When starting a cannabis business in California, don’t forget about water and power.  Almost every business needs these utilities in order to operate, but they are especially important for cannabis cultivation, which can require large amounts of them.  Many license applicants hope to get started with their business quickly, but then are faced with the realities of delays of months or even years while working to set up their access to adequate water and power.  Accordingly, it’s important to plan ahead, and to consult with attorneys or other professionals to anticipate and overcome any obstacles.

On July 30, the Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation presented a report to the City’s Cannabis Regulation Commission, outlining the next step in the City’s cannabis licensing program and some of the changes to the cannabis licensing laws that were passed by the City Council and signed by Eric Garcetti last month.

Through its commercial cannabis licensing system, the State of California stands diametrically opposed to the federal government, which criminalizes all production and sales of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. Under the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution, federal law is the “supreme Law of the Land,” and thus takes priority over any conflicting state law. Accordingly, ever since California first legalized medical marijuana in 1996, it has had to watch out for the Drug Enforcement Administration and federal prosecutors, who have always been looming in the background, ready to possibly criminally prosecute, imprison, and seize the assets of anyone involved in the cannabis industry.