Business Succession Planning
Every owner exits eventually. The only question is whether it happens on your terms.
Every cannabis business owner exits eventually — by sale, by succession, or by circumstance. The difference between a transition that preserves value and one that destroys it is almost entirely preparation, and in cannabis the preparation is harder because licenses, ownership disclosure rules, and 280E history all constrain the options.
We plan transitions years ahead of when they are needed, which is when the good options still exist.
What's Included
Why This Differs In Cannabis
In most industries an owner can transfer shares to a successor with a signature. In cannabis, ownership changes trigger state disclosure and approval processes that can take months — and an unplanned transfer, as in a death without provisions, can put the license itself at risk while the estate and the regulator sort it out.
280E history compounds it. The entity's tax positions follow it into any succession, so cleaning the record is part of preparing the transition, not a separate exercise.
An unplanned transfer can put the license itself at risk.
Why MCA
We have served licensed cannabis operators since 2015 — one of the first firms in the country to build a practice around it — and we have worked with more than 100 operators across 30+ states. Cannabis is all we do, and all we have ever done.
Frequently Asked
When should this start?
Three to five years before an intended exit, and contingency provisions should exist from day one.
Can family members inherit a cannabis business?
Subject to state licensing and disclosure requirements — which is exactly why the planning matters. Heirs typically must qualify as owners.
Does this include the personal estate side?
We coordinate with your estate attorney and handle the business valuation and tax structure.