Legality of Cannabis by U.S. Jurisdiction

California Department of Cannabis Control
Agency overview
Formed2015 as Bureau of Cannabis Control
JurisdictionCalifornia
Minister responsible
Agency executive
  • Nicole Elliott, Director
Parent departmentCalifornia Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency
Websitecannabis.ca.gov

The Department of Cannabis Control (formerly the Bureau of Cannabis Control, originally established as Bureau of Marijuana Control under Proposition 64,[1][2] formerly the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation[3][4]) is an agency of the State of California within the Department of Consumer Affairs, charged with regulating medical cannabis (MMJ) in accordance with state law pursuant to the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act passed by the legislature in 2015 (amended in 2016) and the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64), passed by voter initiative in November 2016. The agency was charged with creating rules for the legal non-medical market to take effect January 1, 2018; and to regulate the state's multibillion dollar medical program[a] for the first time. The first agency leader, Lori Ajax, referred to in multiple media outlets as the state's cannabis "czar", was appointed by the governor in February 2017. State senator Mike McGuire has expressed doubt that the board would meet deadlines to allow regulated retail sales by 2018 as planned.[6]

When the agency published emergency rules on November 16, 2017 under California Code of Regulations, Title 16, Division 42, it effectively became the Bureau of Cannabis Control.[7]

In July 2021, following the signing of California Assembly Bill 141, California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency's Bureau of Cannabis Control, California Department of Food and Agriculture's CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Division, and California Department of Public Health's Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch were consolidated into the Department of Cannabis Control.[8]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^ Medical marijuana sales in California were reported by The New York Times to be over $2.5 billion in 2015[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ballotpedia
  2. ^ McGreevy
  3. ^ "Update: Changes for New Medical Cannabis Regulation Bureau", official blog, State of California Department of Consumer Affairs, August 3, 2016
  4. ^ Police Chiefs
  5. ^ Lovett, Ian (2016-04-11). "In California, Marijuana Is Smelling More Like Big Business". The New York Times. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
  6. ^ Carroll
  7. ^ California Adopts Emergency Cannabis Regulations for Licensing Beginning on January 1, 2018 November 28, 2017 Dorsey & Whitney LLP
  8. ^ Bloom, Isabella (2021-07-16). "California opens new marijuana agency 5 years after legalization, aiming to simplify rules". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 2024-04-20.

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