or limit the authority of a local jurisdiction to adopt and enforce local ordinances to regulate commercial cannabis businesses within that local jurisdiction. Existing law authorizes a local jurisdiction to allow for the smoking, vaporizing, and ingesting of cannabis or cannabis products on the premises of a licensed retailer or microbusiness, subject to specified restrictions.
This bill, subject to those specified restrictions, would authorize a local jurisdiction to allow for the preparation or sale of noncannabis food or beverage products, as specified, by a licensed retailer or microbusiness in the area where the consumption of cannabis is allowed.

Existing law, the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act of 2016 (AUMA), an initiative measure approved as Proposition 64 at the November 8, 2016, statewide general election, authorizes a person who obtains a state license under AUMA to engage in commercial adult-use cannabis activity pursuant to that license and applicable local ordinances.

Existing law, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA), among other things, consolidates the licensure and regulation of commercial medicinal and adult-use cannabis activities. MAUCRSA establishes the Bureau of Cannabis Control in the Department of Consumer Affairs for the state licensure and regulation of cannabis microbusinesses, and the transportation, storage unrelated to manufacturing activities, distribution, testing, and sale of cannabis and cannabis products within the state. MAUCRSA requires the bureau to issue, among other license types, a retailer state license for the retail sale and delivery of cannabis and a microbusiness state license for cultivation on an area less than 10,000 square feet and to act as a licensed distributor, manufacturer, and retailer, as specified.

MAUCRSA authorizes a licensee that is authorized to make retail sales to provide free cannabis or cannabis products to a medicinal cannabis patient or the patient’s primary caregiver, as specified. MAUCRSA also authorizes a licensee that is authorized to make retail sales to donate cannabis or cannabis products and the use of equipment in compliance with any compassionate use, equity, or other similar program administered by a local jurisdiction, as specified.

This bill would exclude a microbusiness licensee from these authorizations.

AUMA authorizes the Legislature to amend its provisions with a 2 3 vote of both houses to further its purposes and intent, except as specified.

This bill would state that the bill furthers the purposes and intent of AUMA.

Vote: TWO_THIRDSMAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YESNO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 26200 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

