CA Report: Cannabis Industry Needs ‘Tight’ Regulations

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A new 32-page report from the Public Policy Institute of California is urging officials to take a “restrictive” stance when it comes to writing regulations for both the medical and possible recreational marijuana industries in the state.

Though the report is advisory only and carries no formal weight, it will likely appeal to a number of policymakers who agree with an opening salvo in the report’s introduction that reads, “it will be easier to loosen a tight market than to tighten a loose one.” Which means it could be an indicator of the regulatory road California officials decide to take over the next couple years.

For example, the report backs:
  • a seed-to-sale tracking system for both MMJ and rec cannabis
  • horizontal integration (the Washington State model) as opposed to vertical (the Colorado model) when it comes to licensing and production
  • license caps for both medical and rec
  • a residency requirement (which is currently not included in the state’s new MMJ regulations)
  • environmental protections regarding cultivation and waste rules
  • plenty of testing labs to ensure that product doesn’t get stalled on the way to market, along with strict testing requirements
  • a variety of labeling, packaging and dosing requirements for edibles