CDFA Hosting Marijuana Workshops.
September 8, 2016
The California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) is developing regulations to establish cannabis cultivation licensing and a track and trace system, collectively referred to as the Medical Cannabis Cultivation Program (MCCP). The overall purpose of CDFA’s licensing program is to ensure medical cannabis cultivation is performed in a manner that protects the environment as well as cannabis cultivation workers, and also protects the interests of the general public.
An additional purpose of the MCCP is to establish a track and trace program; to ensure the movement of medical cannabis items are tracked throughout the production chain, from growing locations to processing stops to shipping channels and finally to the retail marketplace.
CDFA is preparing a Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) to provide the public, state and local agencies, and permitting agencies information about the potential environmental effects associated with the adoption and implementation of these statewide regulations. The PEIR will be prepared and circulated for public review by CDFA in accordance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). CDFA will serve as the lead agency pursuant to CEQA and will consider public comments regarding the scope and content of the information to be included in the PEIR.
The official public scoping period begins on September 1, 2016 and concludes on September 30, 2016, and represents an opportunity to obtain public input regarding the upcoming environmental analysis and regulation development. The Notice of Preparation is available here. This document also includes an outline of CDFA’s preliminary regulations.
Public participation is a critical part of the regulation development and environmental review process, and is intended to meet CEQA requirements. CDFA welcomes public participation throughout the planning and environmental review process. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the Draft PEIR when it is available.
A series of public meetings are being held throughout California this month to solicit public input. The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, September 13 – Sacramento
Sacramento Convention Center
1400 J St. Rm 202
Wednesday, September 14 – Redding
Red Lion Hotel (Sierra Room)
1830 Hilltop Dr. Redding
Thursday, September 15 – Eureka
Red Lion Hotel (Pacific Room)
1929 4th St.
Tuesday, September 20 – Oakland
Oakland Marriott (Skyline Room)
1001 Broadway
Wednesday, September 21 – San Luis Obispo
Courtyard by Marriott (Grand Ballroom)
1605 Calle Joaquin
Thursday, September 22- Coalinga
Harris Ranch Garden Ballroom
23505 West Dorris Ave.
Tuesday, September 27 – Pasadena
Pasadena Convention Center (Ballroom)
300 E. Green St.
Wednesday, September 28 – Desert Hot Springs
Miracle Springs Resort and Spa (Mirage Ballroom)
10625 Palm Dr.
The formal comment period for MCCP scoping began on September 1, 2016 and ends on September 30, 2016. Written comments may be sent to: CDFA, Attn: Amber Morris, Medical Cannabis Cultivation Comments, 1220 N St. Ste. 400, Sacramento, CA 95814 or to mccp.peir@cdfa.ca.gov
The MCCP was established when Governor Brown signed the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act into law effective January 1, 2016. CDFA is not currently issuing licenses but is now in the early stages of developing the regulations that will define the licensing process. We anticipate that licenses will begin being issued on Jan. 1, 2018.
For more details and to view the language of the bills that comprise the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, please visit:
