Tom Casparian, a member of the firm's Commercial Litigation Department, was recently quoted in Cannabis Business Times's article, "The Golden State Rules." California’s new legal marijuana market has divided small legacy farmers and sprawling agribusiness in the state. In 2016, Proposition 64 teed up a taxed and regulated marketplace for cannabis cultivation and distribution in California. The costs and structure of state and local regulations have pushed tens of thousands of small cannabis farmers onto a steep learning curve. “They’re either trying to do it themselves or they’re seeking advice from a local attorney or an attorney whose expertise, for example, is more in licensing,” said Tom.  “It is critical that any grower or operation consult with an experienced land-use attorney, because it is a specialized field. … To try to navigate that process with somebody who isn’t experienced in obtaining land-use entitlements is going to cause you to at best lose valuable time and at worst to see your entitlements rejected.”

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