fire season is coming

Fire Season is Coming, Again

Last summer, I wrote a post called “Fire Season is Coming.” Given the massive expected California droughts, it’s pretty safe to assume that fire season is coming, again. Today, I want to recap some of the issues that we’re likely to see in the coming months. As we learned in prior fire seasons, the cannabis

california cannabis workers

Classifying California Cannabis Workers

California is one of the trickiest states in the U.S. for employers, and especially for cannabis employers. The numerous, byzantine requirements here simply don’t exist in many other states. Classifying California cannabis workers is one of the biggest challenges for local industry. Cannabis companies often think they can get around employment law requirements by calling

state cannabis regulation

Ten Recommendations for State Cannabis Regulation

Unfazed by the federal leadership vacuum on cannabis, states continue to roll out cannabis proposals and programs. A total of 34 states considered cannabis reform proposals in 2021. Another 32 proposals (some of them pre-filed in 2021) are up for discussion here in 2022. These proposals range from limited decriminalization measures to comprehensive, adult use

california cbd regulations

California Will Regulate CBD

For many years, we’ve written about California’s truly bizarre animus towards hemp-derived CBD. Many efforts to regulate CBD failed. Last year, the state finally managed to pass AB-45 but the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) hasn’t really done anything since. That will change soon. Finally, California will regulate CBD. California is getting CBD regulations

cannabis property seized at the border

Customs Seized Our Cannabis Related Property. What’s Next?

The intersection of state and federal law on cannabis has led to some interesting situations at the border, especially where cannabis related property is seized. States such as Washington, Oregon, and California have legalized cannabis for all uses, while the federal Controlled Substances Act still prohibits marijuana distribution and sale anywhere in the United States.

california cannabis licensing

California Cannabis FAQ

Even though California has been issuing cannabis licenses since January 2018, I still get the same questions around cannabis regulatory, corporate and transactional items even from seasoned California cannabis licensees. This post constitutes a California cannabis FAQ list for readers with common California cannabis questions. Who can own a California cannabis business? Literally anyone at

california interstate cannabis sales export

California Might Legalize Interstate Cannabis Sales

A few weeks ago, California lawmakers quietly introduced SB-1326, a bill that would amend the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) to legalize interstate cannabis sales, notwithstanding the status of federal law. Specifically, SB-1326 would authorize the Governor to enter into an agreement with other states authorizing medicinal or adult-use commercial cannabis

california provisional cannabis license

California Cannabis Provisional Licensing is Winding Down

California Cannabis provisional licensing is beginning its wind down process at the end of this month. Here is what’s happening: Until June 30, 2022, with certain exceptions, the Department of Cannabis Control (“DCC”) may issue provisional licenses only if applicants submit a complete annual cannabis license application with the corresponding fee on or before March

california cannabis taxes children

Would Cutting California Cannabis Taxes Hurt Children?

We have been watching the debate on California cannabis taxes, including the arguments from child welfare advocates that cannabis tax reductions would harm children. In this post, I’ll explain why this perspective is flawed, and propose a better path forward. The California cannabis tax headache California is potentially overhauling cannabis taxes, a much-needed reform for

california dcc cannabis rulemaking

California DCC Engages in New Cannabis Rulemaking

The California Department of Cannabis Control (“DCC”) is undertaking new cannabis rulemaking pursuant to the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act. Unlike other states, California hasn’t implemented sweeping changes to its cannabis regulations with immense impacts on the industry. Instead, it has adopted a series of emergency rules with substantive changes here and