CaCOA Victory: Department of Cannabis Control Updates Infused Product Guidance Following Member Advocacy

The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) issued important new guidance today, clarifying how retailers should calculate daily purchase limits for certain manufactured cannabis products. 

The update appeared as a "Helpful Tip" in DCC’s weekly licensee bulletin and directly responds to questions raised by retailers, local jurisdictions, and our team at the California Cannabis Operators Association (CaCOA).

Thanks to consistent advocacy by CaCOA and our members, the DCC has taken a thoughtful and practical step to ensure cannabis infused product sales remain compliant and manageable for retailers across the state.

What’s in the Guidance?

1. Clarifying Daily Limits for Infused Products

Retailers may now split the weight of infused pre-rolls and similar products into two categories:

• The plant material (e.g., cannabis flower) counts toward the non-concentrated limit.

• The infused concentrate (e.g., oil or distillate) counts toward the concentrated limit.

This clarification helps resolve prior ambiguity and gives retailers more certainty in assessing and selling infused products without risk of violating daily sales limits.

2. Kief Treatment – Standalone vs. Blended Products

• Standalone kief (e.g., a jar of pure kief) will continue to be counted toward the concentrated cannabis limit, per regulatory definition.

• Flower or pre-rolls that contain only kief (and no other infused concentrates) can be applied toward the non-concentrated limit.

This nuanced approach reflects how kief often appears in retail products — in trace or blended form — and avoids unnecessarily penalizing retailers for common manufacturing practices.

3. Labeling and Enforcement Expectations

The DCC recognizes the ongoing challenge with labeling clarity on manufactured products. While this guidance should help standardize calculations, the Department signaled that it may revisit labeling requirements in the future to better support retail compliance. For now, this clarified framework is expected to make enforcement reasonable and informed.

This update is a direct result of CaCOA elevating member concerns and working with the DCC to find a practical solution. 

We are grateful to the Department for engaging in open dialogue and acknowledging the need to update guidance regarding how infused products are manufactured and sold in the real world.

As always, CaCOA will continue working with our members and regulatory partners to ensure California’s cannabis policies reflect public health goals and operational realities.

Have questions about the update or how it affects your business? Contact CaCOA or DCC directly for support.