With most states legalizing some form of cannabis use and numerous localities considering new or expanded legalization, the growth of the cannabis industry is all but certain. To help local communities manage the wave of businesses and regulatory challenges, Accela has developed its Civic Solution for Cannabis Regulation to help governments track business operations, collect tax revenues and gain insights into local industry activity to keep residents safe. The solution can be customized to the specific needs of a locality or be deployed rapidly as cloud application to process cannabis business licenses and permits faster and more efficiently. Whether you are issuing and tracking a cannabis business’ license or certi­fication or ensuring cannabis facility construction meets strict code requirements,… Continue reading

Tags: cannabis, cannabis licensing, cannabis regulation, marijuana, marijuana regulation

As more state and local governments legalize cannabis, San Francisco and the national civic tech organization Code for America (CfA) are showing how technology and policy can offer communities big benefits. San Francisco partnered with the nonprofit to expunge more than 9,000 marijuana convictions using the group’s Clear My Record App that helps counties clear non-violent felonies from residents’ criminal records. The app uses digital forms and an algorithm to help residents submit proper documentation to officials that meet California’s legal requirements to erase felony convictions. San Francisco officials said the effort to eliminate the 9,000-plus convictions was part of a year-long effort that looked at records dating back to 1975…. Continue reading

Tags: cannabis, cannabis regulation, Code for America, marijuana regulation, San Francisco

When Michigan began issuing medical marijuana licenses last summer many wondered how the new industry would benefit the state and the state’s economy. Yet now, with more than $1 million in tax revenue collected each month from medical cannabis businesses, and the approval of recreational marijuana last year, Michigan is investigating how it can continue to use digital tools to support the industry’s regulation and economic growth. Michigan partnered with Accela to deploy one of the first statewide permitting and licensing systems for medical marijuana in the nation, and the Detroit News reports that since the system’s launch, the state has regularly collected more than $1 million in revenues each month,… Continue reading

Tags: cannabis, cannabis regulation, marijuana regulation, marijuana software, medical marijuana

The city went live with Accela’s out-of-the-box cannabis licensing app to improve oversight and discourage black market marijuana sales

When it comes to recreational marijuana, leaders in the Southern California community of Culver City are focused on consumer protection. They want business owners to have state and federal background checks, they want to ensure safe products, to have thorough inspections and they want a clear way to monitor and manage it all.Using Accela’s Civic Solution for Cannabis Regulation, the city announced the launch of a new enterprise application on Sept. 25 that has done just that. The business licensing and permitting app allows the city to securely store documentation for applicants — like fingerprint and certification data…. Continue reading

Tags: cannabis, Culver City, marijuana apps, Marijuana Licensing, marijuana regulation, marijuana software

The Center for Digital Government Awards California Departments for Cannabis

This month the Center for Digital Government (CDG) granted California departments high praise for the quick and efficient collaboration on the state’s cannabis licensing system. The CDG, a partner of Government Technology magazine, made the announcement Sept. 18 as part of its annual Best of California Awards that recognize governments for innovative projects and initiatives. The honorees included California’s Departments of Public Health, Technology, Food & Agriculture, and its Bureau of Cannabis Control that is housed inside the Department of Consumer Affairs. The four organizations were instrumental in the deployment of Accela’s Civic Solution for Cannabis Regulation,… Continue reading

Tags: california, cannabis, cannabis permitting, cannabis regulation, marijuana regulation, marijuana software

State leadership used Accela’s Civic Solution for Cannabis to process the applications

This month Michigan achieved a major milestone in cannabis regulation with the release of its first set of medical marijuana licenses. On July 12 the state’s Medical Marihuana Licensing Board granted licenses to four large grow and transport operations based in Chesaning, Ann Arbor and Lansing. Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) used Accela’s Cannabis Solution to process the requests and the hundreds that are still more under review. The state estimates that medical marijuana will become a $700 million industry and a driver of economic development. In an interview with the Detroit Free Press Andrew Brisbo,… Continue reading

Tags: cannabis, legalized marijuana, Marijuana Licensing, marijuana regulation, medical marijuana

Denver shows how Esri GIS and Accela’s licensing tools are accelerating cannabis license processing and transparency.

For government, geography has an implicit connection to decision making. Geography directs how we navigate our streets, determines food choices, influences home prices, employment options, utilities and even the access we have to quality health care. With so much riding on location, maps have become a staple of government as agencies hunt for quick insights and competent solutions. Now, the public sector’s capacity for cartography is gaining new ground through the spread of legalized cannabis. There are 30 states and Washington, D.C., that have legalized medical marijuana, eight of these have approved it for recreational use and still more are considering legalization in some form…. Continue reading

Tags: cannabis regulation, Esri, Esri GIS, Marijuana Licensing, marijuana regulation