2023 June 22 Support letter AB 1207 Cannabis advertising regulations

June 22, 2023

The Honorable Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin
1021 O Street, Ste. 6220
Sacramento, CA 95849

Re: Support for Assembly Bill 1207 (Cannabis: labeling and advertising)

Dear Assemblymember Irwin:

On behalf of the Marin County Board of Supervisors, I write in support of Assembly Bill 1207, the Cannabis Candy Child Safety Act, which would create regulations to limit cannabis products from marketing that would be attractive to kids and youth. Current regulations only allow case-by-case enforcement of product marketing, meaning that thousands of products continue to be marketed in ways that can make them indistinguishable from conventional candy or food. Not only are children and youth that may come across these products at risk of accidentally consuming them without knowing they contain THC, but in addition, there is no cannabis equivalent of the flavored tobacco ban – a statewide policy designed to prevent marketing of products to underage youth. 

Specifically, AB 1207 would: 

1. Clarify the definition of what is considered “attractive to children.”
2. Clearly prohibiting the sale, manufacture, packaging, labeling or marketing of cannabis products attractive to children.
3. Create consistency with SB 793/Proposition 31 for tobacco flavorings by prohibiting inhaled cannabis products from containing flavors, tactics known to initiate youth use. 

While responsible consumption of regulated cannabis products is legal for adults 21 years and older in California, products that contain THC – including those consumed by inhalation – are not only illegal for youth, but especially harmful. This is why our Board’s 2023 Legislative Plan explicitly supports efforts to limit access and use of cannabis products among underage residents. 

We thank you for your efforts to address this important issue, and to protect those in our community most vulnerable to youth-targeted cannabis marketing. 

Respectfully, 

Stephanie Moulton-Peters, President
Marin County Board of Supervisors 

Cc: Marin County Board of Supervisors
Assemblymember Damon Connolly
Senator Mike McGuire