Cannabis Law Group's Medical Marijuana Legal Blog

August 17, 2023

A commercial market for Psilocybin Magic Mushrooms may be coming soon to California

A Deep Dive into the Proposed Psilocybin Initiative in California

The legal landscape surrounding psychedelic substances is rapidly evolving, and one of the most notable developments is the proposed statutory initiative related to psilocybin in California. In this article, Mushroom lawyer, Damian Nassiri article delves into the key provisions of this initiative and what it means for residents and businesses in the state.

What’s on the Table? The proposed measure introduces several significant changes to the state law concerning psilocybin:

August 9, 2023

Maryland’s Hemp Industry Faces Uncertain Future: A Deep Dive into the New CBD Regulations

By Cannabis Law Group

In a recent turn of events, Maryland’s hemp industry is facing significant challenges due to new regulations that have come into effect. Hemp producers and stakeholders in the state have taken legal action against the state’s officials, challenging the restrictions placed on the sale and distribution of CBD products.

The New Law’s Implications

Starting this month, CBD products, including popular items like extracts, gummies, and topicals, are deemed illegal in Maryland if they contain more than 2.5 milligrams of THC per package. This threshold, according to many CBD operators, effectively removes a majority of products from the market. Additionally, the law explicitly bans delta-8 THC, a sought-after synthetic THC variant derived from hemp-based CBD.

August 4, 2023

Exploring Cannabis Licensing Opportunities in Lancaster, CA

By Cannabis Law Group

As the cannabis industry continues to grow and evolve, many cities across California are opening their doors to cannabis businesses. One such city is Lancaster, located in the northernmost part of Los Angeles County. The city has established a regulatory framework for cannabis businesses, providing a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors interested in this burgeoning industry.

Cannabis Licensing in Lancaster, CA

In Lancaster, the city government has established a comprehensive process for obtaining a cannabis business license. This process is designed to ensure that all cannabis businesses operate in compliance with local and state laws, and contribute positively to the community.

August 3, 2023

Detroit Opens Second Round of Applications for Recreational Marijuana Businesses

By Cannabis Law Group

The city of Detroit is once again opening its doors to the burgeoning cannabis industry. Following the successful launch of the first 33 recreational cannabis businesses earlier this year, the city has announced the second round of applications for recreational marijuana business licenses. This presents a golden opportunity for entrepreneurs and businesses looking to make their mark in the rapidly growing cannabis market.

This round offers a total of 50 licenses, divided into three categories: 30 licenses for marijuana retailers, 10 for micro businesses, and 10 for consumption lounges. This diverse range of licenses reflects the city’s commitment to fostering a vibrant and varied cannabis industry, catering to a wide array of consumer needs and preferences.

The application process began on Tuesday and will remain open until August 31, giving potential business owners ample time to prepare and submit their proposals. The city will then review the applications, with decisions expected to be made six to eight weeks after the deadline.

August 2, 2023

Minnesota legalizes Cannabis

By Cannabis Law Group

In a landmark move that has sparked a significant shift in the national conversation around cannabis, Minnesota has joined the growing list of states that have legalized the possession and home cultivation of marijuana. This monumental decision not only brings joy to the advocates of cannabis freedom but also promises a new dawn for thousands of Minnesotans who have been previously convicted for marijuana-related offenses.

Minnesota, affectionately known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, has become the 23rd state to legalize marijuana for adults, and the third to do so this year. This decision is a testament to the changing attitudes towards cannabis and its potential benefits, both from a medical and economic perspective.

The new law allows adults aged 21 and over to grow up to five plants at home, with a maximum of ten plants per household. Both indoor and outdoor cultivation are permitted, offering flexibility for home growers. However, the plants must be grown in a secure, locked area that is not visible from public spaces, ensuring the safety and privacy of the growers.

July 28, 2023

More California Cannabis Employment Protections Likely On the Way

By Cannabis Law Group

Good news for California employees who also happen to be cannabis enthusiasts: A bill that would bar companies from asking job candidates about previous marijuana use has already passed the state senate and has sailed through its second California Assembly committee. The bill would expand existing worker protections that were passed last year prohibiting employers from discriminating against employees who are shown (either by drug test, admission, or some other means) to have used marijuana off-the-clock. (There are some exceptions, such as workers in building and construction trades or those that require federal background checks or a certain level of security clearance.) California cannabis employment lawyer

Our Los Angeles cannabis business lawyers also practice employment law, so this is doubly good news.

After Senate Bill 700 cleared the state senate, it passed the Labor and Employment Committee, and then also the Judiciary Committee by a margin of 8-2. Now, it goes to the Appropriations Committee. If it passes there, it can advance to the floor. If the Assembly approves the measure, it will then be sent to the governor’s office for consideration. If it does manage to pass, its effective date would be Jan. 1, 2024.

