The Cannabis Advisory Committee (CAC) is tasked with advising DCC on the development of relevant standards and regulations for commercial cannabis businesses, including those necessary to protect public health and safety. These requirements are guided by Business and Professions codes.
Apply to be a member
DCC welcomes new members and accepts applications on an ongoing basis. If you would like to be considered, please send your completed CAC application and resume to cac@cannabis.ca.gov.
Committee members
The CAC is expected to provide valuable input to DCC’s development of regulations and standards through its comprehensive representation and each individual member’s unique perspective on consumer, community, and market issues. In addition, the CAC will provide an important venue for DCC to hold robust public discussions that support the development of an innovative regulatory framework that benefits all Californians and results in a safe, sustainable, and equitable cannabis market.
The CAC members are:
- Ali Jamalian, Committee Chair, CEO, Kiffen LLC
- Paul Tupy, Committee Vice Chair, Deputy Division Chief, Northern Division, Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
- Amber Baur, Executive Director, United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council
- Antonio Frazier, Principal Consultant, Fire Cannabis Consulting
- Carmela Beck, Cannabis Program Manager, County of Santa Barbara CEO Division of Cannabis Regulation and Licensing
- Christine De La Rosa, CEO & Co-Founder, The People’s Dispensary
- David Woolsey, Police Sergeant, San Jose Police Department, Division of Cannabis Regulation
- Dr. Imani Brown, Social Equity Program Director, City of Los Angeles
- Jeremy Brown, Co-Owner, Booney Acres
- Madison Shockley III, Owner, Off the Charts South Los Angeles
- Matthew Broad, Legislative Advocate at Broad and Gusman, representing California Teamsters (alternate)
- Matthew Clifford, Attorney, Trout Unlimited
- Matthew Maldonado, Director of Operations, United Domestic Workers (UDW/American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employee Local 3930) (alternate)
- Michael Polson, UC Berkeley, Research Scientist at Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management and Director of Cannabis Research Center
- Robin Christensen, Chief, Substance and Addiction Prevention Branch, California Department of Public Health
- Sara Payan-Pehrson, Public Education Officer
2024 CAC meeting schedule
CAC meetings
The CAC meets every three months on the second Thursday of the month, as follows:
Subcommittee meetings
Subcommittee meetings will be scheduled ad-hoc as requested by the subcommittee chair in collaboration with DCC. Dates are subject to change. Public notice of meeting dates will be provided at least 10 days in advance of the scheduled meeting.
Annual reports
Each year the committee issues a report that describes:
- What they did during the previous year
- Recommendations made
- Whether recommendations were implemented
The committee has issued the following reports:
