California's approval of recreational marijuana in November launched a process that requires the state to have regulations on the books by Jan. 1, 2018. The sprint to develop new rules starts in earnest in the Legislature this week, where committees are scheduled to take up for the first time many of the nearly 40 related bills introduced this year.

The legislation addresses everything from advertising and labeling to collective bargaining rights for marijuana business employees. In the past, most marijuana bills were relegated to public safety committees for consideration of their effect on criminal laws. Now they're being heard by panels considering taxation, business and professions and health.

“It's our third year here,” said Hezekiah Allen, executive director of the California Growers Association. “Farmers really operate on a system of cycles, and we're starting to understand the cycles of Sacramento.” He added: “We're starting to feel like we fit in.”