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On October 2, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB-8 and issued a press release touting that he signed "legislation to regulate intoxicating hemp products and give government agencies tools to stop illegal sales." AB-8 outlaws synthetic cannabis products and inhalable cannabis products containing cannabinoids derived from hemp. The California Assembly voted, 73-1, to concur with Senate amendments on September 13, after the upper chamber voted 37-0 the previous day, to pass the bill.
Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) emphasized "[b]ad actors have abused state and federal law to sell intoxicating hemp products in our State. As the author of legislation that allowed the legal sale of non-intoxicating hemp CBD products, this is absolutely unacceptable," she also emphasized, "[o]ur first job is to protect our kids and our communities. With this bill, we'll have responsible regulation, increase enforcement, and support struggling legal cannabis businesses against criminal competition."
Per Governor Newsom, the newly adopted amendments will:
Create Clear Rules: The bill establishes clear
rules on how hemp should enter the licensed cannabis market.
Protect Our Youth: The bill keeps intoxicating
hemp products out of the hands of children, ensuring those products
are sold through licensed dispensaries to qualifying adults.
Help Consumers: The bill stops the sale of
synthetic cannabinoid products and inhalable hemp products, while
also carefully limiting the circumstances in which non-intoxicating
hemp can be used in products outside the licensed cannabis
market.
Strengthen Public Safety: The bill creates new
tools for state and local enforcement partners to go after unlawful
cannabis and cannabinoid products.
We will continue to update you on the developments in California as well as the ongoing debates concerning hemp-derived cannabinoids taking place Washington, DC and in state legislatures across the country.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
