Member Blog: The Explosive Growth of California Cannabis Licenses and What Comes Next
by Ed Keating, Co-founder of Cannabiz Media We’re more than one year into California’s legal cannabis industry and license growth continued on a fast-rising upward trajectory through the end of 2018. In fact, between November 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018, California issued a total of 6,855 new cannabis... Read more
California Cannabis Trademarks Could Get a Legislative Boost

State trademarks for cannabis goods and services have been an ongoing saga in California that we have written about extensively. For a little background, until January 1, 2018, obtaining state trademark protection in California was not possible due to Sections 14270-14272 of the Model State Trademark Law of the California Business and Professions Code, which…

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First bill emerges this year to legalize marijuana in Illinois — would allow up to 24 plants at home
A Democratic state lawmaker has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Illinois that likely goes further than other legislators prefer, but it has officially started the debate over complex legislation that will need to serve many interests. The bill, introduced Jan. 25 by Rep. Carol Ammons of Urbana,... Read more
Florida House balks at total repeal of medical marijuana smoking ban
Florida House leaders have rolled out a proposal that would allow patients to smoke medical marijuana, but only after going through what one critic called a “bureaucratic mess of red tape.” The House proposal, released Tuesday afternoon, would require doctors get the approval of a “case review panel” before... Read more
The Future of Cannabis in Washington and Oregon

In late January, Portland hosted the Cannabis Collaborative Conference (“CCC” or “Conference”), an annual forum created by cannabis industry leaders, aimed at addressing the most pressing issues facing this emerging market. This year’s conference focused on the future of the cannabis industry. Rick Garza, Director of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (“WLCB”), was one…

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The California Bureau of Cannabis Control’s Final Regulations Immigration Impact on Foreign “Owners”

On January 16, 2019, each of the three California cannabis agencies dropped a final set of regulations. In many senses, the Bureau of Cannabis Control’s (“BCC”) regulations were the most comprehensive and expansive (we summarized some of the highlights here, and summarized the highlights of the California Department of Public Health’s final regulations here). In…

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Michigan faces health risks from tainted medical marijuana
The recalls of six batches of medical marijuana available on the state’s regulated market since January have prompted industry and health expert concerns about continuing to let caregivers grow and create pot products to meet a shortage in the licensed market. More than 50 pounds of medical marijuana product were recalled... Read more
Judge rejects cap on marijuana dispensaries in Florida
Siding with Florida’s largest cannabis operator, a circuit judge for the second time struck down a law capping the number of dispensaries medical marijuana businesses can run. The limit on the number of retail storefronts was included in a 2017 law aimed at carrying out a constitutional amendment that broadly legalized... Read more
On Tuesday, San Francisco Supervisor Rafael Mandelman announced that the city would soon be accepting applications for city permits to allow legal cannabis sales and consumption at public events. That means parades, festivals, concerts, fairs, farmers markets and more could all soon have legal weed available for attendees. And... Read more
“Where’s all that marijuana money?” Colorado’s pot dollars help schools, but maybe not as much as you think
Five years after the first sale occurred on Jan. 1, 2014, that tax money has translated into $160 million toward school construction statewide — roughly enough to build three high schools. Meanwhile, the state has actually collected more than $740 million. “People frequently ask, ‘Where’s all that marijuana money?’... Read more
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