If California Governor Newsom Is Voted Out Of Office Today, The Cannabis Industry Could Suffer

On Tuesday, California voters will decide whether Governor Gavin Newsom will continue his first term or be removed from office through a recall vote.

If Gavin loses his position as governor, the decision is bound to have a tremendous impact on California's future, with consequences likely to be felt in nearly every sphere across the country's most populous state...and cannabis is no exception.

First let's look at a FAQ, which the NY Times refers to as "one of the more remarkable mysteries of the moment," and that is: how did a Democratic star in the bluest of blue states end up confronting a recall? 

Newsom’s recall was fueled in part by a public shaming event when the unmasked Governor was caught on camera publicly dining with a group of friends and lobbyists at a high-end restaurant during the height of California's strict lockdown. The event catalyzed the Republican base, which nationally continues to rage against lockdowns and the use of protective face masks. 

How Will The State's Legal Cannabis Industry Be Affected If Newsom Is Ousted?

Newsom has historically been pro-cannabis. He was an outspoken backer of Proposition 64, which legalized adult-use cannabis state-wide in 2016.

Conrad Gregory, president of the California Cannabis Industry Association pointed out that Newsom campaigned as a leader on cannabis reform during his 2018 campaign, and began his mandate with an initial regulatory system that intended to merge adult-use and medicinal laws.

However, the Governor was soon overcome with competing, pandemic-related priorities. 

“As the largest and one of the oldest cannabis markets in the country, California should be leading the nation on what a well-regulated and successful market looks like, but that will require much more effort and political commitment,” said Gregory, who is also senior vice president of compliance and government relations at Harborside Inc. HBOR HBORF. 

While Newsom’s approach to the cannabis industry is deemed satisfactory, taxes, regulatory hurdles, retail access and the illicit market are having significant impacts on the ability of large and small businesses to succeed in California, said Gregory in an interview with Benzinga. 

Kyle Kazan, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Glass House Brands GLAS GLASF said the industry has been asking for tax relief and enforcement to make the legal market more competitive with the illicit. 

“Unfortunately, that has not happened at any scale which has put a lot of pressure on companies, particularly mom and pops,” Kazan told Benzinga, adding that California operators have paid $2.8 billion in taxes since 2018. 

“California needs to prepare for the long-term and work to shape the national landscape before it shapes us,” added Harborside’s Gregory, who cautioned that Newsom's recall would most likely stall or undo any progress already achieved.

 “As it stands now, the governor recently merged all three regulatory agencies into one that will govern the entire cannabis supply chain. The process of sorting out this consolidation is currently underway including appointments and rulemaking,” Gregory said. 

Changing horses now could severely disrupt that process and further obstruct licensing, enforcement and regulatory streamlining efforts, he added. 

Gregory also pointed to a set of hemp regulations that successfully passed the state’s legislature last week and are now headed for Newsom’s desk.

“The bill will again create new rulemaking and enhanced agency activity to implement and oversee the hemp industry and how it interacts with the cannabis industry,” Gregory explained. 

Among other measures, the law allows hemp extracts with CBD to be added to food, beverage and cosmetic products; establishes new rules for hemp farmers and businesses; holds new standards for out-of-state hemp products and bans delta-8 THC outside of regulated cannabis sales channels. 

“It would be best for both the hemp and cannabis industries to see these changes through and get to the other side,” Gregory concluded.

Meanwhile, a poll released on Friday by the Institute of Governmental Studies at the UC Berkeley, puts Newsom in the clear, with 60% of support. However, notes that a slight tilt in the balance could give place to a majority voting him out of office, leading to the candidate with the most votes taking over the job. 

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Voters, and the rest of us, can see the live preliminary results for their county at the California Secretary of State's website starting from 8 p.m. local time.

Golden Gate Bridge Photo by Christoph Partsch from Pixabay. Icon by photo3idea_studio at Flaticon.