Los Angeles cannabis attorneys

March 21, 2018

Tax Bill Would Offer Relief to Cannabis Businesses and Consumers

For many years now, attorneys with the Cannabis Law Group in California have been cannabis business working with medical marijuana operations obtain compliance with the law. More recently, we’ve been on the forefront of helping recreational marijuana businesses align their operations with the regulatory parameters set forth in Proposition 64 Jan. 1, as well as those guidelines established by local governments.

However, the level of success a business owner can achieve requires help from all levels, including government officials setting regulations and tax rates. Many owners face a broad range of challenges when transitioning from medical to recreational sales or opening a business for the first time under the new adult-use standards.

Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) and Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) want to ease some of those pains. They have introduced Assemblybill 3157, which would reduce the state marijuana excise tax to 11 percent for three years. The tax currently sits at 15 percent. The bill states: “The cumulative tax rate imposed by existing law is substantial and undermines the legal regulatory system if high taxes cause prices to far exceed that what is found on the black market.”

February 13, 2018

Los Angeles Government Agencies Warned About Cannabis Usage

By Cannabis Law Group

The more understanding of cannabis changes, the more enforcement of archaic laws stays the same. cannabis legalization

In Los Angeles and other areas in California, government employees are getting warning letters reminding them that they are not allowed to consume marijuana, even while off-duty, saying their employers strict no-drug policies have not changed, even as state laws have evolved into the 21st century, according to NBC Los Angeles.

The warnings were spurred by the passing of Proposition 64, which led to legalization of recreational marijuana in California as of Jan. 1. Los Angeles is one of the cities which has welcomed legalization efforts and cannabis businesses. Meanwhile, it is clear many will not be able to enjoy the same freedoms as their fellow residents.

No one is arguing the merits of such a policy when it comes to consuming anything that might impair a worker while on the clock. But prohibiting marijuana use on one’s own time is as ridiculous as forbidding an employee from enjoying a glass of wine after a long day at work. Continue reading

November 6, 2017

New Program in Works to Help Mitigate Marijuana Convictions in LA

By Cannabis Law Group

While we are now the verge of having a legalized recreational marijuana industry in California, many in Los Angles fear they won’t be able to join this growing and prosperous industry due to having a conviction involving marijuana on their record. As discussed in a recent article from Civilized, marijuana laws disproportionately affect those in minority communities, and some city lawmakers in Los Angeles are hoping to reverse these negative effects.

cannabis defense lawyers The theory behind this program is that since marijuana laws have been proven to have had disproportionate effects on African Americans and the Hispanic community, and those who suffered should not also be excluded from being able to legally make money in the medical cannabis and recreational marijuana industries. Continue reading

October 31, 2017

Crowdfunding Help for Marijuana Farmers Targeted in California

By Cannabis Law Group

With wildfires tearing across California, many homes are being destroyed, as are other businesses including medical marijuana farms, and unlike other businesses, these farmers cannot have insurance policies on their grow operations because federal law prohibits insurance carriers from writing such policies. marijuana attorney

According to a recent news article from the Cannabist, a company that runs a major online crowdsource, has just pulled the plug on a campaign hosted on their platform to raise money for the farmers who lost a great deal to the massive wildfires in Northern California. There were already many donations on the site that totaled over $13,000 before the campaign was terminated. Continue reading

October 3, 2017

Federal Laws Create a Niche for the California Transportation Industry

By Cannabis Law Group

Conflict between state and federal laws have created ongoing logistical challenges for cannabis business owners. Asset protection is a particular challenge for marijuana businesses. First, assets subject to search and seizure by federal authorities, because marijuana remains a Schedule I drug under federal law. Both the cannabis itself and all cash or assets of the business are subject to seizure. Secondly, federal regulation of banks means that most financial institutions are not able to provide banking services to cannabis businesses. Many business owners are left to operate an entirely cash-based business, which leaves the business vulnerable to violent crime. Luckily both of these problems can be addressed with creative business planning and logistics solutions. Learn more about the ways in which California cannabis business owners are meeting these challenges. cannabis business lawyers

The Transportation Niche

Hardcar Security has found a way to help cannabis owners protect their assets. The Desert Sun reports that the armored car service has about twenty-five regular clients, mostly in Northern California, who hire their drivers to transport cash for payment of suppliers, taxes, and other expenses. The drivers are also hired to transport inventory for cannabis businesses. Hardcar anticipates its business will triple or quadruple in size in 2018 once business licenses are issued for legal sales of recreational marijuana. The company’s founders met while working in security technologies in China. The two closely followed the marijuana market, and decided to set up shop in California after observing the expanded cannabis market here. They prioritize the hiring of military veterans, due to veterans’ unique understanding of security needs, and their ability to respond to hostile threats and environments. Continue reading