We received your request. On business days we usually respond within a few hours, but occasionally it may take us a bit longer. For email responses, check your spam folder as our emails sometimes end up there. If you have not already done so, you can read our service details on the next page.
Legal Advice & Consultations
We offer a comprehensive consultation that includes:
- Advice specific to what you want to do and where you want to do it
- Explanation of California’s new cannabis laws under MAUCRSA including state license types and requirements
- Local city and county license, permit, and tax requirements
- Overview of federal laws, risks, and consequences
- Industry-Insider news
- Referrals for industry experts
The Comprehensive Consultation last approximately 2 hours. The fee is $600. Online consultations may be available upon request.
We also offer hourly consultations if you need help with a specific legal or business matter.
State & Local Licensing
Both the medical and adult use cannabis laws (MAUCRSA) require a state and local license to operate a cannabis business. The state has been issuing licenses since early 2018. Local licenses are available in cities and counties across the state. Our licensing service includes initial business preparation, owner & property eligibility review, assistance with leases, partnership agreements, licensing deals, and other business contracts. We also advise and assist with supplemental state and local registrations, preparing and compiling the application materials, and application submission.
The fee varies based on the level of assistance you will need. Contact us for details.
Incorporation and LLC Formation
A corporation or LLC is necessary to protect the business owners from individual liability. Having a solid business structure in place prevents disputes and attracts investors. The following are included in our Corporation and LLC Formation services:
- Advice on the best business structure for you (Stock Corporation, LLC, B-Corp, Cooperative, Nonprofit, etc.)
- Advice for your business name
- Draft and file all the required state forms including the Statement of Information follow-up filing
- Draft the governance documents including bylaws or operating agreement, initial resolutions, and minutes for the first Board meeting
- Advise and draft stock options and shareholder agreements for the business
- Assistance filing for a Seller’s Permit, Taxpayer ID, and Fictitious Business Name (DBA)
- Business binder to store all of your documents and required records
- In-person consultation to sign your documents, complete the initial actions to finalize your business, and review the requirements for operating your business
The fee is $3,000 and up (plus state filing fees) depending on the type of entity, number of owners, and other factors.
Á la Carte Services
- Contract and Lease Drafting & Review
- Advice for Name and Logo protection
- Corporate compliance check
- Update an existing Corporation or LLC
- Compliance review of product labels and packaging
- Review website, ads, and promotional materials
- Record-Keeping Audit
- Employee policies and labor law compliance
- Know your rights trainings for managers and staff
- Dissolve a company
- Contact us with special requests
Á la Carte services billed $500 for the first hour, $300 per additional hour or flat fee. Contact us to receive an estimate
Under the SB 420 regulations, associations of patients called collectives and cooperatives operated under a closed-loop model to produce and provide medical cannabis for their members. Only members could make purchases and in turn, the association could only acquire cannabis and cannabis products from its member base. Members that cultivated cannabis or manufactured cannabis products for other members were commonly called vendors. Both the associations and the individual vendors were required to operate not for profit. This gave them a narrow defense to felony criminal prosecution. No state licenses existed for cannabis businesses to operate.
In 2015, the State Legislature replaced the SB 420 regulations with MMRSA, the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act. MMRSA created the new state licensing system for medical cannabis sales. In MMRSA, the Legislature voted to end the collective and cooperative model.All collectives must obtain a state cannabis business license or close by January 2019. They will no longer have a defense to criminal charges. Only businesses with a state license will be allowed to sell cannabis, patient-to-patient and person-to-person sales will be illegal (though Prop 64 reduced most charges from felonies to misdemeanors). The Bureau of Cannabis Control has begun enforcement actions against unlicensed collectives and vendors. Contact us if you need assistance with your collective or cooperative.
Rates & Fees*
- Comprehensive Consultation – $600
- One hour Consultation – Online $300, In-Person $350
- Incorporation, LLC Formation – $3000+ based on the type of entity, number of owners, and other factors. Includes in-person consultation to review documents & requirements
- Nonprofit Formation – Varies + plus state fees
- State & Local License Applications – From $2,000 to $20,000+ based on the level of assistance you will need.
- Á la Carte Services – $500 for the first hour, $300 per additional hour or flat fee. Contact us to receive an estimate
*Rates & Fees may change without notice
Legal Advice & Consultations
We offer a comprehensive consultation that includes:
- Advice specific to what you want to do and where you want to do it
- Explanation of California’s new cannabis laws under MAUCRSA including state license types and requirements
- Local city and county license, permit, and tax requirements
- Overview of federal laws, risks, and consequences
- Industry-Insider news
- Referrals for industry experts
The Comprehensive Consultation last approximately 2 hours. The fee is $600. Online consultations may be available upon request. We also offer hourly consultations if you need help with a specific legal or business matter.
