place, it’s time to get your house in order with the help of a trusted legal team. The city attorney and Los Angeles Police Department have made clear their commitment to ending the unlicensed marijuana marketplace in the city and have already filed 36 criminal cases, according to High Times. Punishments could include fines up to $1,000 and even jail time. Other shops are receiving cease-and-desist letters, and officials hope this round of charges will show others that they mean business.

These raids did not come without warning. Earlier in the year, officials from California Bureau of Cannabis Control sent warning letters to several hundred businesses they knew to be operating without licenses and promised civil and criminal action should they continue operating illegally. This is all good news for licensed cannabis business owners who have had to face stiff competition from a vast unregulated network. Applying for licenses and remaining in compliance both cost time and money, so those businesses that cut corners have a distinct advantage over those playing by the rules. Cities and states had high hopes for revenue that would be generated after Proposition 64 went into effect and recreational marijuana became legal in the state. Excise taxes collected have not met quarterly estimates, however, with $34 million being collected in the first three months, shy of what is necessary for the state to meet it’s predicted $175 million in the first year. Many believe this is because there is not tax revenue coming in from the unlicensed businesses and that the retailers that are in compliance have to set prices higher and cannot compete. Leveling the playing field will be a positive step for licensed business owners.

However, our Los Angeles marijuana defense attorneys know it’s not so clear cut. Often times, businesses would like to be operating above board. But many of the limited licenses are being gobbled up by big conglomerates who have the resources and infrastructure to make large investments upfront. Other unlicensed operations are small businesses who simply cannot sustain with the flood of taxes being imposed on cannabis dispensaries, growers, and distributors. Still others used to be in compliance when only medical marijuana laws were in place but have not been able to obtain a license when the state switched over to the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act. This law pooled all of the medical and recreational marijuana guidelines under one umbrella. Businesses who had been operating legally for years suddenly found themselves out in the cold if they could not obtain a new license right away. In order for the playing field to truly become level, there need to be some major adjustments with the process of establishing a business in the first place.

It’s one of the reasons our cannabis business attorneys work so hard to help cannabis operations apply for licenses, set sound business plans, offer advice on issues of compliance and provide consulting services as your business grows. With the help of an experienced legal team, businesses can clear some of the tricky obstacles of the marijuana retail business and set themselves up for success, while avoiding run-ins with local law enforcement in the future. Should you, however, find yourself on the wrong side of the law, our legal team also includes skilled criminal defense attorneys available to fight for you in court and help get you back on the right track. The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

Report: Most CA Marijuana Businesses Unable to Get License or are Operating Illegally Without One, May 1, 2018, Medical Marijuana Inc. News

More Blog Entries:

Warning Letters Sent to Unlicensed Cannabis Businesses in California, Feb. 18, 2018, Cannabis Law Group

cannabis convictions. In San Francisco, for example, Code for America is assisting the District Attorney’s office in identifying people eligible to have their marijuana arrest records cleared, according to a report by Fast Company. The organization created an algorithm that could scan old case files for qualifying criteria. The system then takes it a step further by filling out the necessary paperwork, as well.

This is a huge victory for communities hit hardest by the politically motivated and often misguided “War on Drugs.” Minority communities and neighborhoods have historically been targeted the hardest when it came to convicting for marijuana use, while similar crimes in predominantly white communities were largely ignored. This has left a trail of destruction for predominantly black areas, with families broken apart by loved ones serving jail time and futures being damaged. It is more difficult for those with convictions on their records to find good work and obtain housing, meaning that even once people have fulfilled their punishment, they can be haunted by their records years later.Now that both medical and recreational cannabis are legal in California, it is wildly unfair that anyone should have their reputation continue to be maligned for activity that people can now engage in legally and openly in the eyes of the state. Legislators agreed, which is why Proposition 64 built into it initiatives to allow those with certain types of misdemeanor cannabis convictions to petition to have their records cleared. Others with higher levels of marijuana-related crimes can request to have the charges reduced.

The petition system was an excellent first step, but there is the potential for people to still fall through the cracks. There are people who might not be fully aware of their rights, who might not understand the process by which they can clear their names, or who simply don’t have the time or resources to research the proper steps they need to take. That’s why prosecutors in several areas, including the counties of San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Clara, and Alameda, are automatically reviewing more than 10,000 cannabis-related cases and carrying out dismissals or sentence reductions where applicable. Many cities cited a lack of resources for such a process as why they have continued to rely on those with convictions to advocate for themselves. The new algorithm being used by San Francisco really changes the game, though, making it possible to more easily scan through thousands of records without extensive manpower. City prosecutors have tested the tool and plan to start using it, as well as sharing it with other district attorneys throughout California.

Our Los Angeles marijuana arrest lawyers know this is a monumental step for those who have suffered from marijuana convictions and have been the victim of old school philosophies. Our law firm is here to help anyone who needs further assistance understanding how new laws affect their past cannabis criminal records, and we are here to help you should you find yourself with current marijuana-related charges against you. Our team has the experience and deep understanding of the ever-evolving laws that can help you and your case.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

Some Prosecutors Are Erasing Old Weed Convictions. Why Isn’t Yours?, May 2, 2018, By Matt Ferner, Huffington Post

More Blog Entries:

Seeking Relief for Those with Marijuana Criminal Records, Feb. 15, 2018, Los Angeles Marijuana Lawyers Blog

, it is almost laughable how many misguided politicians and policymakers are still fighting against it. It is clear to our experienced cannabis attorneys that this conundrum is exactly why many good law-abiding citizens turn to dangerous knockoff substances that have weaseled their way into the market. They do not want to break the law or fail drug tests, but they want to enjoy the benefits of marijuana.

