California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2020 proposal – to merge the three regulatory agencies that oversee the state’s marijuana industry into one new department – has finally been rescheduled and is now slated to be completed by July. Although the merger is pending approval by the legislature, the move is part of Newsom’s 2021-22 budget proposal and is therefore expected to receive the necessary thumbs-up. The merger – which has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic – is anticipated to simplify a host of industry issues and reduce regulatory red tape for marijuana businesses. The plan is to combine California’s Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) with the marijuana regulatory wings in the departments of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and Public Health (CDPH) into a new state agency called the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). Since the establishment of the legal MJ market in California, the BCC has overseen licensed retailers, distributors, testing labs, events organizers, and microbusinesses, while the CDFA has had jurisdiction over growers and the CDPH over manufacturers. However, that has led to patchwork rules between the three as well as confusing overlap in regulatory interpretations between the three agencies.
Marijuana Business Daily, 01/11/2021 13:16:00
Open article: https://mjbizdaily.com/california-marijuana-regulatory-merger-on-track-for-july/