Without much fanfare, four cannabis-related bills gained ground during a hearing in the California Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday.
The committee, which weighs in on bills with potentially significant fiscal impact, determined to have the measures placed in the Suspense File, meaning that they will be further evaluated and then subject to a vote-only hearing prior to being reported to the Senate Floor.
One of the advancing bills is SB 581, which pushes for increased transparency in the cannabis industry by requiring licensing authorities to post information regarding applicants or licensees on their websites, including specified disciplinary actions taken against them.
Another bill that moved forward is SB 627, which would require the Veterinary Medical Board to issue guidelines on the appropriate use of medical cannabis for animal patients and authorize veterinarians to recommend it. Notably, the bill would also bar veterinarians from advertising that they offer medical cannabis recommendations, as well as prohibit them from recommending products if they are “employed by, or has an agreement with, a person or entity dispensing medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products.”
Marked with “urgency” by the committee, SB 51, which would provide for the licensure and regulation of limited charter banks and credit unions for California’s cannabis industry also moved forward, as did SB 658, a bill co-developed by the Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation that will guarantee local regulators access to the state’s Track and Trace program and establish a statewide emblem program for retail businesses.
