Medical Marijuana and Commercial Real Estate in California and Beyond Update

Marijuana has had a volatile history in this country.  In 1996, California voters passed the Compassionate Use Act, making it the first state to allow for the medical use of marijuana. Since then, several more states have enacted similar laws (many grander in their scope), and with the 2016 elections over, we can expect a lot of movement in the area of marijuana legalization across the country. The increasing acceptance of marijuana has led to an emergence of legal, regulatory, real estate, and other issues that will only intensify in scope and complexity as marijuana legislation continues to proliferate nationwide. Attorneys will face an array of new legal challenges in this area when representing property owners/managers, employers, or tenants who operate in the marijuana industry.

Join Seena Samimi, a Southern-California based litigator who represents cities and counties in their marijuana regulation efforts, in this discussion regarding marijuana regulation. Explore the historical and legal framework of marijuana regulation in California, the interplay between federal, state and local laws, and considerations relating to real estate and marijuana industry tenants. 

1. Grasp the historical framework surrounding marijuana regulation in California, and federally

2. Understand the current legal tension and interplay between federal, state, and local laws, including US DOJ priorities

3. Assess considerations relating to risks, leasing issues, and real-estate issues relating to marijuana-industry tenants