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California’s cannabis taxes are a disaster, with no end in sight. I’ve written about the state’s tax problems extensively, but today I want to talk about what the state can do when it comes to tax collection.

Late cannabis taxes? Get used to hefty penalties

If a licensed cannabis business fails to timely or fully pay its cannabis taxes, it will owe a substantial amount higher than the actual tax amount. Specifically, the state’s cannabis laws mandate a penalty of 50 percent of the unpaid amount, on top of the 10 percent general penalty payable for late tax payments. The same licensees will also be required to pay interest on the unpaid amounts. If you’ve ever seen a California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) statement of account, you may have noticed an additional charge listed as “other,” which allegedly includes miscellaneous collection fees.

Imagine a company owed $100,000 and failed to timely pay. Given the above, that same company would owe at least $160,000 (and probably closer to $170,000 or more) considering the penalties. Additionally, when I say “timely,” I mean it literally – we’ve seen the CDTFA impose penalties when

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According to survey data recently released by the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), 86% of Californians believe that it’s important to use legal sources when shopping for cannabis products. Officials also noted that 62% of Californians believe that Proposition 64 has had a positive impact, which means the legal cannabis market is now more popular than the state’s 2016 cannabis legalization ballot initiative (which was passed with 57% voter support).

The survey of more than 1,000 respondents also found that 72% of Californians believe that cannabis consumers have a responsibility to utilize the regulated market, DCC said in a press release.

The surveys were conducted under the DCC campaign “Real California Cannabis,” which seeks to educate consumers about the benefits of buying legal cannabis and how to identify the difference between licensed and unlicensed retailers, the release said.

“Education and enforcement are two of the key pillars that support a well-regulated cannabis market. The Real California Cannabis campaign will provide cannabis consumers with information that empowers them to make informed decisions regarding their cannabis purchases. These smart choices support safer communities, local businesses, and our continuous efforts to disrupt the illegal market.” — DCC Director Nicole Elliott, in a

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Legal cannabis sales in Oregon declined for the second year in a row in 2023 after the market set its annual sales record in 2021, the Oregonian reports.

Licensed cannabis retailers in Oregon recorded about $955 million in sales during 2023, down from about $994 million in 2022. The state’s cannabis market had previously spiked in 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately peaking in 2021 at $1.2 billion in annual cannabis sales.

Retail cannabis prices in the state have stagnated since falling to just $4 per gram in early 2023, the report said.

Oregon’s adult-use cannabis industry was launched in 2014 with no restrictions on the number of cannabis licenses allowed in the state; additionally, acquiring a commercial cannabis license was easier than in most other states. So, while the market grew fast at first, the mismatch in supply and demand eventually became evident as prices plummeted amid surging supply.

“Given these market conditions of oversupply, (retail) saturation, and stable consumer demand, low prices make it difficult for businesses to be profitable.” — The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis, via the Oregonian

The Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon last month urged the state to make permanent a

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Joyleaf, a first-of-its-kind dispensary in Roselle, will host a full day of events Thursday to celebrate its official opening of its store located at 711 E. First Ave.

Beginning at 9:30 a.m., Joyleaf will welcome local public and elected officials, as well as members of the New Jersey cannabis community, for a ribbon-cutting and networking event, including remarks from Joyleaf’s co-founder, a cannabis industry veteran and the founder and former CEO of online grocery delivery service FreshDirect, Jason Ackerman.

Later in the day, beginning at 3 p.m., Joyleaf will welcome cannabis consumers and the Roselle community for an informative and immersive celebration of the cannabis plant that will include live entertainment, giveaways, discounts and deals and the ability to experience the cannabis plant with all five senses. Light refreshments will be served throughout the day.

“While we started welcoming customers in December, as with any new business, we spent the first couple of months focused on refining our customer service and customizing it to fit the needs of our home in Roselle. We are now ready to ‘officially’ open and will mark the occasion with a ribbon-cutting and free celebration for our current loyal customers, as well as the

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Ellis Soodak opened Verdi, the first legal adult-use dispensary in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, about a month and a half ago. Already, he’s grappling with a regulatory issue that he believes could destroy businesses: advertising and marketing restrictions.

“We are really struggling to break even. I know for a fact that there are several stores that are really hurting,” Soodak said. “We’re being set up to fail, 100 percent.”

New York’s Cannabis Control Board finalized regulations that govern the state’s legal cannabis industry in September, including rules for how weed businesses are and are not allowed to advertise their products and stores. The rules prevent dispensaries from buying billboard ads, and stop all companies from using marketing techniques that could be attractive to children.

Business owners and prospective licensees in the Empire State’s cannabis industry have been criticizing the Office of Cannabis Management’s rules for advertising as overly broad and stringent since they were first proposed at a CCB meeting in 2022. Now that an increasing number of dispensaries are opening across the state, store owners are saying they’re prohibited from doing basic advertising, and potential customers don’t even know they exist.

