California has had laws on its books since 1996 allowing marijuana use for medical reasons, however, it has failed to adopt any regulations for the state and local licensing of marijuana cultivations and dispensaries. After seeing states like Colorado and Washington reap millions in taxes, California has finally developed new regulations. Today, California law makers reached an agreement with Gov. Jerry Brown to issue licenses for medical cannabis dispensaries and cultivators. California will create a new Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation (BMMR) within the state Department of Consumer Affairs that would oversee a multiagency licensing and regulatory effort.
This is an essential step for California to take if advocates in the industry hope to end prohibition statewide in the next presidential election by legalizing adult-use as Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska have already done.