But why was such a bill even necessary? Continue reading

July 20, 2023

The Struggle of Opening Cannabis Retail Shops in California: A Closer Look

By Cannabis Law Group

In the ever-evolving landscape of the cannabis industry, California presents a unique challenge. Despite being one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana, the Golden State’s cannabis business environment remains one of the toughest in the nation. Over the past three years, industry advocates have placed much of their hopes on repealing city-level bans on cannabis commerce. However, despite numerous victorious pro-marijuana ballot measures and ordinances, progress has been slow.

Since 2020, at least 50 California cities have moved to allow marijuana retail shops, according to a tally by Hirsh Jain at Ananda Strategy. However, the vast majority of these shops haven’t yet opened for business due to local and state red tape. Jain calculated that in just 15 specific localities – including Fresno, Costa Mesa, and Santa Barbara County – there should be 129 legal dispensaries operating by now. However, only 18 have managed to open their doors.

The numbers paint a stark picture:

July 20, 2023

California CBD & Hemp Advertising Now Permitted on Meta Apps Like Facebook & Instagram

By Cannabis Law Group

Opportunities to advertise California CBD, hemp, and cannabis have expanded significantly this year. Los Angeles marijuana businesses interested in tapping into these new marketing opportunities may find success in reaching wider audiences – but they still must be cautious in their approach. Smart sellers will run their ads by their cannabis business lawyer for review before publishing to ensure they aren’t running afoul of the patchwork of rules and regulations surrounding these ads. CBD social media advertisements

Earlier this year, Twitter became the first social media company to allow cannabis companies to market their brands/products to customers in the U.S. Prior to that, the company had allowed advertising for hemp-derived CBD products – and only topical ones at that.

Now, Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, as well as new social networking platform Threads, announced it will allow cannabis advertising – but only for non-ingestible CBD products. Restrictions on hemp advertisements on these platforms are also easing. In a written statement announcing the new approach, the company said so long as the CBD products contain no more than 0.3 percent THC per the federal standard, it can be advertised – subject to certain rules.

July 14, 2023

California Cannabis Companies Risk License Loss After Joining Fake Labor Union

By Cannabis Law Group

California cannabis business licenses are on the line – at least a dozen of them – after an investigation by state’s Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) decided the labor union they signed with isn’t a “bona fide” labor union. California cannabis labor union lawyer

As our Los Angeles cannabis business lawyers can explain, when the state rolled out regulations for cannabis license requirements, one of those was the mandate to sign a labor peace agreement with a a bona fide labor union.

For those who may not be familiar with labor peace agreements, they are contractual agreements between employers and labor unions. The union agrees it won’t picket, stop work, boycott, or interfere with employer operations, and in exchange, the employer promises not to try to interfere with the union’s ability to organize the workers. The purpose is to lay the foundation of a relationship of collaboration between workers and their employers, with the ultimate goal of boosting stability, safety, productivity, and company longevity. It can also help lower the potential for employee abuse and/or exploitation – which was a major concern of state regulators when they were drafting cannabis company rules.

So what happened here?

According to the ALRB panel findings, a number of California marijuana businesses signed off with an organization dubbed the Professional Technical Union Local 33, or ProTech for short. Problem was it appears to have been a “labor union” in name only. It had few members, made no intent to organize workers, and failed to respond to basic inquiries from the ALRB about its membership and organizational structure.

This is part of a pattern we’ve seen crop up in other regions of the country as well. But why would these companies take the risk of losing their license by signing off with a sketchy labor union? Regulators suspect the motivation for these companies was to sidestep worker protection laws and lower labor costs by signing off with a “labor union” that wasn’t actually a labor union. Continue reading

July 13, 2023

A Deep Dive into California’s Assembly Bill 128: The Future of Cannabis Event Licensing

By Cannabis Law Group

In a landmark move for the cannabis industry in California, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 128 into law. This pivotal legislation grants state regulators the authority to license Cannabis Event Organizers, marking a significant shift in the state’s burgeoning cannabis market.

Under the new law, Cannabis Event Organizers are defined as “a licensee authorizing onsite cannabis sales to, and consumption by, persons 21 years of age or older at a county fair event, district agricultural association event, or at another venue expressly approved by a local jurisdiction.” This means that, for the first time, cannabis can be legally sold and consumed at a wide range of public events, provided the organizer has obtained the necessary license.

One of the key aspects of Assembly Bill 128 is its approach to licensing. The bill exempts owners who have previously submitted fingerprint images and related information in connection with a valid state license issued by a licensing authority. This means that if an owner has already undergone the licensing process for a different type of cannabis business, they will not need to submit new fingerprints for a cannabis event organizer license.