California Legislature Approves Cannabis Farmer Markets Bill |

A California Legislative Committee this week approved a bill that would allow small-scale cannabis growers to sell their harvest directly to consumers at farmers’ markets. The measure, Assembly Bill 2691, was passed Tuesday by the Assembly Business and Professions Committee by a vote of 10-1.

The bill was introduced in February by Democratic Assembly Member Jim Wood, who represents much of California’s famous Emerald Triangle cannabis-growing region. Under the measure, the state’s Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) would be authorized to issue temporary retail event licenses to licensed cannabis growers with no more than one hectare of cultivation area.

The retail licenses for special events would only be valid at events, including cannabis grower markets, operated in accordance with applicable law. Under current regulations, growers can attend special cannabis events but are not allowed to sell directly to consumers, who must purchase from licensed dispensaries instead. In a statement to local media about the legislation, Wood said the law would give small growers a new revenue stream that many desperately need.

“It’s no secret that cannabis companies across the state face issues, whether it’s taxes, compliance costs, competing in the illicit market, or other challenges, but AB 2691’s focus is to help legal cannabis growers who have less than one Acres of cannabis growing to gain consumer recognition for their unique products, similar to what has been done for craft beer, artisan wine and other family farm products,” said Wood.

“Allowing these smaller farmers to showcase their products to the public at locally sanctioned events increases consumer choice and gives farmers a better chance of hitting retail shelves, which is their ultimate goal,” he continued. “This isn’t about bypassing retailers, it’s about growing the industry as a whole.”

Small breeders only

To qualify for a retail special events license, a grower must be licensed by the DCC and local authorities to grow cannabis. The grower is also not allowed to grow more than one hectare of cannabis, a cap that includes all of the grower’s licenses. Licenses are only issued for certain special events, with a limit of 12 licenses issued per grower each year.

AB 2691 is supported by craft grower groups, including the Origins Council, which represents approximately 900 growers in California’s historic cannabis growing regions. Genine Coleman, executive director of the advocacy group, said the legislation would benefit most Origins Council members.

“The vast majority of them produce half an acre or less of cannabis, so this is definitely a huge potential opportunity for our membership,” said Coleman. “It’s really critical for small producers to have direct marketing and sales opportunities with consumers.”

Drew Barber, owner-operator of East Mill Creek Farms and co-founder of Uplift Co-op, said the legislation would give cannabis growers the ability to share their stories with consumers, who in turn would have the opportunity to connect with their favorite brands.

“This bill could fill in a really needed missing piece of the puzzle for us as high-end cannabis growers,” Barber told the Lost Coast Outpost. “The ability to connect with our consumers these days seems like one of the key benefits that regulation could and should come with, right? The consumer should know who grows their weed. We feel our stories say a lot about the quality of the product and the type of farming we do.”

Ross Gordon, policy director of the Humboldt County Growers Alliance (HCGA) and policy chair of the Origins Council, said AB 2691 would help the cannabis industry get the recognition it deserves as a legitimate agricultural business.

“For us, this bill is a big step forward in recognizing that cannabis farmers are farmers, and we need access to the same types of sales opportunities that allow other small farmers to make a living,” he said. “Any step toward normalization, whether it’s talking about cultivation taxes or farmers’ markets, brings us closer to a point where cannabis is treated on an equal footing with other agriculture.”