NEWS & RESOURCES

O’Gorman Jenkins also warned in her testimony that removing regulated vapes from store shelves would push consumers back into the ”unregulated and unsafe illicit market, which faces none of the legal, environmental, or product safety requirements.”

Rather than implementing a counterproductive ban through AB 762 that would endanger public health and strengthen the illicit market, California should focus on 1) enhancing education about proper disposal methods established by AB 1894 (2022), 2) expanding regulated collection programs, and 3) directing enforcement resources toward unlicensed operators who sell untested, potentially harmful vaporizers with no environmental or safety standards.

CaCOA submitted comprehensive feedback to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) regarding their proposed industrial hemp regulations. Our comments focused on the critical need to establish clear definitions before addressing serving sizes and age restrictions for hemp products.

Jenkins emphasized that while CaCOA shares lawmakers' commitment to environmental and consumer protection, banning integrated vaporizers would likely exacerbate existing challenges without solving the intended problems.

Without immediate policy reforms to 1) halt the scheduled excise tax increase, 2) crack down on unlicensed operations, and 3) expand consumer access to legal retail, many more California cannabis businesses will not survive to see future 420 celebrations.

Assembly Bill 564 (Haney) prevents the scheduled excise tax increase by repealing the requirement for the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) to adjust the excise tax every two years, providing critical relief to struggling cannabis businesses, protecting jobs, keeping cannabis products more affordable, and helping stabilize tax revenues by keeping consumers in the legal market.