No legal marijuana in most of California, 4 years after voter approval

It’s been four years since the cannabis industry began the transition from medical to legal adult-use in California. Yet, in almost 70% of localities throughout our state, consumers still don’t have access to the regulated market.

Proposition 64’s intent was simple: to create a regulated market that allowed all adults in California to have access to safe cannabis. The initiative was overwhelmingly approved by voters, but our current legal cannabis landscape doesn’t fulfill Prop. 64’s promise.

Establishing a new, legalized industry was never going to be simple. One reason is California’s dual licensing structure, which means cannabis retailers must obtain two licenses to operate: one from the state and one from their local city or county. This system relies on local governments to set up and implement a licensing framework with a lack of resources and experience — a tall task. 

As secretary of the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency during the transition period from medical to adult-use expansion, I saw the many challenges that arose from this framework first hand.

The industry, the state, local governments and consumers all faced a rapidly changing cannabis landscape, virtually overnight. The lack of support for tackling these challenges has resulted in local elected officials choosing the false promise of outright banning cannabis sales in their jurisdictions. And, despite full legalization, consumers — many being veterans and patients — are left to travel long distances to purchase legal cannabis or turn to the illicit market for lack of legal options.