By Hilary Bricken, Co-Founder, Harris Bricken Every state that’s legalized cannabis for adults 21-and-up has faced that moment or even series of moments that threatened to really derail or seriously stymie market development. California is at that crossroads and has been almost from the outset of the first issuances of cannabis licenses back in January […]
California
‘Epidemic’ of layoffs in California marijuana industry — CEO faults state for inaction
Flow Kana isn’t the only cannabis company forced to make cuts. In recent weeks, companies like Eaze and Weedmaps have also laid off part of their workforce. “It almost feels like an epidemic of companies of similar size going through similar processes,” Steinmetz said. The layoffs reflect challenges in California’s fledgling recreational cannabis industry. Voters legalized recreational marijuana in […]
California Suspends Hundreds of Marijuana Supply Businesses
California has suspended 394 marijuana business permits in a move that critics say will temporarily reduce the number of legal cannabis shops in the state. The suspension affecting about 5% of California’s legal cannabis supply chain comes after the businesses failed to complete mandatory training and credentialing, Marijuana Business Daily in Colorado reported Wednesday. The […]
Risks of Disclosing Personal Information to California Cannabis Licensing Authorities
When registering with California licensing authorities and applying for cannabis licenses, certain information must be disclosed. Depending on the type of license applied for, some of that information, such as the cannabis license type, legal business name of the license holder, license holder contact information, premises location, and other information, may be obtained publically with […]
L.A. should suspend vetting applications for pot shops amid concerns, Wesson urges
Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson has called on the city to suspend the approval process for new shops selling cannabis products, arguing that the latest round of the licensing process was “compromised” by some people gaining early access to the application system. In a letter to the Department of Cannabis Regulation, Wesson urged […]
California Industrial Hemp Measure Becomes Law
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 […]
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. […]
