It’s been almost two years since cannabis was legalized for recreational use in California – and the business, economic and legal implications are profound.

Last Friday, California regulators published the first draft of permanent adult-use and medical cannabis laws.

This kicks off the process of hearings and public comment that will conclude at the end of 2018 with a final set of regulations governing the emerging industry.

Proposed laws fill the 315-page document, sent out by the Bureau of Cannabis Control, the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Department of Public Health.

A few permanent regulations proposed in the document include:

• Allowing licensed marijuana deliveries in any city or county in CA
• Expanded restrictions on marijuana advertising which may appeal to children
• Requiring marijuana event hosts to be more explicit about where:
  • licensed retailers will be set up
  • attendees can smoke or consume cannabis
  • sales will occur

Lori Ajax, chief of the Bureau of Cannabis Control, said, “The regulations we now propose include changes that make it easier for businesses to operate and strengthen public health and safety policies.” State agencies will hold ten public meetings around California through August to collect public comments on the proposed permanent laws. Comments may also be submitted by letter or email.

At our upcoming Recreational and Medical Marijuana Law and Business in California conference on November 1st-2nd, we’ll go in-depth on a variety of issues in this burgeoning industry for attorneys, investors and business operators. For those who serve clients in the cannabis industry and those attorneys who want to move into this space, our program will help you navigate the rules, regulations, and legal ramifications of legalized marijuana in California (and federal issues affecting the state’s cannabis industry as well). For investors and business people in the market (or thinking about entering the market) what do you need to know? What are the difficulties businesses face – from retail to growing and distribution? By the end of our conference you will be well-versed in most of the critical legal, business, and investment-related aspects of this rapidly expanding industry.