Weed Feed: California Bureau of Cannabis Control Sends Cease-and-Desist Letter to Weedmaps for Advertising Unlicensed Marijuana Companies

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WEED FEED / John Ross Ferrara / Monday, March 12, 2018 @ 9:05 a.m.

Weed Feed: California Bureau of Cannabis Control Sends Cease-and-Desist Letter to Weedmaps for Advertising Unlicensed Marijuana Companies

Weedmaps logo from Wikimedia.

Weedmaps, the popular marijuana review website, is facing a government crackdown after the California Bureau of Cannabis Control sent the company a cease-and-desist letter last month.

Marijuana Business Daily reports that Weedmaps’ parent company, Ghost Management Group, has been ordered to immediately stop advertising unlicensed cannabis companies on its website or face “criminal and administrative penalties.”

“The Bureau of Cannabis Control has determined that weedmaps.com is engaging in activity that violates state cannabis laws,” the letter reads.

The Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act restricts technology platforms or outdoor advertising companies from publishing advertisements for unlicensed weed companies, and requires the marijuana company’s license number to be displayed in the ads.

“Pursuant to the provisions of the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, a valid state license from a state licensing authority is required to legally operate a commercial cannabis business within the State of California,” the letter continues. “This includes the retail sale and delivery of cannabis and cannabis products for sale that are not licensed to conduct commercial cannabis activity; therefore, you are aiding and abetting in violations of state cannabis laws.”

The Sacrament Business Journal also reports that the City of Sacramento’s Office of Cannabis Policy and Enforcement reportedly sent cease-and-desist letters to Weedmaps and a print news publication for advertising non-permitted weed companies last month.

This is the State’s latest efforts to bring its long-standing illegal marijuana industry into compliance.

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The Weed Feed is a weekly column written by John Ross Ferrara.

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