With the passage of California’s Proposition 64 on Tuesday, the sixth-largest economy in the world just decided to legalize recreational weed.
In short: It’s a pretty big deal, industry advocates say.
More on legal marijuana in California
Yes on recreational pot: California approves Proposition 64
Not there yet: Why so much of California’s cannabis industry isn’t ready for legalization
OK, now what?: Here’s what Californians can do immediately under new law
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“It is a huge part of the legal marijuana market in the U.S. right now, and it’s going to get substantially bigger now that it’s opened up to adult use,” says Taylor West, deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association.
On top of that, there will be the significant Congressional power the state wields, she adds.
“Because California is so large from a population standpoint, there are a lot of members of Congress who represent districts in California,” she says. “Now that they have this full adult-use legalization, the issues that we deal with at the federal level are going to be that much more important to them.”
West, alongside Brian Vicente, a partner with cannabis law firm Vicente Sederberg, address the significance of California’s new recreational marijuana market with Cannabist editor-in-chief Ricardo Baca on The Cannabist Show.
“I think it’s one of those tipping-point moments,” Vicente says.