Newsom’s Veto Raises Questions About California Medical Cannabis Access

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has rejected a proposal that would have expanded California medical cannabis access by allowing home deliveries to patients. The decision comes as the state’s medical cannabis sales continue to fall, with some experts warning that medical formulations have become “virtually extinct.”

Key Takeaways

• Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 1332, which would have allowed licensed microbusinesses to ship medical cannabis directly to patients.
• The governor cited administrative complexity and high implementation costs.
• California’s medical cannabis sales have plummeted from $540 million in 2021 to less than $200 million projected in 2025.
• Advocates say the veto worsens California medical cannabis access, especially for patients in underserved areas.
• Many patients continue turning to the unregulated market to find medical products no longer carried in dispensaries.

Why the Bill Was Introduced

Assembly Bill 1332, sponsored by Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens (D–Silicon Valley), was designed to make it easier for patients with serious health conditions to obtain the products they need. The measure would have allowed certain licensed microbusinesses to ship medical cannabis via couriers like UPS or FedEx, under limited conditions.

Ahrens argued that the bill was about fairness. Many patients with epilepsy, cancer, or neurodegenerative disorders struggle to find specific formulations that aren’t stocked in nearby dispensaries. “California’s vast geography further exacerbates this issue,” he wrote, noting that many seriously ill patients cannot travel long distances for specialized products.

Newsom’s Reason for the Veto

In his Oct. 11 veto statement, Newsom said that while he appreciated the goal of expanding California medical cannabis access, the plan would be too costly and complex to implement.

“The Department of Cannabis Control will need to revamp the state’s track-and-trace system, which will take significant resources and time,” Newsom stated.

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) estimated a $269,000 one-time cost to update the tracking system and $472,000 in annual costs to oversee compliance.

Newsom pointed out that the program would have allowed only two businesses to make direct shipments, saying “the costs far outweigh the possible benefits.”

Declining Medical Cannabis Sales in California

California was once the nation’s largest medical cannabis market, boasting over $2.5 billion in annual sales less than a decade ago. But that figure has since fallen dramatically. The DCC projects less than $200 million in medical sales for 2025, representing just 4% of the state’s licensed market.

Advocates blame high taxes and regulatory barriers for driving patients away from legal dispensaries. California still imposes a 15% excise tax on medical cannabis, which patients say makes their medicine unaffordable.

Patients can apply for a Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC) to avoid the sales-and-use tax, but depending on the county, those cards can cost up to $200, another obstacle to equitable access.

The Bigger Issue: Unequal Access

Despite the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA), about 57% of California cities and counties still ban dispensaries. That leaves entire regions of the state without local access to legal cannabis, medical or otherwise.

A 2022 law required local governments to provide at least one option for medical access, either through retail or delivery, but many areas remain underserved. Proponents of A.B. 1332 said the home-shipment model could have filled those gaps.

Dr. Laurie Vollen, a physician specializing in preventive medicine, testified in support of the bill. She said California’s medical patients “have become orphans” in a market dominated by adult-use products.

“Long-term patients cannot find any of the products that they were using effectively five years ago,” she said. “No dispensary or delivery service has a full complement of medicinal products suitable for serving the needs of cannabis patients.”

What Happens Next for Patients

While the bill is dead for now, the debate over California medical cannabis access is far from over.

In his veto statement, Newsom said he remains open to exploring other ways to expand safe medical cannabis access. But advocates, including the Society for Cannabis Physicians, say the veto is a setback for patients who rely on cannabis as medicine.

“This bill is a crucial step toward ensuring that patients with severe and complex medical conditions can access the medicine they need,” the group wrote in support of A.B. 1332.

With the veto now official, California medical cannabis access will likely remain limited to the state’s patchwork of dispensaries and delivery services—many of which prioritize adult-use products over medical formulations.

Conclusion

The veto of A.B. 1332 underscores the ongoing struggle for California medical cannabis access nearly 30 years after the state first legalized medical use. For thousands of patients, the inability to receive cannabis shipments could mean fewer treatment options and continued reliance on an unregulated market.

As policymakers debate how to revive the medical side of California’s cannabis industry, the question remains: will patient care ever take priority again?