California Gov. Jerry Brown signed three bills Friday that will establish statewide regulations on medical marijuana businesses, bringing the nation’s largest MMJ market in line with most of the industry and putting to rest concerns over whether he supports such a system.
The trio of bills were, quite literally, passed at the eleventh hour last month by the state legislature, which had tried and failed for several years running to set up a regulatory system for the MMJ industry.
The governor had only until this Sunday to either sign the measures or let them become law without his express support. By putting his name on the bills, Brown put the weight of his administration behind the new system.
There are several next steps, including further rulemaking by multiple state agencies. But the bottom line is that now California MMJ businesses will be able to start planning their futures around a formal regulatory system.
