AB 259: Medical cannabis and nonmedical marijuana: California residency requirement for licensing.

Existing law, the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), added by Proposition 64 at the November 8, 2016, statewide general election, authorizes a person 21 years of age or older to possess and use specified amounts of marijuana. AUMA provides for the licensing and regulation of cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and retail sale of nonmedical marijuana and nonmedical marijuana products. Until December 31, 2019, AUMA requires a person to demonstrate continuous California residency from or before January 1, 2015, in order to be issued a license for commercial nonmedical marijuana activity. AUMA authorizes legislative amendment of its provisions with a ²/₃ vote of both houses, without submission to the voters, to further its purposes and intent.

Existing law, the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MCRSA), authorizes a person who obtains both a state license under the MCRSA and the relevant local license to engage in commercial medical cannabis activity pursuant to those licenses, as specified. Existing law prescribes requirements for a licensing authority to issue a license, including submission of an application and payment of a fee.

This bill would require a person to demonstrate 3 years of continuous California residency prior to the date of application before being issued a license under either AUMA or MCRSA.

This bill would declare that its provisions further the purposes and intent of the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act.