California invites Citizens for Marijuana Advisory Committee

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on February 13, 2017.

With a view to seek help from citizens in shaping regulations for medical as well as recreational use of marijuana in California, The Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation is now accepting applications for a Marijuana Advisory Committee in the state.

The Marijuana Advisory Committee will work on developing regulations that protect public health and safety, along with a fair market for marijuana products. It will then report to the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation.

Meanwhile, lawmakers of the state are crafting legislation in connection to cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, distribution, licensing, sales and other aspects of the marijuana market.

Crafting regulations for marijuana industry takes more manpower than the state's existing bureau staff members, said bureau communications director Alex Traverso.  “We're hopeful that we can cast a wide net and get representation from all backgrounds such as growers, law enforcement, labor representatives, health experts, you name it.”

Marijuana for medical use has been legal in California since 1996. In 2015, the State Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law three bills, such as Assembly Bill 243, Assembly Bill 266, and Senate Bill 643 that create a licensing and regulatory framework for medical marijuana.

Last November, Californians voted in favor of Proposition 64, legalizing recreational marijuana in the state. The law eliminates criminal penalties for adult personal use of the marijuana products and creates the opportunity for a market potentially worth billions of dollars.

California’s medical marijuana business generated nearly $2.7 billion in sales in 2015 and that’s expected to balloon to $6.45 billion annually by 2020, including sales from recreational-use marijuana, according to the marijuana industry investment network Arcview.

The Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs will appoint the advisory committee members and the number of qualified applicants will determine the committee's size.

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