Senator Scott Wilk, representing the 21st Senate District, announces Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 153 (SB 153) into law. SB 153 ensures California law is in full compliance with changes to federal law regarding the cultivation of industrial hemp. SB 153 requires the Secretary of the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA), in consultation […]
California
The push to unionize cannabis workers in California
Weed workers across the country are unionizing, and California just made it easier for them. On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a requirement that all cannabis stores enter into so-called “labor peace agreements” as soon as they have 20 or more employees. California is now one of two states — New York is the other […]
Most Californians want marijuana stores in their communities, new poll shows
Three years after California voters legalized the sale of recreational marijuana, 68% say it has been a “good thing” and, although the vast majority of cities have outlawed pot shops, most voters want their municipalities to permit the stores, according to a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll conducted for the Los Angeles Times. […]
These California politicians once helped regulate legal marijuana. Now they’re working for the industry
As California’s attorney general from 1999 to 2007, Bill Lockyer was on the inside as the state wrestled with a developing marijuana industry. But these days he’s watching the transformation from the outside, as co-founder of a licensed pot distributor in Lynwood. Lockyer, whose four-decade public career included a stint as the powerful leader of […]
Terrible, No Good California Cannabis Distribution Contracts
By Hilary Bricken, Founder at Harris Bricken Since January 2018, distributors have played an interesting role in California cannabis. From a regulation perspective, dealing with a distributor is not optional. However, from the business decision vantage point, they’re not all that necessary. Still, some manufacturing and cultivation licensees opt to utilize distributors for sales and […]
California’s cannabis black market has eclipsed its legal one
Although marijuana has been legal in California for nearly two years, black market weed is still a booming business in the state. Illegal sellers outnumber legal and regulated businesses almost 3-to-1, according to a startling analysis of California cannabis sellers released this month. Some critics blame the website Weedmaps for letting thousands of rogue stores […]
WATCH: California Gov. Newsom announces crackdown on vaping and cannabis oils
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California will spend $20 million on a public awareness campaign about the dangers of vaping nicotine and cannabis products and step up efforts to halt the sale of illicit products amid a rise in vaping-related illnesses. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the actions Monday as part of an executive order. Many […]
Nearly 3,000 Illegal Marijuana Businesses Found in California Audit, Dwarfing Legal Trade
California’s black market for cannabis is at least three times the size of its regulated weed industry, according to an audit made public Wednesday, the latest indication of the state’s continued struggle to tame a cannabis economy that has long operated in legal limbo. The audit, conducted by the United Cannabis Business Assn., found approximately […]
The Regulatory Twilight Zone: California Cannabis Transactions
By Hilary Bricken, Founder @ Harris Bricken For years now, I’ve seen and analyzed many different cannabis business relationships across the industry spectrum. Specifically, many proposed and draft agreements have come across my desk detailing the contractual relationships between a variety of parties in the cannabis industry for various purposes–from investors, ancillary services providers, and […]
California pot taxes tick up but miss initial projections
LOS ANGELES — When it comes to tax money from marijuana sales, California is living with diminished expectations. The state pulled in $74 million in cannabis excise taxes between April and June, after the administration of Gov. Gavin Newsom sharply scaled back projected tax dollars from the shaky legal market. Government analysts once projected that […]
California Cannabis: Preparing for Phase 3 Licensing in L.A. on September 3rd
By Hilary Bricken, Co-Founder @ Harris Bricken The final countdown is on for Round 1, Phase 3 retail licensing in Los Angeles. On September 3rd at 10 a.m., the L.A. Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) will open the flood gates to would-be Round 1 applicants. And in its own announcements on the subject, the DCR […]
California has the biggest legal marijuana market in the world, despite black market
California is on track to post a record $3.1 billion in licensed cannabis sales this year, solidifying its status as the largest legal marijuana market in the world, according to a study released Thursday by financial analysts who advise the industry. Legal sales are up significantly from an approximate $2.5 billion in 2018, the first […]
Ongoing Disclosure Requirements For Cannabis Licensees & Owners in California
By: Jay Purcell, Clark Neubert LLP Finally, cannabis companies are obtaining annual licenses, triggering a new set of disclosure regulations. Three regulators require ongoing disclosures of changes to old—application-information and disclosure of information not previously requested: Bureau of Cannabis Control (“BCC,” regulates retailers and distributors), CA. Department of Food and Agriculture (“CDFA,” regulates cultivators) and CA. […]
The Biggest Pitfalls of California Cannabis Leases in 2019
By Hilary Bricken, Founder at Harris Bricken We’ve written many times about how commercial leases to cannabis tenants are their own beasts. Generic leases don’t ever the job done. And, in California, as bad as some landlords want to rely solely on AIR and CAR forms, we generally caution landlords to have a customized lease […]
Outside Lands Gets Approval to Sell Weed
San Francisco grants first temporary sales permit days ahead of annual Golden Gate Park festival, allowing vendors to sell flower and concentrate Marijuana will be available to purchase legally at Outside Lands this year after the festival received the green light from the San Francisco Office of Cannabis Wednesday, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The festival […]
The Worst Cannabis Hazards (Still) Around in California
By Hilary Bricken, Founder @ Harris Bricken Commercial cannabis licensing in California kicked off on January 1, 2018. A few days later, former U.S. Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, rescinded all former Department of Justice guidance on federal enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act in states with legal cannabis. The industry reaction in California that day […]
California’s Mandated Track and Trace System: Is it Helpful or Harmful?
The California Cannabis Track-and-Trace (CCTT) system, which became operational for businesses with full annual licenses in January 2019, is a major milestone to further legitimize our industry. However, the newly mandated regulations have done more to hinder the legal marketplace than boost it. Convoluted daily logistics, lack of complete accountability, as well as the limited […]
ICYMI: California Cannabis Provisional Licenses Are Given New Life
By Hilary Bricken, Founder, Harris Bricken On July 1, Governor Newsom signed into law AB 97 and SB 97, which combined, extend the life and power of provisional cannabis licenses, giving much needed relief to licensees sitting on temporary licenses that were about to expire and/or that are awaiting their provisional licenses to issue in […]
