It’s been nearly a year and a half since California legalized recreational marijuana and each municipality in the state is still trying to figure out how to work with the law.
A recent investigation by Cannifornian reporters Brooke Staggs, Ian Wheeler and Phil Lawrence sheds light on how each city and county in the state is forming rules in the wake of Proposition 64’s passage. The law allows citizens to carry and consume marijuana for recreational purposes but gives local governments power to enforce their own cannabis laws, leading to a patchwork of conflicting, sometimes confusing laws from city to city.
Here are some of the highlights of the investigation:
- Fewer than one in three California cities (144 out of 482) allow any kind of cannabis business to operate in their borders.
- 18 of the state’s 58 counties permit cannabis businesses in their unincorporated areas.
- Fewer than one in five California cities welcome medical marijuana dispensaries
- Fewer than one in seven cities allow recreational cannabis stores, where anyone 21 and older has been able to shop for legal weed since Jan. 1.
To shed more light on this confusing policy issue, Brooke, Ian and Phil hosted a Facebook Live discussion on Thursday to answer reader questions.
Read all three parts of the recent Marijuana Database investigation here:
Database shows California cities are making it tough to grow marijuana, get deliveries at home
California cities chase marijuana tax revenue with wide-ranging rates and schemes
To subscribe to The Cannifornian’s email newsletter, click here.
