There is no doubt that the legal cannabis industry is absolutely booming. Since laws began to be changed to allow both medicinal, and recreational use of weed, a whole new industry has established itself.
Famous names such as Mike Tyson have got involved in the marijuana business, and it no longer has any stigma attached to it. Indeed, cannabis is being seen as a force for good with many physical and mental ailments.
According to Statista, sales of legal recreational cannabis will reach $25 billion by 2025. However, it isn’t legal everywhere, and there are changes to the law frequently.
Wherever you live it is always worth understanding the laws around marijuana and cannabis-based products if you intend to use any. If you happen to be in California, then you may be interested in this article.
Is marijuana legal in California?
It is a fairly well-known fact that this state was the forerunner for legalizing medical marijuana. Then in 2016, the law was changed again to allow recreational marijuana to be introduced to dispensaries.
To be sold legally, a marijuana dispensary has to be fully licensed and they are regulated. The Greenbox Marijuana Dispensary is one such licensed vendor, yet there are many more that are not.
In reality, a vast section of the cannabis industry in California is still underground.
Just last year, The Guardian reported that around 80% to 90% of the cannabis industry is run underground. The reason for this is that not all cities, all dispensaries, and licenses can be revoked quickly.
The law known as Proposition 64 allows any municipality to withdraw the right for a dispensary to sell marijuana and cannabis products. Couple this with high taxes, and it is clear why there is still a black market thriving.
Can you legally have marijuana delivered within state lines?
Proposition 64 is one of the reasons that weed delivery services have grown so popular. Obviously, there is the convenience and discretion of ordering online, but it has also grown out of necessity.
After many areas of California chose to ban dispensaries, there was a growing need from consumers who wanted to purchase marijuana legally.
The law states that a legal marijuana vendor can deliver to anywhere within California so long as the customer is 21 or over.
Cannabis retailers are using standard supermarket models for their businesses now, and this includes using the same type of delivery service. Covid saw a great demand for all manner of delivery services in California, including that of marijuana.
What types of laws surround dispensaries?
As per Marijuana Expert hempercamp.com, The laws behind opening a marijuana dispensary are complicated and troublesome, to say the least.
This article is too short to explain all the intricacies of marijuana dispensary law, but a potential owner could find themselves in severe legal trouble if they aren’t correctly followed.
One popular method is to use a certain type of company that specializes in setting up dispensaries. These companies will effectively create a dispensary for you with all the legal paperwork handled by them. However, they could cost you up to $200,000.
The legal difficulties and investment involved may be why there is still a boom in the black market for cannabis in California.
How do you choose a marijuana dispensary?
If on the other hand, you are more interested in becoming a customer, then there are plenty of options.
Firstly, make sure that you are living in an area that supports legal dispensaries for recreational use. If you are using marijuana for medical use then you will need to apply for a card.
A medical marijuana identification card costs $50 and allows patients to receive help instead of using prescription drugs. Many of which can be addictive.
An alternative way of purchasing marijuana would be through a delivery service. As already mentioned, these are becoming highly popular
Considerations for choosing a dispensary, or delivery service would be as follows:
- Licensing and legality
- Delivery areas
- Delivery times
- Choice of products
- Customer assistance
- Competitive pricing
It is worth understanding the general laws around marijuana before making any purchases in-store or online, however
You must be 21 or over, and it is illegal to take marijuana in public regardless of the ingestion method. This is especially true in national parks and on any federal land.
You are also only allowed to hold a certain amount of cannabis at a time, and you cannot sell it. Whatever you do, don’t drive it across state lines.
Summary
According to a report by Forbes, how much cannabis is legally sold in California is a state secret. However, it is clear that it is indeed popular enough that there is still a black market.
If you are intending to get involved in this industry then you will need to hire a lawyer with experience in this field. If you are more than happy being a consumer, then just make sure you keep abreast of current laws.
