California Enacts New Marijuana Licensing Laws Hoping to Curb Illegal Sales

Assembly Bill 1126 authorizes the state to issue citations for companies that falsely claim a product is licensed by using the universal cannabis symbol.

A customer buys cannabis products at a store in West Hollywood, Calif., on Jan. 2, 2018. David McNew/Getty Images

California hopes new cannabis licensing laws enacted Jan. 1 will help reduce burgeoning illegal market sales and the growing number of injuries and deaths from cannabis vaping.

Assembly Bill 1126, authored by Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), authorizes the state to issue citations for companies that falsely claim a product is licensed by using the universal cannabis symbol.