RCRC has lent its support to Senate Bill 67, authored by Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg). SB 67 would extend the time-period for which a temporary license is valid when issued by state cannabis licensing entities, and would ease the process for cannabis operators to obtain a provisional cannabis license as a step toward full licensure.
In a few weeks from now, hundreds, if not thousands, of temporary licenses will expire. Temporary licenses were created as a way to allow for cannabis operators to become sanctioned while the state licensing agencies continue to build and implement their respective regulatory requirements. It was anticipated these license would cease to be valid and those that held a temporary license would transition to annual licenses (which have more stringent conditions). SB 67 extends temporary licenses to address the looming backlog of pending license applications at both the local and state level. The legislation would also ease the requirements for obtaining a provisional cannabis license, which was created as an intermediate step in the licensing process for certain operators whose applications are pending environmental review.
Currently, SB 67 recently secured passage in the Senate Business, Professions & Economic Development Committee. Senator McGuire is hopeful this measure will be enacted into law in the next several weeks. And, if enacted, it would take effect immediately.
RCRC’s support letter can be accessed here. For more information, Paul A. Smith, RCRC Governmental Affairs Vice President, can be reached at (916) 447-4806 or psmith@rcrcnet.org.