California bill would allow cannabis growers to sell products at farmers markets

KSBW ^ | Apr 28, 2022 | Orko Manna

[nickcarraway]

Proposed legislation could soon allow cannabis cultivators to sell pot products at licensed events in California, such as farmers markets.

Assembly Bill 2691 passed the Assembly Business and Professions Committee on Tuesday. The sponsor of the bill, Assm. Jim Wood, D-Santa Rosa, sent KCRA 3 the following statement:

Advertisement “It is no secret that cannabis businesses throughout the state are struggling, whether it’s taxes, compliance costs, competing with the illicit market or other challenges, but the focus of AB 2691 is to help legal cannabis farmers who grow less than 1 acre of cannabis get consumer recognition for their unique products, much as has been done for craft beer, artisanal wine and other family farm agricultural products. Giving these smaller farmers opportunities at locally approved events to expose the public to their products increases consumer choice and offers farmers a better chance to reach retail shelves which is their ultimate goal. This is not about circumventing retailers, but growing the industry overall. My office has always been open to those who may have concerns about this bill and I’m here to listen to their concerns and their proposed solutions.” Genine Coleman, executive director of Origins Council, said she supports the bill. Origins Council is an advocacy organization that represents the historic rural cannabis-producing regions across California. They have around 900 members.

"The vast majority of them are producing half an acre or less of cannabis, so this is definitely a huge potential opportunity for our membership,” Coleman said. "For small-scale producers to have direct marketing and sales opportunities with consumers is really critical."

While some are excited about the legislation, others are uninterested. Davis Farmers Market Alliance Executive Director Randii MacNear said that she oversees what she describes as a "food business," and even if the legislation goes through, the Davis Farmers Market will likely stay as it is.

"We really are interested in selling food, so at this point, cannabis is not a food,” MacNear said. "We're trying to increase our local farmers. We're trying to get new, emerging Yolo County farmers in here and give them a space to sell, so I think that probably we would stick with that concentration."

MacNear added that the decision is also up to the Davis City Council.

"I'm sure you'll see some of this product at other markets but not here in Davis,” MacNear said.

Still, some in the community said the new bill is another way of normalizing cannabis.

"I think it's super, super awesome and I like that they're kind of getting rid of that guilt or that dark cloud that they have around the whole weed industry,” Davis resident Crystal Molina said.

According to the California legislature website, AB 2691 is now headed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. It would then need to pass through the full Assembly and full Senate, before reaching the governor’s desk.

Supporters of the bill argue the bill would help producers connect directly with consumers, explaining that the state's current framework makes it difficult to do so for nearly all independent small urban and rural producers, according to an analysis from the Assembly Bill Policy Committee.

Opponents of the bill, including the United Cannabis Business Association, said the bill would violate Proposition 64, which passed in 2016. Those against the bill also argue that it would not expand market access, which supporters said it would.

[Scrambler Bob]

Those selling at the market just outed themselves to the cartels, I would think.