Bill Text: CA SB1244 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Cannabis testing laboratories.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2020-09-29 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 309, Statutes of 2020. [SB1244 Detail]
Download: California-2019-SB1244-Chaptered.html
Senate Bill
No. 1244
CHAPTER 309
An act to amend Section 26104 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to cannabis.
[
Approved by
Governor
September 29, 2020.
Filed with
Secretary of State
September 29, 2020.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1244, Bradford.
Cannabis testing laboratories.
Existing law, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA), which includes the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), an initiative statute enacted by the voters as Proposition 64 at the November 8, 2016, statewide general election, provides for the licensure and regulation of commercial cannabis activity, including testing laboratories, by the Bureau of Cannabis Control and other licensing authorities. Existing law prohibits licensed testing laboratories from acquiring or receiving cannabis or cannabis products except from a
licensee in accordance with MAUCRSA, except as provided.
This bill would authorize a licensed testing laboratory to receive and test samples of cannabis or cannabis products from a state or local law enforcement, or a prosecuting or regulatory agency in order to test the cannabis or cannabis products.
The bill would also clarify that testing conducted by a testing laboratory for state or local law enforcement, a prosecuting agency, or a regulatory agency, is not commercial cannabis activity and would prohibit that testing from being arranged or overseen by the bureau.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 26104 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:26104.
(a) A licensed testing laboratory shall, in performing activities concerning cannabis and cannabis products, comply with the requirements and restrictions set forth in applicable law and regulations.(b) The bureau shall develop procedures to do all of the following:
(1) Ensure that testing of cannabis and cannabis products occurs prior to distribution to retailers, microbusinesses, or nonprofits licensed under Section 26070.5.
(2) Specify how often licensees shall test cannabis and cannabis products, and that the cost of testing cannabis shall be borne by the
licensed cultivators and the cost of testing cannabis products shall be borne by the licensed manufacturer, and that the costs of testing cannabis and cannabis products shall be borne by a nonprofit licensed under Section 26070.5.
(3) Require destruction of harvested batches whose testing samples indicate noncompliance with health and safety standards required by the bureau, unless remedial measures can bring the cannabis or cannabis products into compliance with quality assurance standards as specified by law and implemented by the bureau.
(4) Ensure that a testing laboratory employee takes the sample of cannabis or cannabis products from the distributor’s premises for testing required by this division and that the testing laboratory employee transports the sample to the
testing laboratory.
(c) (1) Except as provided in this division, a testing laboratory shall not acquire or receive cannabis or cannabis products except from a licensee in accordance with this division, and shall not distribute, sell, or dispense cannabis or cannabis products, from the licensed premises from which the cannabis or cannabis products were acquired or received. All transfer or transportation shall be performed pursuant to a specified chain of custody protocol.
(2) A testing laboratory may receive and test samples of cannabis or cannabis products from a state or local law enforcement, or a prosecuting or regulatory agency in order to test the cannabis or cannabis products. For
purposes of this section, testing conducted by a testing laboratory for state or local law enforcement, a prosecuting agency, or a regulatory agency is not commercial cannabis activity and shall not be arranged or overseen by the bureau.
(d) A testing laboratory may receive and test samples of cannabis or cannabis products from a qualified patient or primary caregiver with a valid physician’s recommendation for cannabis for medicinal purposes. A testing laboratory shall not certify samples from a qualified patient or primary caregiver for resale or transfer to another person or licensee. All tests performed by a testing laboratory for a qualified patient or primary caregiver shall be recorded with the name of the qualified patient or primary caregiver and the amount of cannabis or cannabis product received.
(e) A testing laboratory may receive and test samples of cannabis or cannabis products from a person over 21 years of age when the cannabis has been grown by that person and will be used solely for that person’s use, as authorized pursuant to Section 11362.1 of the Health and Safety Code. A testing laboratory shall not certify samples from the person over 21 years of age for resale or transfer to another person or licensee. All tests recorded pursuant to this subdivision shall be recorded with the name of the person submitting the sample and the amount of cannabis or cannabis product received.
