Although California became the first state to legalize cannabis for medicinal use in 1996, the state has yet to establish a set of standards guiding the cultivation, production and sale of the plant. California currently leaves it up to local governments to decide how they want to implement the state’s medical marijuana law, and as a result, cities have vastly different regulations.
Unlike Northern California, Southern California cities have not established municipal codes governing marijuana. Municipalities are experiencing pressure from operators and activists to issue licenses and regulate before California votes to legalize in 2016. Cities throughout Southern California are rapidly passing laws allowing for a limited number of dispensaries per jurisdiction.
With $980 million in 2013 retail sales growing to $1.2 billion by 2015 California represents currently 68 percent of the current national cannabis economy. California also accounts for 73.9% of the dispensaries nationwide.