he November 2016 passing of Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana act, brought legal recreational weed-use to California for the first time––making the Golden State one of only eight states to honor such a freedom. In anticipation of Prop 64 taking effect, Governor Jerry Brown and lawmakers from various state government agencies are working to merge California’s pre-existing medical marijuana law Proposition 215, and the new recreational use law, in order to keep all California weed dealings under a single regulatory structure.
Applying said rules and regulations to a market that previously existed in a mostly quasi-legal underground is no task in simplicity. Furthermore, with state laws in opposition of marijuana’s Schedule I federal classification, the lines between what is legal and what remains illegal, are blurry at best. Indeed, rules regarding cannabis delivery, and other provisions of Proposition 64 were announced Thursday, as part of the state spending budget––which includes $118 million for “startup costs” for the now legal industry–––agreed upon by the Governor and other top officials.
“In general, the state will treat cannabis like alcohol, allowing people 21 and older to legally possess up to an ounce of marijuana and grow six marijuana plants at home,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Of course, the law contains language that keeps it open to change. But for now, keep scrolling for more information points one would be keen to keep in mind, should one plan on getting legally lit on that California chronic.
Where You Can Buy It
Come January, licensed retail storefronts and delivery services will begin to meet a believed to be massive consumer demand. But if you want to get your cannabis straight from the source, weed enterprises will be able to “legally grow, distribute and sell their own product,” reports the Chronicle. Though, according to a recently conducted study from the University of California Agricultural Issues Center, 29 percent of Golden State cannabis consumers will opt to stick to their local dealer, and purchase illicit cannabis, over a regulated retail location, in order to save money.
Marijuana In Your Car
The rules for carrying weed in your car are similar to the rules currently applied to alcohol. Which means that, unless you’re a medical marijuana patient, driving around with an open container of cannabis will land you a $100 fine, should you get pulled over while riding dirty. An “open container” is defined by the state, as any receptacle of marijuana that’s been previously opened, and located anywhere in the vehicle besides the trunk. The designation even includes vape pens and edibles. If you are a medical patient, however, riding around with previously opened jars of pot is legally chill, depending on the situation.
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