Cannabis: donations: seniors.
What changed between versions
Added new Business and Professions Code Section 26072 authorizing licensed retailers to provide free cannabis or cannabis products to persons 65 years of age or older and their senior caregivers, subject to specific verification, recordkeeping, and possession limit requirements.
Changed the vote requirement from a simple majority to a two-thirds vote of both houses, reflecting that the bill amends AUMA (Proposition 64), which requires a supermajority for legislative amendments.
Added the definition of 'senior caregiver' in B&P Code Section 26001: an individual at least 21 years old designated by a person 65 or older who has consistently assumed responsibility for that person's housing, health, or safety. Includes specific rules for facility employees (up to three per facility) and limits on how many seniors one caregiver can serve across jurisdictions.
Established verification requirements: retailers must keep a copy of the senior's driver's license or government-issued ID. For senior caregivers, a notarized document is required containing the senior's legal name, date of birth, the caregiver's legal name, a designation statement, and a copy of the senior's ID. Records must be retained for at least four years.
Added Revenue and Taxation Code Section 6414.1 exempting donated cannabis from use tax, requiring written certification under penalty of perjury from the retailer. If a licensee misuses donated cannabis, they become liable for use tax and subject to license suspension by the Department of Cannabis Control.
Amended Revenue and Taxation Code Section 34011.2 to exempt cannabis donated for no consideration to persons 65 or older from the state cannabis excise tax (currently 15-19 percent of gross receipts).
Provided that no state appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for sales and use tax revenues lost due to the new exemption, notwithstanding Section 2230 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
Set operative date as the earlier of: completion of necessary track and trace system changes as determined by the Department of Cannabis Control, or March 1, 2027. The use tax exemption sunsets five years after becoming operative.
Required that donated cannabis be designated for donation in the track and trace system before transfer, comply with all applicable cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, packaging, labeling, and transportation requirements, and not exceed daily possession limits under Health and Safety Code Section 11357.
Required the Legislative Analyst's Office to collect data from CDTFA and DCC on tax revenue lost, amount of cannabis donated, and number of seniors served, and to submit an annual report to the Legislature and Governor each year the exemption is in effect.