Governor Gavin Newsom Signs AB 8 to Regulate Intoxicating Hemp Products

Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation, Assembly Bill 8 (Aguiar-Curry), establishing clear rules on how hemp should enter the licensed cannabis market while protecting our youth by keeping intoxicating hemp products out of the hands of children and ensuring those products are only sold through licensed dispensaries to qualifying adults.

The bill helps consumers by stopping 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. Finally, AB 8 beefs up public safety by creating new tools for state and local enforcement partners to go after unlawful cannabis and cannabinoid products.

"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."

• Governor Gavin Newsom

"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. 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.”

• Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters)

“Today marks a decisive step forward in preserving the integrity of California’s cannabis legalization framework and safeguarding the communities we serve. We are deeply grateful to Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry for her unwavering commitment to closing dangerous loopholes, and to Governor Newsom for signing AB 8 into law. This landmark measure protects public health, ensures intoxicating hemp products can no longer be sold in unregulated outlets, and provides a fair pathway for integration that supports consumer safety and the long-term viability of the legal cannabis market.”

• Amy O'Gorman Jenkins, CaCOA Executive Director

LEARN MORE: The Great Hemp Hoax (white paper)