California’s Governor Signs Bill Protecting Workers’ Right to Legal Cannabis

Although California has made significant progress since the legalization of cannabis, local opposition, rigid bureaucracy and federal prohibition continue to pose challenges to the industry. On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed several measures to reinforce California’s cannabis market, secure consumers’ rights and brush aside community-level prohibition of cannabis.

“For too many Californians, the promise of cannabis legalization remains out of reach,” says Governor Newsom. “I look forward to partnering with the Legislature and policymakers to fully realize cannabis legalization in communities across California.”

The Governor signed SB 1186 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) which preempts local bans on medicinal cannabis delivery, expanding patients’ access to legal, regulated cannabis products. The Governor also signed two bills to further unwind California’s failed history of cannabis prohibition. AB 1706 by Assembly member Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) ensures that Californians with old cannabis-related convictions will finally have those convictions sealed. And AB 2188 by Assemblymember Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) protects Californians from employment discrimination based on their use of cannabis off-the-clock and away from the workplace.

Newsom’s efforts to aid the struggling California cannabis industry saw him earlier this year grant tax relief to consumers and California growers — the nation’s largest producers of cannabis.. While Federal law prevents the interstate transport of cannabis, the governor also took a preemptive step to eliminating this roadblock on Monday by signing State Bill 1326 introduced by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced). The bill creates a pathway for California to enter into agreements with other states to allow cannabis transactions outside of California.