SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Thursday, Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 2679, which will establish key standards for medical cannabis manufacturers, help implement the landmark Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MCRSA), and end misguided raids on manufacturers.
“Last year, California took a historic step by regulating medical cannabis to protect patients, businesses, our communities, and the environment. But across the state, locally authorized medical cannabis manufacturers continue to be targeted by municipal law enforcement. As we await full implementation of medical cannabis regulations, manufacturers cannot continue to operate in a legal grey area,” explained joint author, Assemblymember Rob Bonta.“Under AB 2679, local governments will be given guidance and manufacturers will be protected in preparation for state licenses in 2018.”
AB 2679 requires medical cannabis manufacturers to abide by strict standards designed to ensure the safety of the manufacturing process by requiring local approval and inspection, independent certification, and the utilization of a self-contained system.
“AB 2679 brings needed clarity to local governments about the type of manufacturing of medical cannabis that is allowed during this interim period before the MCRSA is fully implemented,” said joint author, Assemblymember Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova). “I am proud to move this issue forward and continue the ongoing medical cannabis regulation conversation.”
“We and our patients are deeply grateful to our leadership in the California legislature for passing this important bill and to the Governor for making it law. The clarity this law provides will ensure that people who rely on medicinal cannabis can feel more secure about the continued supply of the quality medicine they have come to depend on. We were proud to stand with a broad coalition—like the California Police Chiefs Association—to support this legislation.” Nick Caston, Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy for CBD Guild.
“With voters set to consider adult use of cannabis at the ballot box this November, it is critical that we clarify the role of manufacturers now. By acting today, California ensures manufacturers can continue to provide patients the medicine they need,” concluded Bonta.
AB 2679 is authored by the same bipartisan coalition of Assemblymembers who authored MCRSA—Assemblymembers Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova), Rob Bonta, Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr. (D-Los Angeles), Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), and Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg). The medical cannabis manufacturing provisions previously were featured in AB 1575, from the same authors, which was held in Senate Appropriations committee.
