Since the beginning of the year, California's Bureau of Cannabis Control has issued more than 1,000 cease and desist letters to marijuana businesses operating without state licenses.
"As of January 1, 2018, any business wanting to engage in commercial cannabis activity in California must have a license,” says Aaron Francis, Public Affairs Analyst with the Bureau of Cannabis Control.
This is the first step by the state in an attempt to shut down unlicensed marijuana businesses who are not paying state and local taxes on cannabis, unlike their licensed competitors. The Bureau of Cannabis Control has been using online platforms that advertise cannabis businesses to find those unlicensed businesses. The Bureau then sent notices to each business that included information on how they can apply for a state license.