26200.
 (a) (1) This division shall not be interpreted to supersede or limit the authority of a local jurisdiction to adopt and enforce local ordinances to regulate businesses licensed under this division, including, but not limited to, local zoning and land use requirements, business license requirements, and requirements related to reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, or to completely prohibit the establishment or operation of one or more types of businesses licensed under this division within the local jurisdiction.
(2) This division shall not be interpreted to supersede or limit existing local authority for law enforcement activity, enforcement of local zoning requirements or local ordinances, or enforcement of local license, permit, or other authorization requirements.
(b) This division shall not be interpreted to require a licensing authority to undertake local law enforcement responsibilities, enforce local zoning requirements, or enforce local licensing, permitting, or other authorization requirements.
(c) A local jurisdiction shall notify the bureau upon revocation of any local license, permit, or authorization for a licensee to engage in commercial cannabis activity within the local jurisdiction. Within 10 days of notification, the bureau shall inform the relevant licensing authorities. Within 60 days of being so informed by the bureau, the relevant licensing authorities shall begin the process to determine whether a license issued to the licensee should be suspended or revoked pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 26030).
(d) For facilities issued a state license that are located within the incorporated area of a city, the city shall have full power and authority to enforce this division and the regulations promulgated by the bureau or any licensing authority, if delegated by the state. Notwithstanding Sections 101375, 101400, and 101405 of the Health and Safety Code or any contract entered into pursuant thereto, or any other law, the city shall assume complete responsibility for any regulatory function pursuant to this division within the city limits that would otherwise be performed by the county or any county officer or employee, including a county health officer, without liability, cost, or expense to the county.
(e) (1) This division does not prohibit the issuance of a state temporary event license to a licensee authorizing onsite cannabis sales to, and consumption by, persons 21 years of age or older at a county fair event, district agricultural association event, or at another venue expressly approved by a local jurisdiction for the purpose of holding temporary events of this nature, provided that the activities, at a minimum, comply with all the following:
(A) The requirements of paragraphs (1) subparagraphs (A) to (3), (C), inclusive, of paragraph (2) of subdivision (g).
(B) All participants who are engaged in the onsite retail sale of cannabis or cannabis products at the event are licensed under this division to engage in that activity.
(C) The activities are otherwise consistent with regulations promulgated and adopted by the bureau governing state temporary event licenses.
(D) A state temporary event license shall only be issued in local jurisdictions that authorize such events.
(E) A licensee who submits an application for a state temporary event license shall, 60 days before the event, provide to the bureau a list of all licensees that will be providing onsite sales of cannabis or cannabis products at the event. If any changes occur in that list, the licensee shall provide the bureau with a final updated list to reflect those changes. A person shall not engage in the onsite retail sale of cannabis or cannabis products, or in any way participate in the event, who is not included in the list, including any updates, provided to the bureau.
(2) The bureau may impose a civil penalty on any person who violates this subdivision, or any regulations adopted by the bureau governing state temporary event licenses, in an amount up to three times the amount of the license fee for each violation, consistent with Sections 26018 and 26038.
(3) The bureau may require the event and all participants to cease operations without delay if in the opinion of the bureau or local law enforcement it is necessary to protect the immediate public health and safety of the people of the state. The bureau may also require the event organizer to immediately expel from the event any participant selling cannabis or cannabis products without a license from the bureau that authorizes the participant to sell cannabis or cannabis products. If the unlicensed participant does not leave the event, the bureau may require the event and all participants to cease operations immediately.
(4) The order by the bureau for the event to cease operations pursuant to paragraph (3) does not entitle the event organizer or any participant in the event to a hearing or an appeal of the decision. Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 490) of Division 1.5 and Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 26040) of this division shall not apply to the order by the bureau for the event to cease operations pursuant to paragraph (3).
(5) The smoking of cannabis or cannabis products at temporary events authorized pursuant to this subdivision is prohibited in locations where smoking is prohibited. For purposes of this section, “smoking” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 22950.5.
(f) This division, or any regulations promulgated thereunder, shall not be deemed to limit the authority or remedies of a city, county, or city and county under any provision of law, including, but not limited to, Section 7 of Article XI of the California Constitution.
(g) (1) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11362.3 of the Health and Safety Code, if all of the conditions in paragraph (2) are met, a local jurisdiction may allow for the smoking, vaporizing, and ingesting any of cannabis or cannabis products on the premises of a retailer or microbusiness licensed under this division if all of the following are met: following:
(A) Smoking, vaporizing, and ingesting of cannabis or cannabis products on the premises of a retailer or microbusiness licensed under this division.
(B) Preparation or sale of noncannabis food or beverage products in compliance with all applicable provisions of the California Retail Food Code (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 113700) of Part 7 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code) by a retailer or microbusiness licensed under this division in the area where the consumption of cannabis is allowed.
(2) A local jurisdiction may allow any of the activities provided in paragraph (1) if all of the following conditions are met:

(1)

(A) Access to the area where cannabis consumption is allowed is restricted to persons 21 years of age or older.

(2)

(B) Cannabis consumption is not visible from any public place or nonage-restricted area.

(3)

(C) Sale or consumption of alcohol or tobacco is not allowed on the premises.
(h) This division shall not be interpreted to supersede Section 6404.5 of the Labor Code.

SECTION 1.Section 26070 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:
26070.

Retailers, Distributors, and Microbusinesses.

(a)State licenses to be issued by the bureau related to the sale and distribution of cannabis and cannabis products are as follows:

(1)“Retailer,” for the retail sale and delivery of cannabis or cannabis products to customers. A retailer shall have a licensed premises which is a physical location from which commercial cannabis activities are conducted. A retailer’s premises may be closed to the public. A retailer may conduct sales exclusively by delivery.

(2)“Distributor,” for the distribution of cannabis and cannabis products. A distributor licensee shall be bonded and insured at a minimum level established by the licensing authority.

(3)(A)“Microbusiness,” for the cultivation of cannabis on an area less than 10,000 square feet and to act as a licensed distributor, Level 1 manufacturer, and retailer under this division, except as provided by Section 26071, provided such licensee can demonstrate compliance with all requirements imposed by this division on licensed cultivators, distributors, Level 1 manufacturers, and retailers to the extent the licensee engages in such activities. Microbusiness licenses that authorize cultivation of cannabis shall include the license conditions described in subdivision (b) of Section 26060.1.

