California: new regulations before the opening of the legal cannabis market

California is preparing the final rules for the future legal cannabis market, which will open on January 1, 2018.

Representatives of the Bureau de Contrôle du Cannabis (BCC) yesterday unveiled a set of rules which will enable the Californian industry to begin the transition from the medical to the recreational market. Some simply confirm those already in place.

Product limits

The edibles must be sold in 10mg THC portions, with a maximum of 100mg in a single pack. They must not take any form that might appeal to children (character, animal, insect, fruit, etc.).

For non-ingestable products, the THC limit is set at 1000mg per pack for recreational users, and 2000mg for medical users.

Cannabis products may not contain nicotine, caffeine or alcohol (except in the case of cannabis tinctures). Perishables other than beverages are also prohibited.

Purchasing limits

A recreational consumer will be able to buy up to 28g of cannabis (one ounce), 8g of concentrates and 6 growing plants. Medical consumers will be able to buy up to 224g (8 ounces).

Contests and gifts will not be available to recreational users, unlike patients, who should benefit from cheaper access to their treatment.

For stores

Cannabis dispensaries will be able to open from 6am to 10pm. Deliveries will be authorized if made by an employee of a delivery company or dispensary. On the other hand, no drone delivery or by bicycle, only by «closed» car (no convertible delivery).

Dispensaries must also be more than 180 metres (600 feet) from a school. Windows must not show inside the building.

Product testing

All products sold must be tested. In particular, the following elements will be measured: cannabinoids (THC, CBD and others), heavy metals, microbial impurities, mycotoxins, moulds, pesticides, solvents, terpenoids.

The edibles will be tested to ensure that THC and CBD concentrations are evenly distributed throughout the pack.

If a product fails the test, it can be reworked and retested. On the second failure, the entire batch is destroyed.

Transition period

To ensure that companies have time to comply with the new regulations, they will be able until July 1, 2018 :

• sell under medical and recreational status, whatever their category of origin
• sell products that don't comply with the new packaging rules, by adding a sticker with the information
• sell products without childproofing if the product is placed in «difficult-to-open» packaging»
• sell products that do not comply with the new THC per pack limits
• pack flowers themselves

Other rules should be added to this long, non-exhaustive list before the legal market opens, and as time goes on.