Resumen
September 11, 2024
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor of California
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Senate Bill 1498 (Ashby): Cannabis and Industrial Hemp advertising – Request for Signature
Dear Governor Newsom,
On behalf of the Marin County Board of Supervisors, I am writing to respectfully ask for your signature on Senate Bill 1498 (Ashby). This bill aims to strengthen advertising rules for both cannabis and industrial hemp products to better protect our youth.
Currently, laws like the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act of 2016 (AUMA) and the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) set strict advertising guidelines for licensed cannabis businesses. These rules prohibit advertising near schools, daycare centers, youth centers, and on highways that cross state borders. They also ban ads that are attractive to children. However, these restrictions don't fully cover unlicensed cannabis activities or the advertising of industrial hemp products. Some businesses are exploiting this gap by marketing hemp products that contain THC—the active ingredient in cannabis—under less strict hemp advertising laws. This allows them to target minors more easily.
SB 1498 seeks to close this loophole. It would extend the existing advertising restrictions to include unlicensed cannabis businesses and those who manufacture, distribute, or sell industrial hemp products. This means all sellers would have to follow the same rules, making it harder for minors to access these products.
Our community has seen the proliferation of intoxicating hemp products and their detrimental effects on young people. Marin’s Public Health Officer has noted to our Board that between 2021 and 2022, there was a 93% increase in 911 calls involving THC among Marin youth. THC dependence is now the leading cause for youth in addiction treatment programs here, accounting for 3 out of 4 cases.
We strongly commend your leadership on September 6 announcing new emergency regulations to keep these products away from youth. SB 1498 is another important step to make THC-containing products less accessible and less appealing to youth. For these reasons, and our shared strong support of stronger regulations on intoxicating hemp products, I respectfully request your signature.
Respectfully,
Dennis Rodoni, President
Marin County Board of Supervisors
Cc: Marin County Board of Supervisors
Senator María Elena Durazo
Senator Mike McGuire
Assemblymember Damon Connolly
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