The Evolving Landscape of Hemp: Federal Uncertainty, California Crackdowns, and Nationwide Regulatory Shifts
While the future of federal marijuana rescheduling has been put on hold for the foreseeable future, federally legal hemp businesses continue to face a barrage of statewide restrictions. In this article, we explore the current state of hemp, taking a deep dive into the changes that are afoot within the Golden State and potentially, federally. […]
California 2025 Legislative Update
Proposed Cannabis, Hemp, and Psychedelic Legislation California’s current legislative session is now in full swing, bringing insight into the potential market shifts on the table for California’s cannabis, hemp, and psychedelic industries. February 21, 2025 was the deadline for lawmakers to introduce bills for the 2025 legislative cycle. No further legislation may now be proposed, […]
Los Angeles 2025 Licensing NEW Update
Additional DCR Fees Proposed, Licensing Opportunities, and Social Equity Extended With each new year, new regulatory and licensing changes impact the California cannabis industry. Recently, Los Angeles’ Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) has made several proposed policy changes that will impact the market in 2025. Below, we lay out these proposed policies, some of which will open […]
California Legalizes Cannabis Cafes, Creating New Market Opportunities
California Assembly Bill 1775 (AB 1775), signed into law by Governor Newsom last fall, just went into effect on January 1, 2025. Assemblymember Matt Haney of San Francisco introduced AB 1775 with the goal of creating Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes, stating, “Lots of people want to enjoy legal cannabis in the company of others…and many people want to do that […]
Colorado Psychedelic License Applications and Fees
After months of rulemaking and anticipation, the State of Colorado is preparing to launch its regulated psychedelics program at the end of the year. The Natural Medicine Program (the Program) is regulated by Colorado’s Department of Revenue (DOR) and Department of Regulated Agencies (DORA). DOR oversees licensing and enforcement for natural medicine businesses, which includes healing centers, manufacturers, […]
DPH-24-005E-Emergency Regulations for Serving Size, Age, and Intoxicating Cannabinoids for Industrial Hemp
Since passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp businesses in California operated nearly regulation free. Then, in 2021, California regulators passed AB45 requiring registration by hemp businesses with a low barrier for entry and compliance consistent with the Farm Bill. Over the past year, the California Legislature attempted several times to pass a bill that would regulate intoxicating […]
California Department of Cannabis Control Annual License Transitions
California commercial cannabis licensees currently operating with a state provisional license have until December 31, 2024 to submit a provisional license renewal. All provisional licenses will expire on January 1, 2026. 1 Thereafter, licensees must obtain an annual license to continue operating. Over the next few months, provisional licensees will likely receive urgent email notifications […]
Colorado’s Legal Psilocybin Market is About to Go Live: Business License Types & Supply Chain Structure
Colorado’s Department of Revenue (DOR) and Department of Regulated Agencies (DORA) jointly govern the Natural Medicine Program and have now completed the rulemaking phase to launch the nation’s second state-regulated legal psychedelics market. While DOR’s Division of Natural Medicine has jurisdiction over Natural Medicine Businesses, DORA’s Division of Professions and Occupations governs matters that fall […]
The Department of Cannabis Control Will Cease Granting Renewals of All California Commercial Provisional Licenses on January 1, 2026
As most in the cannabis industry are aware, December 31, 2022, marked the deadline for new Provisional application submissions for California commercial cannabis business licenses. Furthermore, those operating under a Provisional license have until December 31, 2025 as the final date to submit a provisional license renewal. After that date, cannabis licensees must convert their […]
San Luis Obispo County Microbusiness Licenses Now Available in Unincorporated Areas
The County of San Luis Obispo (“SLO”) recently announced the availability of cannabis microbusiness licenses for businesses operating within the unincorporated areas of SLO County. A microbusiness license permits the combination of at least three of the following activities: cultivation (less than 10,000 square feet), manufacturing, distribution, and/or retail sales. In order to qualify for […]