Of the 29 states having approved medical marijuana sales, only 3 have approved sales for recreational use. State and federal laws still clash, because all marijuana sales are still illegal under federal law. Hence, marijuana is still an all-cash business because credit cards and bank accounts are federally controlled. Given cash caps on real estate transactions, commercial property owners and managers risk running afoul of federal money-laundering laws by accepting cash rents. Although Trump and Congress have shown support for relaxation of laws, and federal legalization seems inevitable, Attorney General Jeff Sessions remains vehemently opposed to legalization; so property owners and managers should understand the risks involved in the interim.
