On January 1, 2018, adult use cannabis became legal in California, raising questions for many alcoholic beverage licensees about their ability to hold cannabis licenses and to sell or serve cannabis products on their alcohol licensed premises. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (“ABC”) responded to several of these questions on January 18, 2018, by way of an Industry Advisory. First, the ABC confirmed that there is nothing in the ABC Act or the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (“MAUCRSA”) that prohibits ownership in both alcohol and cannabis related licenses. However, licenses cannot be held at the same location and the premises need to be sufficiently separated so that a person going to a licensed cannabis establishment will not be required to pass through a licensed alcohol establishment and vice versa. The ABC also clarified that cannabis cannot be sold or consumed on ABC licensed premises and that infusing alcohol with cannabis products is strictly prohibited.

Contact one of the attorneys at Strike Kerr & Johns if you have questions about cannabis under MAUCRSA or the ABC Act.

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