Cannabis Regulation and Permitting

Beginning in 2015, the Legislature and California voters enacted measures legalizing medicinal and adult-use cannabis cultivation, distribution, and sale. The California Bureau of Cannabis Control was established as the lead state agency regulating commercial cannabis activities, including licensing of retailers, distributors, testing laboratories, and microbusinesses.

RMM advised the Bureau on CEQA compliance regarding the adoption of statewide regulations governing the cultivation, manufacturing, retail sale, transportation, storage, delivery, and testing of cannabis.

Local agencies retain authority to regulate or prohibit cannabis use within their jurisdictions. RMM has advised numerous local agencies—including Humboldt County, Calaveras County, and Yolo County—on the preparation and implementation of local cannabis land-use regulations, subsequent permitting under those regulations, and CEQA compliance. RMM has also successfully defended agency approvals in related cannabis litigation and represented individual applicants seeking permits for cannabis cultivation and related development activities.