SACRAMENTO, CA, April 25, 2017 – A broad coalition that includes cannabis farmers, manufacturers, workers, patients and law enforcement organizations today announced unified support for the Brown Administration’s proposed framework for cannabis regulation contained in a “budget trailer bill” released last week. The unprecedented consensus from industry, patients, and law enforcement organizations reflects the proposals’ consistency with voter-approved Prop. 64. The initiative is clear that regulations on the cannabis industry should support an “open distribution” model that prevents monopolies and allows small businesses to compete in the marketplace.
In a letter to Governor Brown today, Amanda Reiman, PhD, Secretary of the International Cannabis Farmer’s Association (ICFA) and Kenny Morrison, President of the California Cannabis Manufacturer’s Association (CCMA) wrote, “We believe that allowing cultivators and manufacturers to hold distribution licenses is in the spirit of developing policies that will undo the illicit market rather than reinforce it, and provide opportunities for small producers to compete with larger players, allowing the flexibility to self-distribute is crucial in reaching those goals.”
Their letter says the regulatory framework proposed by Governor Brown protects public safety and consumers by:
- Protecting small businesses
- Preventing diversions of product into the illicit market
- Preserving choices for patients with healthy market competition
- Ensuring accountability for product integrity and quality
In addition to ICFA and CCMA, organizations signing onto today’s letter included: Law Enforcement Action Partnership, the California Cannabis Industry Association, the Cannabis Task Force of Los Angeles, California NRML, Americans for Safe Access, Association of Cannabis Professionals, Drug Policy Alliance, and United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council.