Moving California toward regulating all intoxicating cannabinoid products under a single regulatory framework – regardless of whether they contain cannabis or hemp, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed Assembly Bill 8 authored by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters).
Last year, Governor Newsom announced emergency regulations by the Department of Public Health to protect Californians, especially youth, from the adverse health effects of dangerous hemp cannabinoid products. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has seen a 99.78% compliance among its licensees this year. Since September 2024, ABC agents have visited 14,743 businesses and removed 7,210 illegal products from shelves at 151 locations.
"We are continuing to place the safety of every Californian first. For too long, nefarious hemp manufacturers have been exploiting loopholes to make their intoxicating products easily available to our most vulnerable communities – that stops today," said the Governor.
Loopholes in federal law, and an absence of any meaningful action to regulate or enforce, have led to a flood of intoxicating hemp products across the nation. As the federal government continues to abdicate their responsibility to protect consumers, California is stepping up.
"Bad actors have abused state and federal law to sell intoxicating hemp products in our State. As the author of legislation that allowed the legal sale of non-intoxicating hemp CBD products, this is absolutely unacceptable," said Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters). "AB 8 is a result of years of collaboration with this Administration, and I appreciate the Governor's signature. Our first job is to protect our kids and our communities. With this bill, we'll have responsible regulation, increase enforcement, and support struggling legal cannabis businesses against criminal competition."
"AB 8 is a critical step forward for California's cannabis industry and for consumer safety. By closing loopholes around intoxicating hemp products and bringing them under the same strict rules as cannabis, this legislation protects consumers, ensures fair competition for licensed businesses, and strengthens the integrity of our regulated marketplace," said Department of Cannabis Control Director Nicole Elliott. "AB 8 makes it clear that all intoxicating products must be held to the same important standards Californians expect."
Source: California Governor Gavin Newsom