(B)In coordination with each other, the licensing authorities shall establish a process by which an applicant for a microbusiness license can demonstrate compliance with all the requirements under this division for the activities that will be conducted under the license.

(C)The bureau may enter into interagency agreements with licensing authorities to implement and enforce the provisions of this division related to microbusinesses. The costs of activities carried out by the licensing authorities as requested by the bureau pursuant to the interagency agreement shall be calculated into the application and licensing fees collected pursuant to this division, and shall provide for reimbursement to state agencies for associated costs as provided for in the interagency agreement.

(b)The bureau shall establish minimum security and transportation safety requirements for the commercial distribution and delivery of cannabis and cannabis products. Except as provided in subdivision (d) of Section 26110, the transportation of cannabis and cannabis products shall only be conducted by persons holding a distributor license under this division or employees of those persons. Transportation safety standards established by the bureau shall include, but not be limited to, minimum standards governing the types of vehicles in which cannabis and cannabis products may be distributed and delivered and minimum qualifications for persons eligible to operate such vehicles.

(c)The driver of a vehicle transporting or transferring cannabis or cannabis products shall be directly employed by a licensee authorized to transport or transfer cannabis or cannabis products.

(d)Notwithstanding any other law, all vehicles transporting cannabis and cannabis products for hire shall be required to have a valid motor carrier permit pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 34620) of Division 14.85 of the Vehicle Code. The Department of the California Highway Patrol shall have authority over the safe operation of these vehicles, including, but not limited to, requiring licensees engaged in the transportation of cannabis or cannabis products to participate in the Basic Inspection of Terminals (BIT) program pursuant to Section 34501.12 of the Vehicle Code.

(e)Prior to transporting cannabis or cannabis products, a licensed distributor shall do both of the following:

(1)Complete an electronic shipping manifest as prescribed by the licensing authority. The shipping manifest shall include the unique identifier, pursuant to Section 26069, issued by the Department of Food and Agriculture for the original cannabis product.

(2)Securely transmit the manifest to the bureau and the licensee that will receive the cannabis product. The bureau shall inform the Department of Food and Agriculture of information pertaining to commercial cannabis activity for the purpose of the track and trace program identified in Section 26067.

(f)During transportation, the licensed distributor shall maintain a physical copy of the shipping manifest and make it available upon request to agents of the Department of Consumer Affairs and law enforcement officers.

(g)The licensee receiving the shipment shall maintain each electronic shipping manifest and shall make it available upon request to the Department of Consumer Affairs and any law enforcement officers.

(h)Upon receipt of the transported shipment, the licensee receiving the shipment shall submit to the licensing authority a record verifying receipt of the shipment and the details of the shipment.

(i)Transporting, or arranging for or facilitating the transport of, cannabis or cannabis products in violation of this chapter is grounds for disciplinary action against the license.

(j)Licensed retailers and microbusinesses, and licensed nonprofits under Section 26070.5, shall implement security measures reasonably designed to prevent unauthorized entrance into areas containing cannabis or cannabis products and theft of cannabis or cannabis products from the premises. These security measures shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1)Prohibiting individuals from remaining on the licensee’s premises if they are not engaging in activity expressly related to the operations of the retailer.

(2)Establishing limited access areas accessible only to authorized personnel.

(3)Other than limited amounts of cannabis used for display purposes, samples, or immediate sale, storing all finished cannabis and cannabis products in a secured and locked room, safe, or vault, and in a manner reasonably designed to prevent diversion, theft, and loss.

(k)A retailer shall notify the licensing authority and the appropriate law enforcement authorities within 24 hours after discovering any of the following:

(1)Significant discrepancies identified during inventory. The level of significance shall be determined by the bureau.

(2)Diversion, theft, loss, or any criminal activity pertaining to the operation of the retailer.

(3)Diversion, theft, loss, or any criminal activity by any agent or employee of the retailer pertaining to the operation of the retailer.

(4)The loss or unauthorized alteration of records related to cannabis or cannabis products, registered qualifying patients, primary caregivers, or retailer employees or agents.

(5)Any other breach of security.

