Three years after the launch of California’s legal marijuana market, cannabis tax experts warn the industry should expect state regulators to ramp up tax enforcement, noting that several audits of MJ businesses are already underway. As a result, …
california marijuana
A tale of two cannabis social equity programs: Los Angeles and Oakland
Social equity programs are a relatively new phenomenon in the U.S. cannabis industry, with the aim of getting more minorities and those with marijuana-related convictions involved in the legal sector. But so far, no city or state has come up with the p…
Nearly $1 million settlement proposed in MedMen marijuana class action suit
A 2½-year-old class action lawsuit brought by former employees of multistate marijuana operator MedMen has almost concluded, with the lead plaintiffs asking a California judge to approve a proposed $975,000 settlement. A hearing is scheduled for March …
California cannabis workers eligible for immediate COVID-19 vaccinations
The California Department of Public Health on Thursday issued an updated COVID-19 vaccination policy clarifying that cannabis industry employees are classified as health-care workers and therefore are immediately eligible to receive the vaccine. Accord…
Power REIT acquires Canndescent cannabis greenhouse for $7.7 million
New York-based Power REIT on Thursday announced the acquisition of a 37,000-square-foot Southern California greenhouse used for cultivation of commercial cannabis in a cash and stock deal worth $7.7 million. The Riverside County property, which is alre…
L.A. social equity marijuana retailers allowed to apply for state licenses
Roughly two dozen of 200 upcoming social equity marijuana retailers in Los Angeles got the greenlight from city regulators to apply for the required state permits, marking slow but steady progress in the municipality’s march toward industry expan…
Real estate brokers not liable over illegal L.A. marijuana shop, judge rules
A Los Angeles commercial real estate firm and two of its licensed brokers won’t be held accountable for an unlicensed marijuana retailer that operated at a location where the firm helped set up a lease, a district court judge ruled. The judgeR…
Fresno, California, creates social equity fund for marijuana entrepreneurs
The Fresno City Council voted to establish an equity fund that would help financially assist disadvantaged marijuana business owners, the latest city among California municipalities that are trying to give a leg up in the industry to those hit hardest …
Cannabis firm Weedmaps, California vape shop sued over fatal shooting
Online cannabis advertising platform Weedmaps and a Southern California vape shop have been targeted with a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court by a mother who claims both are to blame in the shooting death of her son. According to Law360.com, the la…
San Diego County starts work on marijuana social equity program
One of the few remaining major metro California markets that doesn’t have a marijuana social equity program began down that path when the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to begin crafting such a law. According to San Diego TV stat…