California Commissioner OKs 1st Lessor’s Risk Coverage for Marijuana Industry

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has approved what his office says is the first insurance coverage for commercial landlords that addresses risks specific to renting to cannabis businesses.

California Mutual Insurance Co. was approved to add lessor’s risk coverage for property owners who are exposed to specific risks resulting from cannabis related business activities of their commercial tenants.

“As insurance commissioner, my goal is to make sure all Californians have insurance protection — including the legalized cannabis businesses in California,” Jones said in a statement.

Lessor’s risk coverage provides liability and property insurance for commercial property owners who lease building space to commercial tenants. Specific commercial activities and businesses addressed by this coverage include cannabis labs, product manufacturing, cultivation and dispensary operations.

Jones launched an initiative last year to encourage admitted insurance companies to write insurance to fill coverage gaps for the cannabis industry. The first filing and approval of an admitted carrier for California’s cannabis industry was announced in November of last year and the first surety bond program for the industry was announced in February.

Jones in April renewed his call for insurers to offer insurance products for California’s legalized cannabis industry following reports that President Trump has abandoned Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ policy on cannabis.

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