The Big Switch — Marijuana Goes Legal in California this New Year
January 1st, 2018 will be the new 4/20 for California as recreational marijuana becomes legal in the state. Dispensaries and cannabis consumers have been counting days since Proposition 64 designated it as the official launch of adult-use market in California.
Not just that, even state regulators are excited for the big day. “I know this sounds crazy, but we’re looking forward to Jan. 1,” said Lori Ajax, who heads the state’s Bureau of Cannabis Control. “This is what we’ve been waiting for, what we’ve been training for,” she said regarding the expansion of supply network. “It’s time.”
As a cannabis consumer, here are a few things to expect in 2018:
Can I simply walk into a dispensary to buy pot?
Yes, as long as you’re over 21 and the dispensary has a temporary license from the state, you can simply walk into a dispensary to buy pot from January 1.
Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) has distributed temporary licenses to dispensaries and retailers that will become effective starting January 1st. However, recreational consumers can’t buy legal marijuana at the stroke of midnight. BCC has set rules that say retailers can only sell or deliver cannabis between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Where can I buy pot from?
Depending on where you reside, it’s not necessary that the nearest dispensary is actually near to your place. “There’s only a handful of cities that are embracing it,” said Jason Elsasser, a marijuana industry advocate in Desert Hot Springs, a city that has heartily accepted marijuana businesses; thus, earning the nickname “Desert Pot Springs”.
Neighboring regions of Desert Hot Spring, such as Oakland and others in the Coachella Valley are among the relatively few cities that have prepared for adult-use of marijuana ahead of January 1.
Where can I NOT smoke?
A good rule of thumb across the state is that you can’t smoke cannabis wherever you can’t smoke a cigarette.
This implies that you can’t smoke in indoor workplaces, including bars. As for residences, tenants need to check with their landlords if they can smoke at home. You also can’t smoke pot in cars. Using cannabis in a moving vehicle or having an open bag in the car are both illegal.
Can I try before I buy?
Yes and no.
Customers, today, might be accustomed to smelling the marijuana bud or flower before buying it. However, dispensaries will have to rethink these practices once the adult-use market fledges completely.
Customers will still be allowed to inspect strains within the supervision of an employee, but the dispensaries should be ready to discard any marijuana product that employees remove from its original packaging. Retailers and dispensaries can only sell products in tamper evident, child resistant packaging.
Unlike before, customers should not expect retailers to give free samples now. Marijuana freebies are prohibited by law.
Can I be assured of the quality check of pot?
Yes, State law requires new testing procedures to be implemented before the pot is sold.
For instance, before a distributor introduces his stock in the market, it needs to be tested in an authorized laboratory for mold, pesticide residue, bacteria, and other such degrading factors. Apart from that, labs will also check the CBD and THC content of the strains, the major cannabinoids found in marijuana. Product packages must be labeled with weight as well as THC and CBD content before they are distributed to the suppliers.
This was California, now an update from Budbo…
Our presale has received a fantastic response, and now we’re getting ready for our upcoming tokensale which begins from the 15th of January, 2018. We thank all of you for your support. Keep checking our Medium account for updates!
