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Due to the regularly changing laws regarding cannabis in California, it can be difficult to get a handle on what exactly is legal and what is not, which is why having an experienced and knowledgeable cannabis lawyer in California is so important as you grow your business. If you want to stay on top in the cannabis industry, getting ahead of legal issues is a business strategy that legal dispensaries in California should all implement.
If you are starting your own marijuana business in California or are already active in the industry, it is necessary to have a California cannabis business attorney by your side. The industry is full of unique opportunities and challenges and it is difficult to navigate without the support from an experienced legal professional.
Our California cannabis business firm is available to answer your questions and present you with all of your options. Our business focus sets us apart from other cannabis law firms that may not know the intricacies of the San Diego recreational marijuana market and regulations. We are not afraid to handle complex cases and will effectively use our 65 years of collective experience to help you achieve the results you are hoping for.
If you are interested in starting a cannabis business in California, you’ll need to decide which type of business you’ll want to form. The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) offers several different types of cannabis licenses:
The cannabis lawyers at FONTANA & RUSSELL, LLP can help you weigh the pros and cons of each cannabis business type and help you choose the right license that meets your goals.
Anyone engaging in any of the regulated activities must, like anyone else engaged in the provision of goods or services to others must consider the very real possibility of civil third-party liability.
Thus, it makes sense to consider forming a corporation or limited liability company for purposes of limiting potential exposure. Specializing in private entity formation, our cannabis lawyers in California are able to structure formation and charter documents so as to maximize not only your insulation from personal liability but also maximize the effectiveness of the argument that you are conducting and participating in regulated activities in compliance with state and local law as well as the dictates of the Cole Memo. Typical cannabis attorneys may not have this experience and may seek only to defend you in a crisis instead of preventing the crisis all together.
Anyone engaging in regulated activities should not fear written agreements memorializing investment, financing, vendor-vendee, employment, and subcontractor terms with third parties. Such agreements for good reasons deal with all sorts of issues (partnership, control, compliance, milestones, indemnity, warranties, dispute resolution, to name a few). Such fears were well-founded in the past because such documents could be evidence of federal criminal conduct warranting federal prosecution.
Instead, today, persons engaging in regulated activities should develop and use such documentation—not only because it makes good sense to memorialize obligations and establish boundaries with persons and companies you deal with, but also because if such documentation is carefully crafted, you can actually facilitate proof of compliance at the state, local and all-important federal levels. Specializing in the drafting of written agreements and all sorts of related documentation, our cannabis lawyers in California can provide the advice you need in this area.
At FONTANA & RUSSELL, our California marijuana lawyers can assist with state and local regulatory compliance. Finally, we are very well connected to other professionals in this field, including criminal defense attorneys and CPAs.
In the world of cannabis jurisprudence, there remains a critical gray area: Under the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970, the cultivation, distribution and even—technically speaking—possession of any amount of cannabis— which is a Schedule 1 narcotic under the Act—is a felony. Under the very much alive and well Supremacy Mandate (Article VI) of the U. S. Constitution, federal law is the supreme law of the land, meaning it preempts state and local laws to the contrary, including laws concerning the regulation of cannabis.
Thus, whatever the State of California officially passes regarding the decriminalization, legalization or regulation of cannabis, the cultivators, transporters, and distributors of cannabis are at risk for federal prosecution and related forfeiture actions. This possibility of federal prosecution must, from the standpoint of anyone engaging in regulated activities, be the prism through which all decision–making must pass.
On August 29, 2013, U.S. Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole signed and circulated among those tasked with the enforcement of federal criminal statutes a “Memorandum For All United States Attorneys” concerning Justice Department policy regarding cannabis enforcement.
According to the Cole Memo, US Attorneys are advised that the policy, moving forward, will be one of hands-off so long as the potential target or person of interest meets the requirements below.
Indeed, the Cole Memo goes so far as to say that even “commercial” or “for-profit” activities by someone engaging in regulated activities will not necessarily be a trigger for federal enforcement absent transgression of one of the stated priorities.
Since October 9, 2015, when California enacted its Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, the state has put in place a comprehensive and clearly “robust” regulatory apparatus (with administrative regulations to follow soon from the newly formed Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation, a Division of the California Department of Consumer Affairs as well as the Department of Food and Agriculture and the State Department of Public Health).
