‘Epidemic’ of layoffs in California marijuana industry — CEO faults state for inaction

Flow Kana isn’t the only cannabis company forced to make cuts. In recent weeks, companies like Eaze and Weedmaps have also laid off part of their workforce.

“It almost feels like an epidemic of companies of similar size going through similar processes,” Steinmetz said.

The layoffs reflect challenges in California’s fledgling recreational cannabis industry. Voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2016, with sales beginning in 2018.

The intent was to create a lucrative, lawful and licensed marijuana market, but in practice state lawmakers have spent the past two years working to address several industry-identified hurdles.

This year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed laws aimed at helping the cannabis industry, including one that allows businesses to claim state tax deductions, and another that allows businesses to donate product to medicinal users.

But, other proposals failed, including one that would have allowed cannabis businesses to have access to limited banking services.

One hurdle that Steinmetz identified is the lack of sufficient retail space for marijuana products.

California’s patchwork of legal statuses for marijuana retail means that there is just one retailer in the state for every 34,256 adults 21 and older, according to a survey conducted by BDS Analytics and ArcView Market Research. [Read more at The Sacramento Bee]