Cali Cultivators Approved to sell at Farmers Markets

This would include farmers' markets. However, the applicants would need to meet specific requirements, which some farmer's markets would not qualify for.

Sponsor of the bill, Assm. Jim Wood, D-Santa Rosa, made the subsequent statement:

"It is no secret that cannabis businesses throughout the state are struggling. Whether it's taxes, compliance costs, competing with the illicit market or other challenges, the focus of AB 2691 is to help legal cannabis farmers who grow less than 1 acre of cannabis get consumer recognition for their unique products. Much as has been done for craft beer, artisanal wine and other family farm agricultural products. Giving these smaller farmers opportunities at locally approved events to expose the public to their products increases consumer choice and offers farmers a better chance to reach retail shelves which is their ultimate goal. This is not about circumventing retailers, but growing the industry overall. My office has always been open to those who may have concerns about this bill, and I'm here to listen to their concerns and proposed solutions."

Genuine Coleman, executive director of Origins Council, supports the bill. Origins Council is an advocacy organization with about 900 members representing the OG rural cannabis-producing regions across the state of California. 

"The vast majority of them are producing half an acre or less of cannabis, so this is a huge potential opportunity for our membership," Coleman said. "For small-scale producers to have direct marketing and sales opportunities with consumers is critical."

Many community members said the new bill is an excellent way of normalizing weed.

"I think it's super, super awesome, and I like that they're getting rid of that guilt or that dark cloud that they have around the whole weed industry," Davis resident- Crystal Molina. 

According to the California legislature website, the bill is now headed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Before reaching the governor's desk, it would need to pass through the full Assembly and Senate.

Supporters argue that the bill would help producers connect directly with consumers. Analysis from the Assembly Bill Policy Committee explains that the state's current framework makes this problematic for the majority of small independent, urban and rural producers.