A California plan to usher in sweeping changes to the state's marijuana and hemp markets appears dead for the session after a Senate committee did not call the bill for a vote Thursday ahead of an end-of-week deadline.
Under a recently proposed amendment from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), the measure would have folded hemp-derived cannabinoid products into the state's regulated marijuana system and opened the door to out-of-state hemp producers to sell products into California's cannabis market. It's an attempt to rein in largely unregulated hemp-derived cannabinoid products and smokable hemp flower now widely available at places like gas stations and convenience stores.
Earlier this week, the Senate Appropriations Committee took public comment on the measure's fiscal impacts and agreed to put it on Thursday's suspense calendar—a list of bills the committee considered for up-or-down votes before a deadline on Friday.
But at Thursday's suspense hearing, committee chair Sen. Anna Caballero (D) did not call AB 2223 for a vote, meaning it will be held under submission. The move effectively kills the measure for the year unless it's somehow revived ahead of Friday's deadline.
Read more at marijuanamoment.net