Cannabis Lawyer California | JRG Cannabis Attorneys

Cannabis and Hemp

Hemp and Cannabis Lawyers in Monterey County

Representing Growers & Distributors Along the Central Coast

Seated amongst the highly regarded and optimal growing regions of Monterey County, San Benito County, Santa Cruz County, and throughout California, JRG Attorneys at Law has utilized its agriculture business expertise to advise the Hemp & Cannabis Business industry as it moves from the mountains into the open valleys in California.

As a premier Monterey County area firm, with offices in Monterey, Salinas, and Hollister, JRG provides our clients with the strategic legal assistance they need to manage risk while building for a successful future.

Our California hemp and Cannabis attorneys work on an individual level to develop long-term strategies suited to each client’s unique needs.

We advise and represent clients directly involved in:

Cultivation
Seeds (nursery)
Manufacturing (extraction and infusion)
Processing (drying)
Packaging
Transportation
Distribution
Storefront retail (dispensaries)
Branding
Research and development
Ancillary cannabis businesses, which provide products and services to the industry

We Understand California’s Complex Hemp and Cannabis Regulations

One of California’s fastest-growing industries, Cannabis is highly regulated and subject to ever-changing legislation. Our hemp and Cannabis lawyers understand the complex requirements concerning all aspects of the hemp and Cannabis industry, and we use this knowledge to protect our clients’ interests.

We can help with compliance and regulatory issues related to:

Regulatory compliance
Local (city and county) Cannabis regulations
Local land use and Cannabis business permit applications
State of California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) regulations
State licenses (nursery, cultivation, processor, manufacturing, transporter, distributor, special events)
Cultivation canopy size, number of licenses (“stacking”), lighting tiers (outdoor, mixed light, indoor)
Investment-related documentation
Business entity formation and structure

Laws regulating medical and recreational hemp and Cannabis in California are becoming consumer-oriented and reinforce many laws already applicable to large agribusiness located in the Salinas Valley, which leads the world with fresh produce. We assist our Cannabis business clients with proper corporate and business structures for their long-term success and interface with essential local and state officials.

Our firm founded the Coastal Growers Association, a trade association established on behalf of those in the cannabis business, and maintains active involvement in organizations such as the National Cannabis Industry Association, California Cannabis Industry Association, Marijuana Policy Project, Americans For Safe Access, and California NORML.

Remaining at the Forefront of Hemp and Cannabis Legislation

The lawyers at JRG actively participate in emerging business and policy discussions affecting the hemp & cannabis industry. Clients confidently rely on JRG to help them identify and manage legal issues relevant to all hemp and Cannabis businesses.

As this new, legitimate, and transparent industry has evolved after decades of medical legalization, more entrepreneurs are seeking to establish themselves as a hemp and Cannabis business. As such, they desire more certainty, understanding, and influence on California Cannabis laws. Succeeding in the Cannabis industry often requires a close involvement in the policy landscape. Our hemp and Cannabis law attorneys have a proven track record of achieving policy objectives through political and government advocacy for their clients and California’s agriculture industry at large.

JRG believes that a sensible hemp and Cannabis policy can bring substantial revenue to California and much-needed reform to our criminal justice system. Thoughtful hemp and Cannabis regulation will decrease crime while increasing tax revenue and job growth throughout the State. The attorneys at JRG provide a rare combination of business, legal, and policy advocacy experience, coupled with an exceptional understanding of the hemp and Cannabis industry.

A History of Cannabis Laws in California

California was the first state to legalize Cannabis for medicinal use in 1996 with the passage of the Compassionate Use Act (CUA). Under the CUA, patients and caregivers were permitted to grow, possess, and share as much medical marijuana as necessary to treat a patient’s medical condition. These permissions would be expanded in 2003 with the passing of Senate Bill 420, which established an identification card system for medical marijuana patients and allowed for the creation of non-profit cooperatives or collectives to distribute medical Cannabis.

In 2016, California became the second state to legalize Cannabis for recreational use with the passing of Proposition 64, also known as the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA). Under Proposition 64, adults over the age of 21 were permitted to legally possess, transport, purchase, and process up to one ounce of Cannabis or up to six plants.

While previously split among different legislation, California’s laws regulating Cannabis were condensed and revised in 2017 with the passing of the Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA), establishing a uniform set of laws for both medicinal and adult-use businesses. Licenses for the commercial cultivation and sale of Cannabis in California were issued beginning in 2018, though many local municipalities and counties are continuing to enact laws banning commercial Cannabis activities within their jurisdictions. For this reason, existing and prospective Cannabis businesses need to consult with a skilled attorney to ensure compliance under MAUCRSA.