State & Local Licensing
Both the medical and adult use cannabis laws (MAUCRSA) require a state and local license to operate a cannabis business. The state has been issuing licenses since early 2018. Local licenses are available in cities and counties across the state. Our licensing service includes initial business preparation, owner & property eligibility review, assistance with leases, partnership agreements, licensing deals, and other business contracts. We also advise and assist with supplemental state and local registrations, preparing and compiling the application materials, and application submission.
The fee varies based on the level of assistance you will need. Contact us for details.
Incorporation and LLC Formation
A corporation or LLC is necessary to protect the business owners from individual liability. Having a solid business structure in place prevents disputes and attracts investors. The following are included in our Corporation and LLC Formation services:
- Advice on the best business structure for you (Stock Corporation, LLC, B-Corp, Cooperative, Nonprofit, etc.)
- Advice for your business name
- Draft and file all the required state forms including the Statement of Information follow-up filing
- Draft the governance documents including bylaws or operating agreement, initial resolutions, and minutes for the first Board meeting
- Advise and draft stock options and shareholder agreements for the business
- Assistance filing for a Seller’s Permit, Taxpayer ID, and Fictitious Business Name (DBA)
- Business binder to store all of your documents and required records
- In-person consultation to sign your documents, complete the initial actions to finalize your business, and review the requirements for operating your business
The fee is $3,000 and up (plus state filing fees) depending on the type of entity, number of owners, and other factors.
Á la Carte Services
- Contract and Lease Review
- Advice for Name and Logo protection
- Update an existing Corporation or LLC
- Compliance review of product labels and packaging
- Review website, ads, and promotional materials
- Record-Keeping Audit
- Employee policies and labor law compliance
- Know your rights trainings for managers and staff
- Dissolve a company
- Contact us with special requests
Á la Carte services billed $500 for the first hour, $300 per additional hour or flat fee. Contact us to receive an estimate.
Nonprofit Collectives
Under the SB 420 regulations, associations of patients called collectives and cooperatives operated under a closed-loop model to produce and provide medical cannabis for their members. Only members could make purchases and in turn, the association could only acquire cannabis and cannabis products from its member base. Members that cultivated cannabis or manufactured cannabis products for other members were commonly called vendors. Both the associations and the individual vendors were required to operate not for profit. This gave them a narrow defense to felony criminal prosecution. No state licenses existed for cannabis businesses to operate.
In 2015, the State Legislature replaced the SB 420 regulations with MMRSA, the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act. MMRSA created the new state licensing system for medical cannabis sales. In MMRSA, the Legislature voted to end the collective and cooperative model. All collectives must obtain a state cannabis business license or close by January 2019. They will no longer have a defense to criminal charges. Only businesses with a state license will be allowed to sell cannabis, patient-to-patient and person-to-person sales will be illegal (though Prop 64 reduced most charges from felonies to misdemeanors). The Bureau of Cannabis Control has begun enforcement actions against unlicensed collectives and vendors. Contact us if you need assistance with your collective or cooperative.
Rates & Fees*
- Comprehensive Consultation – $600
- One hour Consultation – Online $300, In-Person $350
- Incorporation, LLC Formation – $3000+ based on the type of entity, number of owners, and other factors. Includes in-person consultation to review documents & requirements
- Nonprofit Formation – Varies + plus state fees
- State & Local License Applications – From $2,000 to $20,000+ based on the level of assistance you will need.
- Á la Carte Services – $500 for the first hour, $300 per additional hour or flat fee. Contact us to receive an estimate
*Rates & Fees may change without notice
Copyright 2011-2020, Lauren Vázquez, All Rights Reserved. Licensed by the California State Bar #267880. The information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and does not contain legal advice, legal opinions, or any other form of advice regarding any specific facts or circumstances. You should always consult a lawyer for individual advice regarding your own situation. Contacting Lauren Vázquez, the Fired Up Lawyer, does not contractually obligate her to represent you. The information provided on this website is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship. The attorney-client relationship is not created until the user submits payment and executes the formal Attorney-Client Agreement. Please do not send any confidential information until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. Any testimonial or endorsement on this website does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. This website is an advertisement. Address: 2601 Blanding Ave #C204 Alameda, CA, 94501.