Tue, Sep 1, 2020
California cannabis is globally recognized as being some of the best on the market, and the state's residents have seen a lot of change thanks to deep roots in cannabis advocacy. California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana with Prop 215, and opened its doors to adult-use (recreational) cannabis retail in 2016. While support for cannabis legalization hits record levels, few seemed prepared for the impact of the regulatory system that followed the passage of Prop 64. Two years later, 70% of the state lacks adequate access - and the path to change is complicated.
Tue, Sep 1, 2020
For the majority of California's cannabis history, the community revolved around medical patients. In the 1990s, access to cannabis grew faster than ever and collectives were allowed to provide medical marijuana to patients for free - a practice known as compassion. All that changed when Proposition 64 came into existence. Inadequate licensing along the supply chain leaves medical cannabis patients with limited options and inconsistent supply. Meanwhile, the cost of retail makes it hard for those on fixed incomes to afford. But things are improving. SB 34, signed into law in early 2020, helped provide a pathway for compassionate cannabis to once again enter the legal landscape. This collaborative effort by advocates and legislators is just one step of many needed to establish a thriving cannabis economy in the state.
Tue, Sep 1, 2020
Those who have the most to lose in an overtaxed and over-regulated cannabis marketplace are disadvantaged communities negatively impacted by the War on Drugs. There is a consensus that the economic value of cannabis legalization will bring forth an opportunity for an equitable industry. But making that happen isn't easy - local lawmakers and would-be business owners must navigate a complex web of regulatory challenges. The high cost of owning and operating a cannabis business is out of reach for too many. Members of the communities that were supposed to benefit from legalization find themselves in limbo, struggling to succeed in a market that's stacked against them. Lawmakers and regulators are working to create a more functional framework for cannabis in their communities, but the fight is not yet won. Prohibition in California persists despite the passage of Prop 64. It will take a lot of people working together to manifest the market Californians envisioned when they voted to legalize cannabis.