On January 1, 2018, Recreational Cannabis Become Legal in California

Voters in California overwhelming approved the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64) in the November 2016 election to legalize the sale and use of recreational marijuana. This has opened up a whole new market for the country’s most populous state, and has had many investors and industry experts clamoring to get in on this up-and-coming market. Opening a grow operation or any other cannabis business is a great way to cash in on this market, but before you do, it pays to familiarize yourself with California’s marijuana laws.

What You Need to Know About California’s Marijuana Laws

You can open virtually any type of cannabis business.

You can open almost any kind of marijuana business that your heart desires. This includes retail stores — i.e. dispensaries — grow operations, manufacturing sites, testing facilities, distribution companies and even extraction services.

Counties and cities set their own rules.

Although cannabis is legal in California, that doesn’t mean that cities and counties have to allow growers and sellers to operate. In fact, cities and counties can set their own rules for operators, and they can even ban them completely if they so choose. Make sure to check local laws for your city and county to ensure that you’re in compliance.

The licensing application process can be daunting.

You’ll need a license in order to open a grow facility in California, and to acquire that license, you’ll need to go through an arduous application process that has many different steps. This process also includes passing a criminal background check.

Not all licenses are the same.

All businesses in California’s marijuana industry need to be licensed, but not every license is the same. For instance, a cultivation company will need a different kind of license than a dispensary or a testing facility. Furthermore, the type of grow operation you’re running will also have an impact on licensing. There are special licenses for specialty outdoor growers, small indoor growers, nurseries and more. Before you take steps toward getting licensed, make sure you know what kind of license you need.

There are fees throughout the licensing process.

Starting a marijuana cultivation business is, by no means, cheap. Not only do you need enough funds to invest in the marijuana property, the equipment, the plants, the staff, the security, etc., but you’ll also need to cover the licensing fees. There are applications fees to consider, as well as annual licensing fees, which are based on your gross revenue.

Find the perfect grow site with Deer Park Development in Needles.

Understanding all of the legal aspects of California’s marijuana market is an important step towards opening a successful grow operation. And, we encourage you to work with a marijuana business consultant or a business lawyer to ensure that you’ve completed all of the right steps and you know exactly what’s in store for you. However, another important step you’ll need to take is to find the right marijuana property for sale. Luckily, Deer Park Development in Needles has you covered. Visit us online to learn more about our cannabis property for sale.