- Cultivators seeking federal registration alongside a DCC cultivation license, including § 1301.13(k)(6) Single Convention nominal-price compliance
- Manufacturers and processors producing concentrates, infused products, and finished medical marijuana products
- Distributors moving product between licensed entities within the federal-state framework
- Retailers and dispensaries dispensing to qualified medical patients under DCC retail licenses
- Testing laboratories registered as analytical labs under controlled-substance authority
- Multi-state operators coordinating DCC licensing with federal registration across state programs
Do I need a California cannabis lawyer if my business is already licensed?
Yes. Most California cannabis enforcement actions hit operators who already hold licenses. METRC discrepancies, ownership disclosure errors, premises violations, and tax issues typically arise in the third or fourth year of operation, not at initial licensing. Ongoing counsel reduces the likelihood of small issues becoming enforcement actions.
I received a DCC enforcement document. How fast do I need to act?
Depends on the document, and the differences are dramatic: an administrative hold requires physical segregation of goods within 24 hours, an emergency decision gives you 3 business days to request a hearing, an embargo can move to condemnation after a seven-day response window, and a citation runs 15/30/30 from service. Do not assume you have time; call and we will identify the document and the actual deadline in the first conversation.
Do I need a separate attorney for the local permit and the state DCC license?
No, and coordinating them under one attorney is usually the better path, because California requires winning at both levels and the local process is frequently the longer and harder one. Kocot Law handles both.
What happens if my license is suspended or revoked?
You have hearing rights, and the deadlines to invoke them are short. A suspension or revocation proceeding is a contested administrative matter: the Department’s evidence can be tested, and matters can resolve by negotiated terms short of losing the license. The worst move is responding to the Department, or ignoring the document, before understanding the procedural posture.
Does Kocot Law handle cannabis criminal cases in California?
Yes. Ryan defends individuals and businesses in cannabis criminal matters, and his background includes criminal defense trials.
Can I get a California cannabis license if I’m not a California resident?
Yes. California does not impose a residency requirement for state cannabis licensure, though ownership and financial-interest disclosures still apply, and local jurisdictions set their own requirements. The structure of your ownership matters more than your address; that is a planning conversation worth having before you file.