Recent and Expected California Cannabis & Hemp Rulemaking to Govern the Licensed Supply Chains for Years to Come
California cannabis and hemp operators face five active or anticipated rulemakings in 2026 — covering multipack cannabis goods, pesticide residue testing, cultivation requirements, METRC track-and-trace reform, and AB 8 implementation. California cannabis attorney Shay Aaron Gilmore breaks down each DCC rulemaking proceeding, the AB 8 two-year countdown to hemp-DCC licensing integration, and why administrative law counsel delivers its highest value before any enforcement action begins.
Physician-Furnished, Legally Frozen: How AB 8 Locks California Out of the Federal Hemp-CBD Medicare Benefit
California’s AB 8 bans detectable THC in hemp products sold outside licensed dispensaries — putting the state on a direct collision course with the new CMS Substance Access BEI, which allows physicians to furnish hemp-CBD products worth up to $500 annually to Medicare patients. Here’s what ACOs, hemp businesses, and healthcare providers need to know.