Cannabis: demographic information of license applicants.

Existing law, the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) , an initiative measure approved by the voters, authorizes a person who obtains a state license under AUMA to engage in commercial adult-use cannabis activity pursuant to that license and applicable local ordinances. Existing law, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) , among other things, consolidates the licensure and regulation of commercial medicinal and adult-use cannabis activities, and requires the Department of Cannabis Control to administer its provisions, except as specified. Existing law requires the department to provide on its internet website information regarding the status of every license issued by the department, as described. This bill would require the department to collect and consolidate the demographic information, as defined, about every license applicant. The bill would require the department to publish the aggregate demographic data that it collects on its internet website. The bill would require the department to maintain the confidentiality of the information it receives, as specified, and to only release the information in an aggregate form that cannot be used to identify an individual. The bill would specify that a licensee or applicant is not required to provide the demographic information, as described above, as a condition of licensure or license renewal, and is not subject to discipline for not providing the demographic information. The bill would make its provisions operative only if the department unifies its licensing system under MAUCRSA. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.