SB 1064: Cannabis: operator and separate premises license types: excessive concentration of licenses.

Existing law, the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), an initiative measure, authorizes a person who obtains a state license under AUMA to engage in commercial adult-use cannabis activity pursuant to that license and applicable local ordinances. Existing law, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA), among other things, consolidates the licensure and regulation of commercial medicinal and adult-use cannabis activities, and establishes the Department of Cannabis Control to administer and enforce its provisions.

MAUCRSA requires an applicant or licensee to apply for a separate license for each location where it engages in commercial cannabis activity. MAUCRSA sets forth a codified list of license types for different commercial cannabis activities, including, among others, retail sale, distribution, 2 types of manufacturing, laboratory testing, and various kinds and sizes of cultivation activities.

This bill would revise the MAUCRSA licensing scheme for commercial cannabis activities by adding a combined activities license classification. The bill would define combined activities license as a state license that authorizes 2 or more commercial cannabis activities at the same premises, with the exception of laboratory testing, as specified. The bill would make various related conforming changes.

MAUCRSA requires the department, in determining whether to grant, deny, or renew a specified license, to consider if an excessive concentration, as described, exists in the area where the licensee will operate.

This bill would remove this requirement.

MAUCRSA imposes various requirements on an applicant for a state license, including, among other things, requiring each owner to electronically submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice, as described. If an owner has previously submitted fingerprint images and related information, as described above, MAUCRSA does not require the owner to submit additional fingerprint images and related information in connection with a subsequent application for a state license.

This bill would additionally specify that an owner is not required to resubmit owner-related information previously provided to the department.

This bill would make related legislative findings and declarations.

AUMA authorizes the Legislature to amend its provisions with a ²/₃ vote of both houses to further its purposes and intent, except as specified.

This bill would declare that its provisions further the purposes and intent of AUMA, as described.