RCRC is sponsoring Assembly Bill 1448, authored by Assembly Member Greg Wallis, which enhances local enforcement mechanisms against unlicensed cannabis activities.
Specifically, AB 1448 would provide tools at the local level to act against persons that have aided and abetted unlicensed cannabis activity. This measure would establish a local administrative penalty process specific to cannabis violations that (1) allows local jurisdictions additional flexibility regarding penalty process and amounts; (2) streamlines appeals and judicial review; (3) facilitates collection of final penalty amounts through judgment and lien mechanisms similar to those used for pesticide violations. The bill would also revise the Business and Professions Code to authorize the recovery of penalties through local administrative processes, and would allow a 50/50 state-local split of the statutory penalties recovered in actions brought by local jurisdictions, as originally enacted by the Legislature in the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act. Revenues from these actions would provide a much-needed source of funds to reinvest in illicit cannabis enforcement.
Counties wishing to support this legislation may use the draft support letter available for download here.
AB 1448 has been set for hearing on April 11th, in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee. RCRC’s letter is available here. For more information, please contact Sarah Dukett, RCRC Policy Advocate.