Fulfilling the mandate on Marijuana in America has become more difficult than anticipated. On Election Day, four states legalized marijuana possession and cultivation for all adults over the age of 21. Because it is difficult to possess anything in America if it cannot be purchased or sold; marijuana retail stores were legalized as well.
For the most part, the possession limits and amendment of criminal statutes became effective immediately, or almost-immediately. With pot stores, the government has to create and implement the “regulate” aspect of “tax and regulate;” therefore, buyers and sellers may have to continue waiting until 2018 for a retail adult-use marijuana trade.
Did we say 2018? Sorry, we meant 2019.
Government officials across the country are asking for more time to address the marijuana marketplaces they are now required to oversee. In the weeks following the elections; officials in Massachusetts were implying that 14 months was too fast to implement regulations for commercial marijuana. Recently; according to reports, officials in California said the same thing‚ (suggesting that a delay of up to a year could be necessary).
Many state officials feel the Jan. 1, 2018 start date for sales is too good to be true.
“Time is not on our side,” stated Lori Ajax, the state’s new “marijuana czar” and leader of the Bureau of Marijuana Regulation, as per the San Francisco Chronicle.
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