AB 1894 Summary

• Creates the Division of Medical Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement within the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to regulate commercial cultivation, manufacturing, testing, transportation, distribution, and sale of medical cannabis statewide, with mandatory registration required by January 1, 2016.

• Establishes the Medical Cannabis Regulation Fund supported by registration fees and application fees, with continuous appropriation to the division for administration and enforcement of the program.

• Prohibits physicians from recommending medical cannabis while being a mandatory commercial registrant or financial beneficiary of one, and makes such recommendations without proper examination unprofessional conduct subject to Medical Board investigation.

• Preserves local authority for cities and counties to adopt ordinances banning, regulating, or taxing medical cannabis activities, and authorizes counties to impose taxes on cannabis cultivation, dispensing, production, processing, and distribution at any rate specified by the board of supervisors.

• Exempts qualified patients and primary caregivers who cultivate cannabis exclusively for personal medical use from mandatory registration, and creates provisional registration process for existing compliant medical cannabis providers while applications for permanent registration are processed.