Cannabis Regulation

In 2015-2017, the California Legislature and the state’s voters approved several bills and measures legalizing the cultivation, distribution, and sale of medicinal and adult-use (recreational) cannabis. The Bureau of Cannabis Control was established to be the lead agency regulating medical and adult-use cannabis in California. The Bureau is responsible for licensing retailers, distributors, testing labs and microbusinesses. Each local land use agency in the state may adopt its own regulations and policies to govern the establishment and operation of cannabis businesses in their jurisdiction, or they may prohibit them altogether. In 2017, Sabrina Teller advised the Bureau regarding compliance with CEQA for the adoption of statewide regulations governing the cultivation, manufacturing, retail sale, transportation, storage, delivery, and testing of cannabis in California, as required by statute and voter-approved ballot initiative. Ms. Teller also represented Humboldt County and several individual cannabis growers in defending against a challenge to the County’s cannabis land use regulations brought by residents of the City of Fortuna. The Humboldt matter was settled in late 2017. Tiffany Wright has advised Calaveras County regarding the County’s establishment of land use and permitting regulations governing the cultivation of cannabis.