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U.S. NEWS Saturday 18 November 2017
California’s legal pot countdown: What’s coming by Jan. 1

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD Even if you get a license, it
Associated Press will be temporary — good
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cali- for 120 days. In some cas-
fornia has published the es, there can be a 90-day
rules that will govern its le- extension on top of that.
gal marijuana economy in During that time, the state
2018, giving businesses and will review a business’ cre-
consumers a glimpse into dentials and information
the future. submitted in the license ap-
But there are important plication, such as financial
steps before legal recre- records and investors in the
ational sales kick off on business.
Jan. 1, and even more un- The regulations issued by
certainties about how the the state this week are tem-
marketplace will function. porary, too.
Warning: Don’t count on
being able to stroll into your MANY CHALLENGES RE-
local dispensary on New MAIN
Year’s Day to celebrate Key pieces of the legal pot
with a pot cookie or joint. system are still in the works.
A massive tracking system
WHY ARE THE REGULATIONS that will follow plants from
IMPORTANT? This Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, file photo shows vendors setting up large jars with this season’s harvest seed to sale is in develop-
They form the framework of of marijuana for sale at the High Times Harvest Cup in San Bernardino, Calif. California released ment, but officials say it will
the new pot economy, es- long-awaited rules Thursday, Nov. 17, that will govern the state’s emerging legal marijuana be ready at the start of the
timated to be worth $7 bil- industry. Recreational sales of marijuana will become legal on Jan. 1, 2018. new year. q
(AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
lion. Can you make animal- grower and retailer Donnie
shaped edibles? No. Trans- Anderson. “I don’t think this
port pot in a drone? No. is going to be ready.”
But retailers can be open Other places, like Kern
from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. It’s County, have banned
a dense stack of rules that commercial pot activity. At
includes fees for licensing the same time, San Diego is
(nearly $80,000 annually for among the cities that have
a large grower), how pot local rules in place and
will be traced from seed are ready for legal sales.
to sale and testing require- Palm Springs is planning for
ments to ensure customers cannabis lounges, where
get what they pay for. recreational pot can be
smoked on site.
CAN I BUY LEGAL RECRE-
ATIONAL POT ON JAN. 1? A GRADUAL START
For most people, probably For six months, the state is
not. It will vary place to allowing businesses to bend
place, but many cities are the rules a bit, recognizing
not prepared. Even though it will take time for the new
the state regulations went system to take hold. Dur-
out Thursday, the Bureau of ing that period, businesses
Cannabis Control is still de- can sell products that do
veloping an online system not meet new packaging
for businesses to apply for requirements. Retailers can
operating licenses. Califor- sell inventory that does not
nia is working out technical meet new rules for ingredi-
bugs and hopes it will be ents or appearance.
ready in early December. At an industry conference
“There certainly will be li- in September, California’s
censes issued on Jan. 1,” top pot regulator sought
said Alex Traverso of the to ease concerns that the
Bureau of Cannabis Con- state would move quickly
trol. on enforcement against
But there’s a snag: To apply operations without licens-
for a state license, a grower es. If authorities are aware
or seller first needs a local a business has applied for
permit, and many cities are a license “I don’t want you
struggling to establish those to have anxiety that we’re
rules, including Los Angeles out there and we’re going
and San Francisco, two of to be enforcing everything
the biggest markets. right away,” said Lori Ajax,
“I think the state dropped who heads the state can-
the ball big time. This should nabis bureau.
have been done by June,
July,” said Los Angeles EVERYTHING IS TEMPORARY