California’s cannabis industry is rapidly adapting to a new state law targeting the disposal and marketing of vape products. As of July 1, cannabis operators must comply with California Business and Professional Code 26152.1, which introduces stringent regulations to enhance environmental responsibility.
Key Provisions of the New Law
The legislation mandates several critical changes: The term “disposable” is banned from advertising, labeling, and marketing marijuana vape products. THC oil, vape pens, and batteries must be disposed of at hazardous waste collection facilities or other approved businesses.
“This legislation will help educate customers on how to properly dispose of integrated vaporizers, highlighting the need to treat them as hazardous waste as opposed to normal waste,” explained Angelica Sanchez, senior director of government affairs and compliance at Perfect Union, which operates nine stores primarily in Northern California.
Challenges for Retailers and Brands
Retailers are now responsible for the disposal of defective, returned, or used vape products. However, consumers lack dedicated recycling solutions specifically for cannabis products.
Jeremy Green, CEO and co-founder of Los Angeles-based Final Bell Holdings, emphasized the need for consumer convenience. “The consumers themselves have no real recycling solutions that are dedicated to cannabis products, specifically vaporization products,” Green noted. Perfect Union is installing vape disposal boxes at its stores statewide to address this.
Industry Response and Marketing Adjustments
On the marketing front, Final Bell assists its clients with updating existing packaging or creating new labels to comply with the new law. Mammoth Distribution and its Heavy Hitters brand have proactively aligned their packaging to meet the latest compliance standards well before the deadline.
Wesley Hein, head of global brand expansion at Mammoth Distribution, remarked, “We have been progressively incorporating the bill’s language into our marketing and education materials.”
Sustainability Initiatives
In line with the new regulations, some brands are pushing forward with sustainable practices. San Francisco-based Pax Labs, a leading producer of cannabis vape products, has launched a new vape device made from reclaimed and recycled ocean-bound plastic. Scott Collins, Pax Labs’ senior director of hardware product and design, highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainability. “As part of an industry that cares deeply about this plant, we’re keen to see not just responsible consumption but responsible disposal as well,” he said.
The Pax Trip, featuring an outer shell made from repurposed materials, was initially launched in California and Massachusetts, with expansion plans for Colorado and New York.
California’s Leadership in Environmental Policy
California has long been a leader in domestic environmental policy and sustainability initiatives. The new vape law is part of a broader effort to enhance sustainable disposal practices and reduce safety hazards associated with battery-operated devices. This initiative builds on the Responsible Battery Recycling Act of 2022, which requires manufacturers to develop consumer waste collection programs.
Cannabis attorney Paula Savchenko noted, “With the support of the state’s cannabis industry leaders behind these legislative endeavors, licensed cannabis companies will play an instrumental role in decreasing fires in the materials-management systems across the state.”
Enforcement and Future Challenges
Despite the law’s positive intentions, enforcement remains challenging. The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) is updating its packaging and labeling checklist to reflect the new requirements and plans to issue guidance to support licensee compliance.
Dustin Robinson, a Florida-based cannabis business attorney, questioned the law’s practical impact. “From a practical perspective, consumers and others will likely continue throwing the vapes in the trash until there is a widespread and convenient solution for electronic waste disposal,” Robinson commented.
As California’s cannabis industry navigates these new regulations, the hope is that these measures will lead to more environmentally responsible practices and set a precedent for other states.
