The California Legislature recently passed two bad bills designed to promote the cannabis industry at the expense of public health. One, AB 1302, would allow cannabis billboards along highways and the other, AB 45, greatly expands permission to add CBD and THC to foods and pet supplies. Under AB 45’s weak rules, hemp sodas or cookies can be sold to kids with more THC than a legal cannabis edible. An 11th hour amendment also legalized production of hemp smoking and vaping products, including the same kind of flavored products the Legislature just banned for tobacco last year, creating a new path to hook kids on smoking. AB 45 also undermines the cannabis taxation system by allowing untaxed hemp CBD and THC products.
It is amazing to me that at the same time California is doing a great job on tobacco our political leaders are trying to turn California into the North Carolina of cannabis.
Health groups are urging Governor Newsom to veto both bills. I’ve signed their letter. If you want to sign it, too, it is here.
October 9, 2021 update: Governor Newsom signed AB45 on October 6, 2021 and vetoed AB 1302 on October 8, 2021.
Stanton Glantz blog 