California introduces designations of origin for its cannabis

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed several measures last week aimed at regulating cannabis. In addition to a measure designed to ensure the continuation of the compassionate distribution of cannabis to patients the poorest (free cannabis on which dispensaries don't pay taxes), Gavin Newson signed the SB 185 which aims to protect the designations of origin for cannabis.

«Consumers now rely on appellation labeling for wine. The appellation system is an indicator of quality here in the United States, focused on specific geographic regions where grapes have been grown. For years, cannabis producers have sought the same protections and transparency that the California wine industry established decades ago,» according to the press release issued by the senator who introduced the proposal.

«Now that it has become law, SB 185 expands the prohibitions already provided for in the law regarding thethe improper use of county names for cannabis products to include protection for designations based on specific geographic regions and/or the use of similar designations on product labels.»

In practical terms, a cannabis brand will not be able to use the name “Humboldt”—a county renowned for its outdoor cannabis cultivation—if its product was not actually grown in Humboldt and is not composed exclusively of cannabis grown there.

«Customers now expect wine labels to be accurate, and this important bill ensures that distributors market products that meet the same appellation criteria for cannabis,» said Senator Mike McGuire.

This new law is in line with a a fairly old request California cannabis producers. The goal is both to ensure transparency for consumers and to protect the varieties and expertise of the producing regions.