USA Roundup: California, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada

CALIFORNIA

California Consolidates Medical and Recreational Cannabis Laws

In the last week of June, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill that consolidates state medical and recreational cannabis regulations into one governing law, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (SB 94), which lifts constraints on vertical integration, eliminates a state residency requirement for cannabis company owners, and in most cases, allows cannabis companies to distribute their own products, rather than requiring third-party distribution.

Other than the residency requirement change, most modifications were made to the State’s former medical cannabis regulations, which were never formally implemented. In many instances, those rules handcuffed companies wanting to own and operate businesses in multiple sectors of medical cannabis production. For example, distributors were prohibited from cultivating or manufacturing cannabis, and dispensary owners could only run three retail operations statewide if they wanted to hold cultivation licenses.

It’s important to note that the new, consolidated law preserves a dual, local-state licensing structure and does not strip cities and counties of their authority to control local zoning or to limit the categories and number of permits they will issue. In other words, obtaining a state license still requires complying with local law.

The 102-page SB 94 is a hefty document, chalk full of interesting information, so I’d recommend that anyone involved in the cannabis industry read it closely. In the interest of time and space, here is my top 7 list:

Read on at https://calcannabislawblog.com/2017/07/05/california-consolidates-medical-and-recreational-cannabis-laws/

Bay Area cities, counties confront legal pot

http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Bay-Area-cities-counties-confront-legal-pot-11264649.php

A Chronicle analysis of the Bay Area’s 114 cities and counties shows that jurisdictions have wildly different ways of implementing Proposition 64, which legalized recreational cannabis use in November. A patchwork of differing laws greet residents who want to grow a pot plant in their backyard, visit a medical dispensary or buy marijuana at a store when recreational sales can begin Jan. 1.

Statewide legalization has hardly affected local laws in most communities. While some major cities, like San Francisco and Sacramento, have seen a surge in applications for dispensaries or farms, most communities are struggling to come up with basic regulations — and in many cases banning any pot commerce, as well as personal gardens.

HAWAII

Insurance Provider Drops Hawaii Medical Cannabis Companies

 

MONTANA

Montana Health Dept. Establishes Temporary Rules for MMJ Industry

NEVADA

Nevada Is Making An Impact With Recreational Marijuana Sales

http://marijuanastocks.com/nevada-is-making-an-impact-with-recreational-marijuana-sales/

The Las Vegas review Journal recently said that they expect Nevada’s recreational marijuana market to to generate more than $70 million in tax revenue over the first two years.

We would not be surprised if these numbers proved to be conservative as we expect to see much higher numbers reported by the state. The Nevada marijuana market will be fueled by the 40+ million visitors who come to Sin City every year and we think these numbers underestimate the amount of money that will be spent on marijuana.

More at link above

Marijuana becomes legal in Nevada as new pot laws kick in

http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/340532-marijuana-becomes-legal-in-nevada-as-new-pot-laws-kick-in

Public support for marijuana has reached record highs, and the movement to legalize marijuana scored several victories with new state laws enacted July 1.

Nevada on Saturday became the fifth state to legalize pot for recreational purposes, joining Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska. Adults, age 21 and older, with a valid ID can now purchase up to an ounce of marijuana or one-eighth of an ounce in marijuana-infused edibles in select dispensaries.

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