(a) Except as provided in Sections 26062 and 26063 and Chapter 23 (commencing with Section 26240), on and after the operative date of this section, the Department of Cannabis Control and the director shall succeed to and be vested with all the duties, powers, purposes, functions, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of the Bureau of Cannabis Control, also formerly known as the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation and the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation under the former Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (former Chapter 3.5 commencing with Section 19300 of Division 8), the State Department of Public Health, and the Department of Food and Agriculture, as provided for pursuant to this division as it read on the day before the operative date of this section.

(b) Except as provided in Sections 26062 and 26063 and Chapter 23 (commencing with Section 26240), on and after the operative date of this section, both of the following shall apply:

Terms Used In California Business and Professions Code 26010.7

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • license: means license, certificate, registration, or other means to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Section 1000 or 3600. See California Business and Professions Code 23.7
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Business and Professions Code 21
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs, unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Business and Professions Code 15

(1) Whenever “Bureau of Marijuana Control,” “Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation,” or “Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation” appears in any statute, regulation, or contract, or in any other code, it shall be construed to refer to the Department of Cannabis Control.

(2) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, whenever “Department of Public Health,” “State Department of Public Health,” “Department of Food and Agriculture,” or “California Department of Food and Agriculture” appears in this division, or any statute, regulation, or contract, related to regulation of cannabis pursuant to this division, it shall be construed to refer to the Department of Cannabis Control.

(c) Any regulation, order, or other action adopted, prescribed, taken, or performed by the Bureau of Cannabis Control, the State Department of Public Health, or the Department of Food and Agriculture under this division in effect immediately preceding the operative date of this section shall remain in effect and shall be fully enforceable unless and until readopted, amended, or repealed, or until they expire by their own terms, and shall be deemed to be a regulation, order, or action of the Department of Cannabis Control. On and after the operative date of this section, any proposed regulation noticed by, or submitted to the Office of Administrative Law by, the Bureau of Cannabis Control, the State Department of Public Health, or the Department of Food and Agriculture under this division, shall be deemed to be a regulation noticed by or submitted by the Department of Cannabis Control.

(d) Any action by or against the Bureau of Cannabis Control, the State Department of Public Health, or the Department of Food and Agriculture pertaining to matters vested in the Department of Cannabis Control by this section shall not abate but shall continue in the name of the Department of Cannabis Control, and the Department of Cannabis Control shall be substituted for the Bureau of Cannabis Control, the State Department of Public Health, and the Department of Food and Agriculture by the court wherein the action is pending. The substitution shall not in any way affect the rights of the parties to the action.

(e) On and after the operative date of this section, all books, documents, forms, records, data systems, and property of the Bureau of Cannabis Control, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the State Department of Public Health, and the Department of Food and Agriculture pertaining to functions transferred to the Department of Cannabis Control shall be transferred to the Department of Cannabis Control.

(f) On and after the operative date of this section, positions filled by appointment by the Governor in the Bureau of Cannabis Control, the State Department of Public Health, and the Department of Food and Agriculture whose principal assignment was to perform functions transferred pursuant to this section shall be transferred to the Department of Cannabis Control. Individuals in positions transferred pursuant to this subdivision shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. Salaries of positions transferred shall remain at the level established pursuant to law unless otherwise provided. Individuals in positions transferred pursuant to this subdivision who have been previously confirmed by the Senate shall not be required to undergo a new confirmation as a result of this transfer. Titles of positions transferred pursuant to this subdivision shall be determined by the director with the approval of the Governor.

(g) On and after the operative date of this section, every officer and employee of the Bureau of Cannabis Control, the State Department of Public Health, the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Department of Consumer Affairs who is performing a function transferred to the Department of Cannabis Control and who is serving in the state civil service, including an excluded or temporary employee, shall be transferred to the Department of Cannabis Control pursuant to the provisions of § 19050.9 of the Government Code. The status, position, and rights of any officer or employee of the Bureau of Cannabis Control, the State Department of Public Health, the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Department of Consumer Affairs shall not be affected by the transfer and shall be retained by the person as an officer or employee of the Department of Cannabis Control, as applicable, pursuant to the State Civil Service Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 18500) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code), except for a position that is exempt from civil service. The personnel records of all transferred employees shall be transferred to the Department of Cannabis Control.

(h) A contract, lease, license, or any other agreement to which the Bureau of Cannabis Control, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the State Department of Public Health, or the Department of Food and Agriculture is a party shall not be void or voidable by reason of this section, and shall continue in full force and effect, with the Department of Cannabis Control assuming all of the rights, obligations, liabilities, and duties of the Bureau of Cannabis Control, the State Department of Public Health, and the Department of Food and Agriculture relating to the transfer of duties, powers, purposes, functions, responsibilities, and jurisdiction made pursuant to this section. The assumption by the Department of Cannabis Control shall not in any way affect the rights of the parties to any contract, lease, license, or agreement.

(i) This section shall become operative on and after July 1, 2021, or the operative date of the act adding this section, whichever is later.

(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 70, Sec. 8. (AB 141) Effective July 12, 2021.)