CALIFORNIA
While California has had medical marijuana sales for years, it’s finally going to have a statewide regulated market.
The California legislature combined the state’s medical marijuana and recreational programs under the same regulatory umbrella with the passage of crucial legislation in 2017.
Updated statewide regulations were released last week, and the state is pushing for a Jan. 1 rollout.
An important aspect to watch, however, is how local municipalities handle the MMJ sector.
Some have voted to allow medical marijuana but not recreational, others have chosen to give MMJ businesses first crack at adult-use sales, and more have voted to not allow any MMJ sales at all.
Key dates
Last week, the state released emergency regulations that are expected to result in finalized rules.
First legal sales
According to Alex Traverso, chief of communications for California’s Bureau of Cannabis Control, some areas of the state expect to be selling regulated medical cannabis close to the Jan. 1 launch.
License info
Dispensaries will be required to have both state and local licenses to operate.
There will be no state limits on licenses, but many local governments are creating their own caps.
Licenses will be categorized as either medical or adult-use and separated in the traceability system.
