Thor Benson / Cannabis News Box Contributor

California has finished its final cannabis regulations after relying on temporary regulations since legalization passed in 2016. That said, the regulations won’t be made public until January. Many retailers, growers, and others are waiting to see what’s in store for the state’s industry. There will be a 30-day review period before regulations are released. Lawmakers have been working on the regulations for over a year.

“For the most part the rules have been fair, but there are areas that seem more restrictive than they likely need to be, and we are concerned about how that could impact access for adults,” Marijuana Policy Project senior legislative counsel Chris Lindsey told Cannabis News Box. “We also see increased requirements in areas that may overlook the way some businesses operate.”

California is one of the largest states in the country and one of the largest states to legalize cannabis. It’s no surprise that forming these regulations have taken a long time, especially since it’s also the most populated state in America. Lindsey said he’s happy legislators are taking their time so they get things right.

“California is a very big state with a great deal of activity, as well as an interest in hearing back from those who participate,” Lindsey said. “It comes as no surprise that it has taken some time, but it’s important regulators get this right.”

Not only is California forming policy for its own citizens and its own economy, but many other states are also looking to California as an example of how cannabis should be regulated. The state has enacted some of the most progressive policies around when it comes to legalization, including in the criminal justice reform arena, so legislators have to think about how their actions might impact the entire country.

“Every state is going to regulate cannabis differently based on its unique characteristics, including its history, its structure of government, and public opinion,” Lindsey said. “States are always going to look at what other states have done before it, and some will surely find value in aspects of California’s system. Ultimately, California is setting a good example by ending prohibition and committing to establishing a regulatory system to replace it. “

Since the exact details of the regulations have not yet been released, it’s somewhat unclear how players in California’s cannabis industry will be affected. That said, drafts of the regulations that have previously been released and the regulations California has been relying on, up to this moment, have been praised by many within the cannabis industry, so we can assume California will remain one of the top cannabis industry spots in the country.