Since January 1, 2018, the California cannabis industry has been running in the semi-regulated mode to allow time to comply with regulations. That period of grace ended on 1 July 2018, meaning the full force of the law applies. This means licensed retailers may now only sell cannabis products that meet the requirements set by the California Department of Public Health for ingredients, or appearance.
There are bound to be a few old timers in the Bureau of Cannabis Control who are sticklers for detail. Hence, we judged it wise to summarize the situation now in force.
Laboratory Testing Is Now Mandatory
A licensed dealer may only sell cannabis goods that passed all legal and regulatory standards in a licensed laboratory. This applies retrospectively to old stock. If you have merchandise you acquired before 1 July 2018, you must destroy it. The law prohibits you from having it tested now.
However, if you are holding disqualified consignment stock you may return it to your supplier. In terms of the convoluted set of rules, the supplier may send the stock on to the manufacturer, and they may then ask a laboratory to test it. As Charles Dickens wrote into Mr. Brumble’s role, “the law is an ass” but a remarkably persistent one we add!
Packaging and Labeling Requirements
The Bureau of Cannabis Control requires all cannabis goods to have appropriate labels before they reach retailers. The latter must, therefore, refuse any erroneously labeled or non-labeled consignments. Furthermore, “A retailer shall not package or label cannabis goods, even if the cannabis goods were in inventory before July 1, 2018”.
The onus is on the retailer to return incorrectly labeled goods, and destroy any in stock prior to 1 July 2018. Moreover, they may not send the product to another licensee for packaging or labeling. The only relief is exit packaging no longer needs to be child resistant. Although the restriction still applies to merchandise on route to the retailer.
THC Limits For Edible and Non-Edible Products
Edible Products
“Beginning July 1, 2018, edible cannabis goods may not exceed 10 milligrams of THC per serving, and may not exceed 100 milligrams of THC per package.”
Non-Edible Products
“Beginning July 1, 2018, non-edible cannabis products must meet package THC restrictions. Non-edible cannabis products shall not contain more than 1,000 milligrams of THC per package if intended for sale only in the adult-use market.
Non-edible cannabis products shall not contain more than 2,000 milligrams of THC per package if intended for sale only in the medicinal market.”
Further Advice and Information Readily Available
California Dispensary Information offers expertise on everything from business formation and structure, licensing, city permits, and grow room design, to production methods, concentrates, and seed-to-sale tracking.
Virtually everything you need to know on how to start a collective in California. And for that matter, supplying medicinal and recreational cannabis goods in ways that keep the Bureau of Cannabis Control smiling.