State of California Department of Justice
Rob Bonta
Attorney General
Attorney General
The Cannabis Control Section provides representation to state agencies in administrative, state, and federal civil proceedings concerning commercial cannabis activity, alcohol, industrial hemp, kratom, and other novel intoxicating substances. Deputies within the section handle complex, sensitive, and often high-profile administrative and civil litigation matters and licensing matters involving the revocation, denial, and discipline of licenses, and the embargo and condemnation of misbranded goods. Cases are often of first impression, requiring analysis of constitutional issues, statutory schemes, regulations, case law, and legislative history.
Senior Assistant Attorney General: Harinder Kapur
Offices: Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and San Francisco
State Water Resources Control Board et al. v. Joshua Sweet (2019): Injunction preventing defendants from further illegal diversion/use of water for cannabis cultivation, and requiring defendants to remediate the property, plus money damages, including disgorgement of profits derived from unfair business practices.
County of Santa Cruz et al. v. Bureau of Cannabis Control (2020): Denying plaintiffs’, twenty-four local jurisdictions, request to invalidate a regulation allowing for the delivery of cannabis and cannabis products throughout California.
U.S. Hemp Roundtable v. California Department of Public Health et al. (2024): Denying plaintiffs’, manufacturers and sellers of intoxicating industrial hemp products, request for a temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction to prevent enforcement, and to also invalidate newly issued emergency regulations concerning industrial hemp final food products for human consumption. After which plaintiffs dismissed their case.
For more information about career opportunities in the Cannabis Control Section, check out CalCareers or email: recruiters@doj.ca.gov.