“It’s an existential thing,” Soodak told NY Cannabis Insider. “The fact of the

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Discover Excellence At Illa Canna Weed Dispensary, Jefferson Park’s Premier Cannabis Destination.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, February 28, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — Over the past decade, Los Angeles, California, has been at the forefront of a remarkable transformation within its cannabis industry, reflecting broader trends of acceptance and integration of cannabis into the fabric of Californian culture and commerce. Known for its vibrant diversity and innovative spirit, Los Angeles has nurtured the cannabis sector from its nascent stages to a sophisticated, regulated industry, marked by significant legislative milestones, technological advancements, and a notable shift in public perception towards cannabis and its myriad uses.

The journey of transformation began with the gradual relaxation of laws surrounding cannabis, which catalyzed a surge in the establishment of both medical and recreational dispensaries throughout the city. This pivotal regulatory shift opened the floodgates for entrepreneurs and innovators to delve into the expansive possibilities within the cannabis space, leading to a rapid expansion of the market. This expansion was characterized by the introduction of a wide array of cannabis products and services, designed to cater to a diverse clientele with varying needs and preferences, from therapeutic to recreational uses.

As the industry evolved, Los Angeles emerged as

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Office of Cannabis Management Executive Director Chris Alexander said, “New York state leads the nation in its commitment to equity in cannabis. To protect what we are building, we have to make sure that our legal dispensaries have a real shot to thrive against illicit operators. I want to thank Governor Hochul, and our partners across the state for the steadfast commitment to getting this right. The stakes are too high and it’s time we close down these illicit shops, and hold tech companies accountable.”

The Cannabis Place Chief Executive Officer Osbert Orduna said, “Together, we can send a powerful message that unlicensed cannabis stores have no place in our communities, and that we are committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting the safety and welfare of all New Yorkers. It is imperative for the legislature, regulatory agencies, and local governments to work collaboratively to ensure the integrity and success of New York’s cannabis market. I would like to thank the many advocates, legislators, the OCM and the Governor for their combined efforts to build a legal, safe, regulated market for consumers with true social and economic equity.”

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DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Television Iowa Capitol Bureau) – More medical marijuana dispensaries could soon be coming to Iowa. Tuesday, a House subcommittee unanimously approved a bill that would double the number of dispensary licenses to 10.

Democratic State Rep. John Forbes of Polk County says that right now, medical marijuana isn’t accessible for most Iowans. “Patient access to medical cannabis here in the state of Iowa is a concern, especially in certain areas of the state. People have to drive two hours plus. Most people won’t do that,” Forbes said.

But – the bill would also cap the number of dispensaries a license holder could have. Tim Coonan, a lobbyist representing the Green Leaf Cannabis Company said, “It’s a highly regulated, highly speculative. Right now, it’s in its infancy and so I think in line with that, the idea of facilitating the opportunity for more market players, there may be more value in that.”

The Green Leaf Cannabis Company doesn’t have a license but wants in. “Our thought was that to open it up to more market players, it would be wise to limit the number of licenses being held by one entity to three, since that’s the max being held right

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A bill advancing through the Iowa Legislature would allow for more dispensaries to sell medical marijuana in Iowa.

House Study Bill 684 would increase the maximum number of dispensaries in the Iowa Medical Cannabidiol program to 10, changing the portion of Iowa Code that currently caps that total number at five.

License holders would only be able to hold three medical cannabidiol dispensary licenses under this legislation, a move advocates called an arbitrary condition that could limit businesses from expanding in the state’s marketplace.

A House subcommittee advanced the bill by unanimous vote, 3-0, for consideration by a full committee on Tuesday.

Ethan Kedar Astaphan and Weijia Peng were found guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of Juan Hernandez, pictured. (Photos from the family’s Help Me Find Juan website)

The owner and manager of an unlicensed California marijuana dispensary were convicted of murdering their college student co-worker with a ketamine injection and dumping his body in the desert because they thought he stole money and pot.

Ethan Kedar Astaphan, 30, and Weijia “James” Peng, 34, were found guilty in a Los Angeles courtroom of first-degree murder in the killing of Juan Carlos Hernandez, whose body was discovered in a shallow grave near Barstow, California, in 2020.

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“I’m sad my son is not coming back,” Hernandez said outside after court, the Los Angeles Daily News reported. “I’m glad they got caught, and they’ll be paying for what they did. Now we’re just figuring out what’s next and how to heal.”

Astaphan’s attorney, Larson Hahm, argued for a second-degree murder conviction, saying the killing wasn’t preplanned, the Los Angeles Daily News reported.

Astaphan, the manager at the unlicensed and now dismantled VIP Collective, and Peng, the owner, killed Hernandez on Sept. 22, 2020, taking

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