California Governor Gavin Newsom last week signed Assembly Bill 8, authored by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), which restricts the sale of hemp-derived THC products in the state.
Last year, Governor Newsom announced emergency regulations by the Department of Public Health to protect Californians from the potentially adverse health effects of hemp cannabinoid products. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) said it has since 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.
“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 Aguiar-Curry in a statement. “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.”
What this means
- The bill establishes clear rules on how hemp should enter the licensed cannabis market.
- The bill keeps intoxicating hemp products out of the hands of children, ensuring those products are sold through licensed dispensaries to qualifying adults.
- The bill stops the sale of synthetic cannabinoid products and inhalable hemp products, while also carefully limiting the circumstances in which non-intoxicating hemp can be used in products outside the licensed cannabis market.
- The bill creates new tools for state and local enforcement partners to go after unlawful cannabis and cannabinoid products.
“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.”
