In 2016, California voted on Proposition 64 and ushered in a new era concerning the recreational use of legalized marijuana. We did a post that discussed the details of the Proposition, however, in this article, we want to see just how those changes might affect Californians in 2018 when the new legislation passes.
1. Taxes. This coming year the State of California and its counties and cities, will be seeing some new tax revenue stem from the sale and distribution of marijuana. In some cities, the sales tax will be as much as 10%, if not more, including in our own home town of Modesto; (this is in addition to the 15% excise tax.) This should not come as a shock to anyone, though, as cigarette taxes are already around the same amount.
2. Outdoor use. Just like cigarettes, we are seeing laws pass that prohibit the recreational use of marijuana in public places, like parks. But, again, this should not come as a surprise to anyone. To smoke marijuana indoors and on your own time is fine, but not where kids are running around or playing sports.
3. New Businesses. Honestly, the sale of marijuana is not new. It has been an illegal drug for years and just like the prohibition era, many people are already getting their stores ready for it. This could be great if it means a new market and new jobs. Realistically, these stores cannot officially open till January 2018.
4. Neighborhoods. Citizens can now grow up to 6 marijuana plants in their homes or other type of indoor structure. They cannot grow the plants outside, however. But, the laws regarding growing will also vary from county to county and city to city. We recommend checking your local laws to see what applies to you in your area.
5. DUIs. One thing that has not really changed is that driving while under the influence of Marijuana is still illegal and you can be fined and charged just like a regular DUI. The same punitive measures still apply to anyone who drives under the influence of marijuana; think twice before driving your car after you have participated in this activity.
2018 will be a very interesting year concerning the changes around marijuana law. California is not the first state to implement this type of legislation, but it does not mean that Californians will find it to be an easy transition. This is uncharted water for this state, even though the illegal use has been around for a long time. Hopefully these tips will help guide you through what might be a very crazy year of new laws. If you have any questions or comments about the article reach out to us on our Social media (Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn). Or if you have any legal concerns give us a call (209) 900-8200 or simply fill out the contact form below to get a hold of us!