Cannabis Regulator Lori Ajax Thinks California Rules Should be Flexible

California’s legal cannabis era has begun, but there is still plenty of buzz about how the state’s regulations will begin to form around this newly implemented law. One industry regulator, Lori Ajax, explained that lighter restrictions are better for the beginning of the California cannabis industry.

According to The Associated Press, Ajax, a top cannabis regulator who is helping to develop cannabis rules in California currently, said in an interview that regulations should be thin at first. “We can’t just hit them over the head,” Ajax said. “You work toward educating them and, I think, you go from there. If we have somebody that is causing a public nuisance or a public safety problem, then I do think strong enforcement is necessary. But if you just got somebody trying to comply, and they are completely overwhelmed because they just don’t know what to do, then I think that’s our job to then break it down for people.”

She also said that many joining the industry have never dealt with the state before, especially if they were operating within the black market. She wants people to “come out of the shadows” and get proper licenses to convert the industry to a legal market, and thinks the best way to do that is to give new businesses a little leeway.

California already issued its first temporary license positions for folks who will issue these regulations are already in place. As the state moves forward into the new year and embraces this new industry, the rest of the country will be watching to see how California’s legal cannabis will be handled. If Ajax’s advice is followed, the industry will start slowly, lay some ground rules, and work towards a stronger foundation of official regulations.