According to a press release from the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (“DCBA”), “on February 15, 2022, the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors passed a motion directing the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs’ Office of Cannabis Management to start the development and implementation of an equitable commercial cannabis licensing program” for the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.
While the County still has to develop and implement its program, we have some idea of what the program will look like because of the recommendations that were brought to the Board of Supervisors by the Los Angeles County’s Office of Cannabis Management in December of 2021, which included:
- That the LA County’s cannabis licensing program include a robust Equity Program;
- That the Los Angeles County’s cannabis licensing program be clear and easy to navigate;
- That the County’s commercial cannabis licensing program launch with a relatively low number of available licenses with priority given to Equity and Equity-building applicants;
- That available commercial cannabis licenses in Los Angeles County be limited as follows:
- 25 storefront retail licenses,
- 25 delivery only retail licenses,
- 10 cultivation licenses,
- 10 manufacturing licenses,
- 10 distribution licenses, and
- 10 testing laboratory licenses.
- That the County only allow retail cannabis businesses to be housed the following zones:
- C-2
- C-3
- Manufacturing zones
- That the County require a 600 feet sensitive use buffer
While the recommendations don’t tell us everything, one thing we do know for sure is that all commercial cannabis activities will remain prohibited in unincorporated Los Angeles County until the County fully develops and launches its cannabis licensing program. For more information including updates on upcoming County led public and stakeholder engagement meetings visit cannabis.lacounty.gov.
Check back here for updates as Los Angeles County develops its licensing program.
