New Cannabis Contraband: The Brands and Products Now Outlawed Under California’s New Rules
When Californias recreational market comes online on Jan. 1, the industry will have to adjust to follow these rules or face the states new Bureau of Cannabis Control.
Californias massive marijuana industry is a multibillion-dollar game, and as of last Thursday, it is at last a game with some rules.
With less than six weeks to go before the advent of the recreational marijuana era, themultiple state agencies responsible for regulating legal cannabis sales at last released a set of emergency regulations.
These rules arent final, but this is what will take effect on Jan. 1, the first day of legal recreational sales. An important (and slightly confusing!) note: There is a six-month transition period from Jan. 1 to July 1, when someof the rules are relaxed, butonlyin certain circumstances.
This is a good thing for the products on some dispensary shelves and delivery-service menus which will become forbidden goods after that time. Other popular items do not enjoy any such grace period, and become contraband after Dec. 31.
Heres a brief rundown of soon-to-be-verboten illegal brands and services.
No edibles stronger than 100 milligrams, no edible serving sizes bigger than 10 milligrams.
The biggest changes are to edibles, and one of the most significant limits is on serving sizes. Will we have to say goodbye to Slactaviss 1500 mg bottles of syrup,1000 mg bags of Bomb Chips, Kivas 180 mg chocolate bars, andKorovas 300 mg popcorn bags? Quite possibly, yes.
According to the Bureau of Cannabis Control:Beginning January 1, 2018, licensees shall not transport or sell any edible cannabis product that exceeds 10 milligrams per serving. Adult-use products may not exceed 100 milligrams per package; however, medicinal cannabis products may exceed 100 milligrams per package.
Seems pretty clear-cut. At the same time, in the same breath, the bureau says it will allow retailers to sell cannabis products that do not meet the THC limits per package established by the state Department of Public Health during the six-month transition period.
Whether the edible dose limits drop on Jan. 1 or July 1, THC limits are a significant disruption to most dispensaries edibles menus, which are full of products much, much stronger than 100 mg. It appears that as long as products above 100 mg are sold on the medical cannabis market, and as long as theyre somehow clearly identified as products with many multiple serving sizes, they may be allowed. Dont throw away your medical marijuana recommendation anytime soon but it gets worse.
No cartoons, no gummy worms or bears, no medicated lollipops.
No more edibles in the shape of a human being, either realistic or caricature, animal, insect, or fruit. Sounds like you can have corn-syrup based gummies, but they have to be in some kind of generic shape. Still, abandon your sweet tooth, because theres no cannabis candy at all. You cant even use the word.As per Section 40410, an edible labelshall not contain any of the following: (1) Cartoons; (2) Any likeness to images, characters, or phrases that are popularly used to advertise to children; (3) Any imitation of candy packaging or labeling; or (4) The terms candy or candies.'
Maybe no cannabis cookies or chocolate bars at all?
Also banned under the new regulations are: Any cannabis product that the Department determines is easily confused with commercially available foods without cannabis. That would seem to include cookies, brownies, chips, popcorn, macaroons you name it. Is your favorite brand for sure banned? This would be up to the states Department of Public Health to determine on a case-by-case basis.
No added caffeine
Naturally occurring caffeine in coffee beans and tea leaves can be mixed with marijuana to make a potent and pleasant brew like Somatiks medicated cold-brew coffees. These and similar products, like Satoris chocolate-covered coffee beans, will remain legal. Anything with added caffeine, however, is not allowed. Somewhere, someone just ripped up their business plan for the Four Loko of marijuana.
No THC-infused wine, no CBD-infused canna-cocktails
Alcohol and cannabis may be trusted party partners for millions of Americans, but in Californias new legal industry, they shall not mix at least not in the same glass. These regulations prohibit alcoholic beverages from being sold as cannabis products, the California Department of Public Health clarified to Cannabis Now. This does not prohibit tinctures, but does prohibit THC- or CBD-infused alcohol.
Whether or not bars or cafes can press on with cocktails enhanced with a dash of CBD or a blast of cannabis-derived terpenes would be a matter for the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to address and enforce.
No cannabis-infused ice cream or juice bars, no cannabis milk and nothing that needs to be refrigerated.
One section of the new regulations outlaws any cannabis product that must be held at or below 41 degrees Fahrenheit to keep it safe for human consumption, including, but not limited to, cream or custard-filled pies; pies or pastries which consist in whole or in part of milk or milk products, eggs, or synthetic fillings; or meat-filled pies or pastries. This would seem to include milk, ice cream and a host of perishable goods. You can, however, manufacture and sell cannabis juice.
No massive jars of topicals, and no big containers of Rick Simpson oil.
If you were planning on selling a family-sized portion of shatter, sorry. Section 40306 of the new regulations puts THC limits on a cannabis ...
