Marijuana licensing workshop helps people sort through the weeds of the business

There is a lot to cultivate with the new marijuana sales laws.

Monterey is one of five spots for the Bureau of Cannabis Control’s public licensing workshops. Their rented hotel meeting room was packed well before the event’s official 10 a.m. start time.

“I think it means there is a lot of interest. There’s a lot of people here that want to be part of the industry. That are a part of the industry, and maybe have some questions,” Alex Traverso, Chief of Communications, Bureau of Cannabis Control, said.

Interest is sky high. They announced Monday, California has already issued nearly 17-hundred temporary licenses, with six-thousand people registering online.

“People have a lot of questions because they have never done this before. So we are here in an educational role to help people understand the regulatory process. What they state has done and what they need to do next,” Rebecca Foree/Communication Manager, CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing, said.

It is more than just opening a shop and selling. Someone has to grow the marijuana to start the process and move down the chain. Whenever everyone is under one roof, its time to market yourself. Andrw Wichman, from Pacific Grove, wants to be a grower.

“I am a grower and I want to hangout and grow with the plants. I want to find businesses people to take care of the business things.”

And Monday’s workshop wasn’t just for people seeking licenses and starting businesses. Whenever you have an industry this large, there are other ways to get involved. Michael Hunt wants his business to get into the marijuana game.

“Learn more about what their challenges are. What their pressing needs are. And how we can partner with them on measuring and managing the compliance to regulations on all four levels of jurisdiction.”