There are now 17 different licensing classifications pertaining to various kinds of cultivators, testers, distributors, and transporters, among others. In addition to the new state law, there are also many municipal ordinances that present compliance issues.
Just recently, Proposition 64 has been approved in California, making it the largest state in the nation to legalize recreational marijuana usage. This means the market for marijuana products and businesses will continue to grow exponentially.
Given our firm’s extensive experience representing the local government in California, as well as our experience with the licensing, taxation, and discretionary aspects of the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, we are well-positioned to represent local government on such issues as establishing a licensing apparatus, issuing licenses, and enforcing compliance.
Cannabis continues to grow in its popularity and usage. What was once taboo is now being recognized as a genuine and viable medical alternative. Studies continue to pour forth indicating the benefits of cannabis and medical dispensaries continue to pop up around the United States—especially in California.
As the cannabis industry continues to grow and moves towards recreational legalization, it only makes sense to try to tap into this business field and benefit from its growth. If you are wading into this venture or are already active in the field, you need professional legal assistance to maximize your profits and your protection.
Cannabis dispensaries in the United States are local government-regulated physical locations. Marijuana dispensaries include retailers that have a storefront where customers can visit. Each type of marijuana dispensary activity has its licensing requirements that need to be obtained on a legal level. That’s why it is important to have legal representation going into the industry.
Unlike most areas of business, the cannabis industry comes with unique opportunities and challenges. It is difficult to navigate these obstacles without seasoned experience and protection, which our firm can provide.
These are just a handful of the areas FONTANA & RUSSELL, LLP can provide legal insight on. Our team can also help guard against civil or criminal liability. As a firm that is a member of NORML, Cannabis Coalition, and Cannabis Entrepreneurial Association, we provide leading representation and counsel every step of the way when you hire us.
At FONTANA & RUSSELL, LLP, we have more than half a century of litigation experience and a track record of providing efficient and cost-effective results. We are proud to serve California and are a one-stop shop for business owners and professionals involved in the cannabis industry.
Due to the regularly changing laws regarding cannabis in California, it can be difficult to get a handle on what exactly is legal and what is not, which is why having an experienced and knowledgeable cannabis lawyer in California is so important as you grow your business. If you want to stay on top in the cannabis industry, getting ahead of legal issues is a business strategy that legal dispensaries in California should all implement.
If you are starting your own marijuana business in California or are already active in the industry, it is necessary to have a California cannabis business attorney by your side. The industry is full of unique opportunities and challenges and it is difficult to navigate without the support from an experienced legal professional.
Our California cannabis business firm is available to answer your questions and present you with all of your options. Our business focus sets us apart from other cannabis law firms that may not know the intricacies of the San Diego recreational marijuana market and regulations. We are not afraid to handle complex cases and will effectively use our 65 years of collective experience to help you achieve the results you are hoping for.
If you are interested in starting a cannabis business in California, you’ll need to decide which type of business you’ll want to form. The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) offers several different types of cannabis licenses:
The cannabis lawyers at FONTANA & RUSSELL, LLP can help you weigh the pros and cons of each cannabis business type and help you choose the right license that meets your goals.
Anyone engaging in any of the regulated activities must, like anyone else engaged in the provision of goods or services to others must consider the very real possibility of civil third-party liability.
Thus, it makes sense to consider forming a corporation or limited liability company for purposes of limiting potential exposure. Specializing in private entity formation, our cannabis lawyers in California are able to structure formation and charter documents so as to maximize not only your insulation from personal liability but also maximize the effectiveness of the argument that you are conducting and participating in regulated activities in compliance with state and local law as well as the dictates of the Cole Memo. Typical cannabis attorneys may not have this experience and may seek only to defend you in a crisis instead of preventing the crisis all together.
Anyone engaging in regulated activities should not fear written agreements memorializing investment, financing, vendor-vendee, employment, and subcontractor terms with third parties. Such agreements for good reasons deal with all sorts of issues (partnership, control, compliance, milestones, indemnity, warranties, dispute resolution, to name a few). Such fears were well-founded in the past because such documents could be evidence of federal criminal conduct warranting federal prosecution.
