(a) A licensed retailer shall not provide free cannabis goods to any person. A licensed retailer shall not allow individuals who are not employed by the licensed retailer to provide free cannabis goods to any person on the licensed premises.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), in order to provide access to medicinal cannabis patients who have difficulty accessing medicinal cannabis goods, a licensee who holds an M-Retailer license, an M-Retailer Non-storefront license, or an M-Microbusiness license that is authorized for retail sales may provide free medicinal cannabis goods if the following criteria are met:
(1) Free cannabis goods are provided only to a medicinal cannabis patient or primary caregiver for the patient in possession of an identification card issued under section 11362.71 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2) The cannabis goods comply with all applicable laboratory testing requirements under this division.
(3) Prior to being provided to the patient or primary caregiver, the cannabis goods have been properly recorded in the track and trace system as belonging to the licensed
retailer.
(4) The cannabis goods shall not leave the licensed premises unless placed in an opaque package as required for purchased cannabis goods under Business and Professions Code section 26070.1. The cannabis goods must comply with all packaging and labeling requirements in this division applicable to cannabis goods for sale by a licensed retailer.
(5) The cannabis goods shall be applied toward the daily purchase limit for a medicinal cannabis customer pursuant to section 15409.
(6) The event shall be properly recorded in the licensed retailer’s inventory records and the track and trace system.
(c) In addition to the provision of free cannabis goods in subsection (b), a licensee may donate cannabis goods and the use of equipment in compliance with any compassionate use, equity, or other similar program administered by a local jurisdiction. The licensee shall ensure that all cannabis goods provided pursuant to this subsection comply with subsections (b)(2) and (b)(6).
Authority: Section 26013, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 26013, 26153 and 26160, Business and Professions Code.