“Synthetic cannabinoids” have been around for years, marketed as legal marijuana knockoffs, when their relation to marijuana stops at their cheeky branding and colorful packaging. Reports are rolling in from Michigan and Illinois of people using K2 or “Spice” and ending up in emergency rooms with uncontrollable bleeding, according to a report from Michigan’s WILX10. A representative from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services claimed in the Midwest, more than 100 have been hospitalized and two have died from this drug. Other forms of so-called artificial pot in the past have reportedly caused side effects such as hallucinations, seizures, heart-rate issues, and other serious medical problems. You might be wondering if these types of drugs have been around for years and are so dangerous, why do they continue to be on the market? Our knowledgeable L.A. marijuana criminal defense attorneys can explain that producers of these drugs are using a pretty typical tactic to evade the law. When a substance is made illegal, it is based on the exact formula that makes up the compound. So when lawmakers pass a law banning a substance, producers only have to amend the formula slightly enough that is no longer is affected by the law. They then can flood the market and make a fine profit before officials catch on and start the long process of banning this new iteration. This is why even though the first version of “synthetic marijuana” was designed to try to mirror the real deal, it has changed so much that it has absolutely nothing in common, though it continues to smear the good name of cannabis.

Meanwhile, marijuana continues to be treated like toxic sludge by our federal government, which has steadfastly stood by the drug’s Schedule I classification under Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 812. Because marijuana is a natural substance, those in the cannabis industry can’t just scramble the formula to push it past legal barriers, nor would they want to. They know cannabis, when grown, cultivated, and used in a responsible way, is a safe and effective drug, regardless of what its classification status claims. It can be used not only for medical purposes, but also for adults to enjoy as an alternative with fewer side effects to other recreational substances, such as alcohol.

Although many states are establishing laws and fighting for the rights of marijuana users and businesses, people across the country are still being treated like criminals for choosing a drug that is eons safer than legal knockoffs. Even in California with both medical and recreational legal guidelines in place through Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, there are still wide swaths of the state with tight restrictions in place, continuing to treat marijuana users like criminals. That’s why our skilled defense attorneys are here to defend you should you find yourself in marijuana-related legal trouble in the Los Angeles area.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients, defendants, workers and those facing criminal marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

Drug Testing Misses Synthetic Cannabinoids: Expert, April 6, 2016, Celia Vimont, Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

More Blog Entries:

Synthetic Marijuana Poses Serious Danger, July 19, 2016, Cannabis Law Group

It’s going to be something of an uphill battle for the plaintiffs, though, because they are going to be tasked with proving marijuana was the cause of this violent episode, even though violence is almost never associated with marijuana use.

The 44-year-old victim died in April 2014 after her husband shot her in the head. This was after he consumed several bites of an orange ginger taffy that contained marijuana. He’d reportedly purchased the candy at a retailer on South Colorado Boulevard in Denver. After being informed that the buyer was not an experienced user, the store clerk reportedly did tell him not to take too large of a dose, but it’s not exactly clear if he defined how much was too much. The whole taffy candy contained 100 milligrams of THC. State regulators consider this 10 times the normal dosage. The man didn’t eat the entire candy, but it’s not clear how much he consumed. Drug tests performed after the murder indicated he had a THC concentration of 2.3 nanograms per milliliter, which is less than half of what is considered by lawmakers in that state to constitute impairment by a driver. Still, the drug isn’t processed in the same way as, say, alcohol, so it’s not clear whether that is in fact an accurate determination of his level of impairment, particularly given that he was not a regular user.

Of course, while too much marijuana for an inexperienced user can amount to an unpleasant time, it rarely results in homicide. Still, plaintiffs’ attorneys are arguing that the manufacturers should have listed the THC content of each product directly on the package. Since this incident, products are limited to 100-milligrams per product and each 10-milligram dose has to be clearly marked and separately wrapped.

Those packaging rules still do not require any type of warning about the potential psychiatric side effects, which victim’s family members say should be mandated. There is a warning regarding the time between the consumption of marijuana edibles and realization of the full intoxicating effects.

One portion of this wrongful death lawsuit alleges the man consumed too much of the candy because he didn’t understand how long the delay could be.

Plaintiffs say this mess has resulted in the loss of both their parents, essentially. The youngest son, just 7-years-old when it all happened, watched his mother die. The siblings are now 9, 13 and 15, and are being raised by their mother’s parents and sister. Their father is awaiting trial on charges of first-degree murder. But it’s unclear whether the “marijuana made me do it” assertion is going to work in either the criminal or civil arena. In the civil case, plaintiffs are going to need to show that warnings would have made a difference.

As for the criminal case, Colorado law does not allow defendants to assert insanity on the basis of voluntary consumption of alcohol or any other psychoactive substance.

The Los Angeles CANNABIS LAW Group represents growers, dispensaries, collectives, patients and those facing marijuana charges. Call us at 949-375-4734.

Additional Resources:

Lawsuit against marijuana company over deadly Denver shooting could be first of its kind, May 10, 2016, By Jordan Steffen, The Denver Post

More Blog Entries:

Cannabis Cultivators Scouring Legal Ways to Grow, Feb. 4, 2017, Colorado Marijuana Defense Lawyer Blog