3 Unsung Pains of California’s Legal Cannabis Industry

Every state that legalized marijuana has faced its fair share of moments where their market development almost derailed. Now, it’s the turn of the California cannabis industry to deal with its myriad of concerns. Presently, there are three most significant among them, which are brutally affecting licensed businesses. We call them three unsung pains of California’s legal cannabis industry. Let’s see what these pains are and what can be done to cure them. 

Pain 1: Misery of State Licensing

At some point, every marijuana-friendly state either experiences overflow of licensing or too short of satisfying demand. Currently, California stands in the latter category. Because of the fewer licenses comes, there is a lack of access for consumers. Consequently, illegal operators are growing by leaps and bounds in the state.

To deal with this licensing log jam, the state has done its best. The new and improved provisional license concept, improvisation of the marijuana laws California are some of the steps taken in this regard. But even that has not proven enough to boost legal licensing numbers.

As per the latest stats, there are 7,392 licensed cannabis businesses in California. Among them, 2,630 companies have provisional or annual licenses and are managed by the Bureau of Cannabis Control. The California State Department of Public Health oversees other 932 manufacturers, and the rest are 3,830 farmers that come under the state Department of Food and Agriculture.

At this point, California - a state with 39.56 million population doesn’t have a swell of legal cannabis operators. Clearly, it is the woes of the licensing procedure that is making it too cumbersome for stakeholders.

Pain 2: Confliction Between State Laws And Local Controls

Many are unaware of or don’t realize a very crucial fact. Though cannabis is legal in California, commercial cannabis activity is still banned in many of its cities and counties. And the counties and cities that do show a green flag to it only limit the projects to medical cannabis. Of course, the local control pitch is accountable for the lion’s share of getting approval on Prop. 64. Still, to secure a state license in California, you require permission from local controls. In local authorities, it is still outlawed. That means there is no possible chance of licensing. These conflictions among state laws and local jurisdictions create hotbeds for illegal cannabis activity. Which in return, undermines legal licensing and business operations at every turn.

Pain 3: Lack of Transparency and Consistency

Regulating a new industry which has so much potential is no easy task. The regulatory bodies have to make many challenging policies associated with marijuana laws in California. Demanding legal decisions are made without any aid from other government branches of the state. 

Still, the best cannabis regulators are those that are transparent, consistent, and responsive to stakeholders. In California, if you’re willing to engage in the cannabis business; first learn to be patient because you will face delays and non-responsiveness; which results in a lack of business regulations and further regulatory violations. 

Final Thoughts

Nevertheless, I firmly believe that California will successfully come out on the other side with long-lasting licenses in tow. It may take some time, but it is inevitable

Read More

Four Medical Marijuana Laws in California That Will Amaze You To Core

California was the first state to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana in the United States of America back in 1996. We can safely say that it is the most experienced state of America as far as medical marijuana and laws are in question. 

The Compassionate Use Act of 1996 or Proposition 215 passed in 1996 was the trendsetter for the rest of the American states. Following the footsteps of Cali, Alaska, Washington, and Oregon decriminalized medicinal marijuana in the coming years, and today, we have medicinal and recreational weed legal in thirty-three states of the United States of America. Let’s then talk about four medical marijuana laws in California that will amaze you to the core;

Can I fly with medical marijuana in California?

Flying with cannabis has been a controversial topic for a very long time now. This is one of those twisted laws which are always on the government’s side. For example, as per new circulations by Los Angeles International Airport, a patient can carry as much as 28.5 grams of recreational and up to eight ounces of medical marijuana on a flight. 

The twist in the tale is that on the federal level, marijuana of all kinds is still illegal, and the federal government controls the airspace. It means that you can carry have marijuana at the airport, but they can arrest you for possessing a controlled substance when the plane is in the air. Yeah, it is a cuckoo job.

You Can Drive With it But!

California vehicle code 23222 (b) VC is the law that protects the rights of carrying weed for the people of California. The same law dictates that an adult in California can carry up to one ounce of weed inside state boundaries. For the patients who possess medical marijuana, card limits are eight times higher, and CVC code 23222 (b) VC doesn’t apply to the patients California marijuana laws cover them. Patients can carry up to 8 ounces of marijuana with them while traveling. But, with all these ease, one cannot carry loose cannabis while traveling. The weed you can take it alone on a ride, but it must be in a properly sealed container. If a person is caught carrying loose weed while traveling, s/he can be fined not more than $100.

New Growing Limits

Just previously, growing limits for patients with medical marijuana cards were six mature and six immature plants, and for recreational users, it was illegal. Nonetheless, it has been increased to 100 yards of cultivation. Meanwhile, for the people using it for recreational purposes, the limits are up, and now anyone above the age of 21 can grow not more than six plants, inside his/her home.

You Cannot Carry it in parks and…

 Yes, they can arrest you for carrying or smoking weed in public places like parks and other areas that are controlled by the federal government. As medical and recreational marijuana is still illegal as per the federal government, if you are carrying any kind of weed at any place under the care of the central government, busted LAPD punk!

Conclusion

So, yeah, these are some of the most shocking laws related to marijuana in the state of California. Medical marijuana is a massive responsibility for the whole human race. It has been banned for so long that legalizing it was actually a big deal. Now that finally, it is happening, there have to be some laws to protect the violations of it. The government has laid Medical Marijuana Laws in California and rules, but now it is our responsibility to follow them.

Read More