(l)Beginning January 1, 2018, a licensee may sell cannabis or cannabis products that have not been tested for a limited and finite time as determined by the bureau. The cannabis or cannabis products must have a label affixed to each package containing the cannabis or cannabis products that clearly states “This product has not been tested as required by the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act” and must comply with any other requirement as determined by the bureau.

SEC. 2.Section 26071 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:
26071.

(a)To provide access to medicinal cannabis patients who have difficulty accessing cannabis or cannabis products, a retailer, as specified in subdivision (d), may provide free cannabis or cannabis products if all of the following criteria are met:

(1)Free cannabis or cannabis products are provided only to a medicinal cannabis patient or the patient’s primary caregiver. For purposes of this section, “medicinal cannabis patient” includes a qualified patient, as defined under Section 11362.7 of the Health and Safety Code, or a person in possession of a valid identification card issued under Section 11362.71 of the Health and Safety Code.

(2)(A)A licensed retailer providing medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products pursuant to this section to a qualified patient, as defined under Section 11362.7 of the Health and Safety Code, that possesses a valid physician’s recommendation, shall ensure that the physician is in good standing by following the procedures described in subparagraph (B) before providing the qualified patient with any medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products that a cultivator certified were for donation pursuant to Section 34012.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code or that are exempt from the use tax pursuant to Section 6414 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(B)In order to verify the physician’s recommendation, the licensed retailer shall do all of the following:

(i)Verify with the Medical Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, and the California Board of Podiatric Medicine that the attending physician has a license in good standing to practice medicine or osteopathy in the state.

(ii)Keep a copy of the patient’s or primary caregiver’s driver’s license or other government issued identification.

(3)Except as provided for under Section 34012.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, the cannabis or cannabis products comply with all applicable requirements for cultivation, manufacture, distribution, processing, storing, laboratory testing, packaging, labeling, transportation, delivery, or donation under this division.

(4)A licensee intending to donate the cannabis or cannabis products shall designate the cannabis or cannabis products for donation in the track and trace system. If a cultivator certified that the cannabis or cannabis products are designated for donation to medicinal cannabis patients pursuant to Section 34012.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, a licensee shall not change that designation pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 34012.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(5)Before being provided to the patient or primary caregiver, the cannabis or cannabis products have been properly recorded in the track and trace system as belonging to the retailer.

(6)The cannabis or cannabis products provided to a medicinal cannabis patient or the primary caregiver of the patient in a single day shall not exceed the possession limits prescribed by Section 11362.77 of the Health and Safety Code.

(7)The event shall be properly recorded in the retailer’s inventory records and the track and trace system. The retailer shall include in its inventory records for each medicinal cannabis patient the number of an identification card issued pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11362.7) of Chapter 6 of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code or a copy of the physician’s recommendation for no less than four years. If the medicinal cannabis patient is a qualified patient, as defined under Section 11362.7 of the Health and Safety Code, that possesses a valid physician’s recommendation, the retailer shall certify in writing that they verified the recommendation pursuant to paragraph (2) and shall keep a copy of that certification for no less than seven years.

(8)A licensed retailer that donates medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products shall note the donation in their sales invoice or receipt pursuant to Section 26161 of the Business and Professions Code.

(b)In addition to the provision of free cannabis or cannabis products in subdivision (a), a licensed retailer, as specified in subdivision (d), may donate cannabis or cannabis products and the use of equipment in compliance with any compassionate use, equity, or other similar program administered by a local jurisdiction.

(c)A licensed retailer, as specified in subdivision (d), may contract with an individual or organization to coordinate the provision of free medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products on the retailer’s premises. Licensed retailers, as specified in subdivision (d), that are solely authorized to engage in retail sales by means of delivery may provide free medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products by means of delivery.

(d)The authorizations provided by this section are limited to a license issued pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 26070. A microbusiness license does not authorize the licensee to provide free cannabis or cannabis products or the use of equipment pursuant to this section.

(e)This section shall become operative upon completion of the necessary changes to the track and trace program in order to implement the act adding this section, as determined by the Department of Food and Agriculture, or on March 1, 2020, whichever occurs first.

SEC. 3.

The Legislature finds and declares that this act furthers the purposes and intent of the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act.