California’s Cannabis Advisory Committee will meet September 15 to discuss federal marijuana rescheduling and payment problems affecting the state’s licensed marijuana supply chain.
The committee, which advises the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) on regulations and industry standards, will meet at 10 a.m. The meeting will be livestreamed and open to the public, with participation available remotely and in person at DCC headquarters in Rancho Cordova.
Federal marijuana rescheduling is listed as the first substantive discussion item. According to the agenda, DCC will provide updates “if available” and discuss questions and issues raised by committee members.
The discussion comes as the federal government continues implementing major changes involving medical marijuana while the broader proposal to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III remains under consideration.
In April, the Department of Justice placed Food and Drug Administration-approved marijuana products and marijuana products covered by qualifying state medical marijuana licenses into Schedule III. At the same time, officials continued the separate rulemaking process considering whether marijuana more broadly should be moved from Schedule I to Schedule III.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) held hearings on the broader proposal from June 29 through July 15. DCC also discussed federal rescheduling at its previous Cannabis Advisory Committee meeting in June, when the department requested feedback from committee members regarding the federal process.
The September 15 meeting will also feature a discussion titled “Payment Issues in the Cannabis Supply Chain.” Representatives of licensed distributors and retailers will give a presentation before committee members discuss the issue. The agenda does not specify particular proposals that will be considered.
Payment disputes have been a longstanding issue within California’s licensed marijuana industry. A 2023 legislative proposal, Assembly Bill 766, sought to establish mandatory payment deadlines and enforcement procedures for unpaid marijuana invoices. Supporters said late payment of invoices had become commonplace as financially constrained marijuana businesses increasingly relied on credit arrangements. The bill ultimately failed to advance.
The September 15 agenda does not indicate that the committee will vote on recommendations related to either rescheduling or supply-chain payments. Public comment will be accepted after each agenda item and can also be submitted to DCC ahead of the meeting.
