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Cannabis Business Licensing: We can Help You Get Your Cannabis Business License for Cultivation, Manufacturing, Distribution, Retail and/or Delivery Experienced Medical Marijuana Attorneys Representing Los Angeles Residents

The Los Angeles medical marijuana lawyers at the Cannabis Law Group provide a wide range of guidance and representation to clients in Southern California. The services we offer include collective and corporate services, civil litigation related to medical marijuana, criminal defense, copyright and trademark representation, and asset protection, among other matters.

Collective and Corporate Services

Medical marijuana law in California is rapidly evolving. The Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA) was recently enacted and will supersede the requirements for dispensaries and collectives under the Medical Marijuana Program Act (MMPA) by 2018. MMRSA created a licensing system for those operating cannabis businesses. When licenses start to be issued, entities that can show they are complying with local laws will be favored. Accordingly, it is important to develop a sound business plan and determine which licenses you are eligible to obtain so that your business can be prioritized. Our firm can make sure you are in good standing and compliant with local laws, help you incorporate as a nonprofit, and help you determine the appropriate licenses for the type of business you want to run.

Civil Litigation

We handle civil litigation on behalf of marijuana collectives and businesses. Cases we handle include eviction proceedings, unlawful detainers, employment law and labor disputes, tickets, citations, administrative appeals, and lawsuits against the City of Los Angeles in connection with Measure D.

Landlords often use aggressive tactics in trying to evict marijuana collectives, particularly if medical marijuana is not an agreed-upon use in the lease. While a landlord does not need to accommodate medical marijuana use by a tenant, even when the tenant is in compliance with the Compassionate Use Act (CUA), the landlord does need to abide by the terms of the lease. If you have disclosed your medical marijuana business to a landlord, and the lease specifically provides that you may use the property for your collective, you are in better standing to fight an eviction. Sometimes landlords fail to follow appropriate procedures for an eviction, such as failing to provide habitable conditions or giving the wrong amount of notice, and this can be the basis for defeating an unlawful detainer action.

Criminal Defense

Under MMRSA, those who have been convicted of certain crimes are ineligible to obtain licenses for a medical marijuana business. You may be denied if you have a felony record considered to be related to the qualifications, duties, or functions of a marijuana business, including convictions of illegal possession for the sale, distribution, manufacture, cultivation, or transportation of marijuana. This ban makes it crucial to retain an experienced attorney who can represent you in criminal proceedings, including those involving marijuana sales, marijuana DUI, possession of methamphetamine or narcotics, probation or parole modification, and improperly seized marijuana.

Copyright and Trademark

For many medical marijuana businesses in California, it is important to protect brand names and logos. Many patients choose dispensaries based on their brand and any products that are associated with it. The United States PTO does not currently register trademarks for cannabis-related products because marijuana is not currently legal under federal law. However, California trademark registration and protection may be available. Under Business & Professions Code section 14202(a), a trademark is any word, symbol, name, device, or a combination of these that is used to identify and distinguish the goods of a particular person or entity from those manufactured or sold by others and to show the source of the goods. Registration and updates related to California trademarks and service marks are maintained by the Secretary of State's office.

Asset Protection

Those that operate farms and dispensaries are at risk for seizure and asset forfeiture by the federal government. The DEA also targets landlords that rent to California collectives. As a business, you need to make sure that you are in compliance with all local and state laws to reduce the likelihood of seizure or enforcement actions. This includes creating a plan to deal with taxes. Under California law, you need to be organized as a nonprofit and pay taxes as such, but you do not want to make admissions to the IRS when filing your federal taxes. Our attorneys can help you make sound decisions to protect your investments by advising you on estate planning tools, tax strategies, corporate formation, regulatory compliance, and financial planning.

Consult a Los Angeles Lawyer Skilled in Medical Marijuana Matters

The Los Angeles medical marijuana attorneys at the Cannabis Law Group are dedicated to providing comprehensive legal services to patients, collectives, and growers. Our firm provides counsel regarding MMRSA, the MMPA, the Controlled Substance Act (CSA), the Compassionate Use Act (CUA), and all other laws related to marijuana in California. We represent clients throughout Southern California, including in Moreno Valley, Indio, Corona, Laguna Niguel, Tustin, Newport Beach, Irvine, Anaheim, Long Beach, Woodland Hills, Van Nuys, Hollywood, Burbank, and Beverly Hills. Call us at 949-375-4734 or use our online form to set up a consultation with a cannabis attorney.

Collective & Corporate Services

Medical Marijuana Collective Consultations

Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Incorporation Services

Business Licensing

Business Plans

Non - Profit Corporate Maintenance

Legal Compliance, Business Consulting and Other Services

Civil Litigation: Marijuana Collectives

Eviction Proceedings & Unlawful Detainers

Civil Litigation - Medical Marijuana Collectives & Dispensaries

Civil Litigation - Los Angeles Collectives

Civil Litigation - Orange County - Lake Forest Collectives and their Appeal