California is one of the places that has done the most to legalize weed. It’s important to know the rules about cannabis in the Golden State whether you’re a medical patient, a casual user, or someone who wants to start their own cannabis business. Here are some important parts of California’s weed rules that you need to know about.
Cannabis for Medical Use in California
With the passing of the Compassionate Use Act in 1996, California was the first state to make medical marijuana legal. Individuals with a doctor’s approval are allowed to use, keep, and grow cannabis for their own medical needs under this law. Patients can also start or join collectives and groups to get or share weed with other people in the group.
If you live in California and want to use medical marijuana, you must have a major illness like cancer, AIDS, epilepsy, constant pain, or glaucoma. It is also necessary to get a written or verbal suggestion from a licensed doctor who has looked at your situation and thinks cannabis could help. If you are told you need one, you can get a Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC) from the Department of Public Health. This card lets you enter shops and doesn’t charge sales tax on purchases.
People who need medical marijuana can have up to eight ounces of dried weed or the same amount in concentrates, edibles, or other goods. It is legal to grow up to six grown plants or 12 young plants, but a doctor may allow more if they think it is best. But it’s important to check local laws because cities or counties may have tougher rules about ownership and growth.
California Legalizes Marijuana for Adults
Proposition 64, also known as the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), made marijuana legal for adult use in California in 2016. People over the age of 21 can use, own, and share up to eight grams of products or one ounce of smoked cannabis. Each home can grow up to six plants as long as they can’t be seen from public areas.
Licensed stores sell cannabis goods to people who use it for fun. They are regulated by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). One ounce of cannabis or eight grams of concentrates can be bought at a time, and there is a 15% excise tax, a state sales tax, and maybe even a city weed tax. People can only use marijuana in private areas. If you do it in public or near certain areas, you could get fined or even go to jail.
Having a Cannabis Business in California
The weed business in California is doing very well. It will be worth over $3 billion in 2020. But starting and running a cannabis business in the state isn’t easy because you have to follow a lot of complicated state and city rules.
A license from the DCC is needed to run a cannabis business. This license covers many activities, such as growing, making, distributing, testing, selling, delivering, and running a small business. Different types of licenses have different standards and fees that depend on the size of the business.
Along with a state license, you need a local permit from the city or county where you want to do business. This is because the city or county has the power to control or ban cannabis businesses and add extra rules and taxes. Cannabis companies must follow normal business rules when it comes to worker safety, protecting the environment, and using the Track and Trace system. If they don’t, they could face fines, penalties, or lose their license.
Final Words
In conclusion, California has played a pioneering role in legalizing cannabis, both for medical and adult use. The Compassionate Use Act, established in 1996, permits individuals with medical needs to use, possess, and cultivate marijuana with a doctor’s approval. Proposition 64, enacted in 2016, legalized adult use for individuals over 21, with regulations overseen by the Department of Cannabis Control. The thriving cannabis industry, projected to exceed $3 billion, demands adherence to complex state and local regulations for business operations, emphasizing compliance, licensing, and accountability.