Instead, today, persons engaging in regulated activities should develop and use such documentation—not only because it makes good sense to memorialize obligations and establish boundaries with persons and companies you deal with, but also because if such documentation is carefully crafted, you can actually facilitate proof of compliance at the state, local and all-important federal levels. Specializing in the drafting of written agreements and all sorts of related documentation, our cannabis lawyers in California can provide the advice you need in this area.
At FONTANA & RUSSELL, our California marijuana lawyers can assist with state and local regulatory compliance. Finally, we are very well connected to other professionals in this field, including criminal defense attorneys and CPAs.
In the world of cannabis jurisprudence, there remains a critical gray area: Under the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970, the cultivation, distribution and even—technically speaking—possession of any amount of cannabis— which is a Schedule 1 narcotic under the Act—is a felony. Under the very much alive and well Supremacy Mandate (Article VI) of the U. S. Constitution, federal law is the supreme law of the land, meaning it preempts state and local laws to the contrary, including laws concerning the regulation of cannabis.
Thus, whatever the State of California officially passes regarding the decriminalization, legalization or regulation of cannabis, the cultivators, transporters, and distributors of cannabis are at risk for federal prosecution and related forfeiture actions. This possibility of federal prosecution must, from the standpoint of anyone engaging in regulated activities, be the prism through which all decision–making must pass.
On August 29, 2013, U.S. Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole signed and circulated among those tasked with the enforcement of federal criminal statutes a “Memorandum For All United States Attorneys” concerning Justice Department policy regarding cannabis enforcement.
According to the Cole Memo, US Attorneys are advised that the policy, moving forward, will be one of hands-off so long as the potential target or person of interest meets the requirements below.
Indeed, the Cole Memo goes so far as to say that even “commercial” or “for-profit” activities by someone engaging in regulated activities will not necessarily be a trigger for federal enforcement absent transgression of one of the stated priorities.
Since October 9, 2015, when California enacted its Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, the state has put in place a comprehensive and clearly “robust” regulatory apparatus (with administrative regulations to follow soon from the newly formed Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation, a Division of the California Department of Consumer Affairs as well as the Department of Food and Agriculture and the State Department of Public Health).
There are now 17 different licensing classifications pertaining to various kinds of cultivators, testers, distributors, and transporters, among others. In addition to the new state law, there are also many municipal ordinances that present compliance issues.
Just recently, Proposition 64 has been approved in California, making it the largest state in the nation to legalize recreational marijuana usage. This means the market for marijuana products and businesses will continue to grow exponentially.
Given our firm’s extensive experience representing the local government in California, as well as our experience with the licensing, taxation, and discretionary aspects of the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, we are well-positioned to represent local government on such issues as establishing a licensing apparatus, issuing licenses, and enforcing compliance.
Cannabis continues to grow in its popularity and usage. What was once taboo is now being recognized as a genuine and viable medical alternative. Studies continue to pour forth indicating the benefits of cannabis and medical dispensaries continue to pop up around the United States—especially in California.
As the cannabis industry continues to grow and moves towards recreational legalization, it only makes sense to try to tap into this business field and benefit from its growth. If you are wading into this venture or are already active in the field, you need professional legal assistance to maximize your profits and your protection.
Cannabis dispensaries in the United States are local government-regulated physical locations. Marijuana dispensaries include retailers that have a storefront where customers can visit. Each type of marijuana dispensary activity has its licensing requirements that need to be obtained on a legal level. That’s why it is important to have legal representation going into the industry.
Unlike most areas of business, the cannabis industry comes with unique opportunities and challenges. It is difficult to navigate these obstacles without seasoned experience and protection, which our firm can provide.
These are just a handful of the areas FONTANA & RUSSELL, LLP can provide legal insight on. Our team can also help guard against civil or criminal liability. As a firm that is a member of NORML, Cannabis Coalition, and Cannabis Entrepreneurial Association, we provide leading representation and counsel every step of the way when you hire us.
At FONTANA & RUSSELL, LLP, we have more than half a century of litigation experience and a track record of providing efficient and cost-effective results. We are proud to serve California and are a one-stop shop for business owners and professionals involved in the cannabis industry.
Whether you have questions or you’re ready to get started, our legal team is ready to help. Complete our form below or call us at +1 (646) 992-4711
We are Ready When You Are.
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