(a) The storage, use, or other consumption in this state of medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis product shall be exempt from the use tax in either of the following circumstances:
(1) The medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis product is donated by a cannabis retailer licensed under Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code to a medicinal cannabis patient.
(2) The medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis product is donated by a person licensed under Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code to a cannabis retailer for subsequent donation to a medicinal cannabis patient.
(b) (1) The exemption specified in subdivision (a) shall apply only if the cannabis retailer certifies in writing to the licensee that donates the medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis product, in such a form as the department may prescribe, that the medicinal cannabis and medicinal cannabis product will be used in a manner and for a purpose specified in subdivision (a). The licensee that donates the medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis product shall keep a copy of the certification for no less than seven years. The certification in writing shall relieve the licensee that donates the medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis product of liability for use tax only if it is taken in good faith.
(2) If a licensee uses the donated medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis product in some manner or for some purpose other than those specified in subdivision (a), the licensee shall be liable for the payment of use tax, the measure of tax to the licensee shall be deemed that licensee’s purchase price for similar product, and the licensee shall be subject to having their license suspended by the appropriate licensing authority pursuant to Section 26031 of the Business and Professions Code.
(c) “Medicinal cannabis” and “medicinal cannabis product” shall have the same meaning as those terms are defined in Section 26001 of the Business and Professions Code.
(d) “Cannabis retailer” shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 34010.
(e) “Medicinal cannabis patient” shall mean a qualified patient, as defined in Section 11362.7 of the Health and Safety Code, who possesses a physician’s recommendation that complies with Article 25 (commencing with Section 2525) of Chapter 5 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, or a qualified patient or primary caregiver for a qualified patient issued a valid identification card pursuant to Section 11362.71 of the Health and Safety Code.
(f) (1) This section shall become operative upon completion of the necessary changes to the track and trace program in order to implement the act adding this section, as determined by the Department of Food and Agriculture, or on March 1, 2020, whichever occurs first.
(2) This section shall remain in effect only until five years after it becomes operative, and as of that date is repealed.
(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 837, Sec. 8. (SB 34) Effective January 1, 2020. Operative on or before March 1, 2020, as prescribed by its own conditions. Repealed on the date prescribed by its own conditions.)