LA Phase 3 Update: DCR Has Authority to Process Invoiced Applicants
Last week, ahead of the March 5th Cannabis Regulation Commission hearing, our office sent a letter to the City of Los Angeles describing the irreparable harm invoiced Phase 3 Round 1 Applicants are suffering and proposing legally viable solutions. The letter was sent to: DCR / Cannabis Regulation Commission / Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee / City Attorney’s Office […]
Los Angeles Licensing Comes to a Halt – What’s Next for the DCR, Licensees and Desiring Applicants?
Over 160 days have passed since Phase 3 Round 1, and the DCR has paused all processing of applications due to a pending audit and stakeholders are getting desperate. While they hang in limbo, DCR has provided an update of the status of all licensing matters. Read below for the full LA licensing update and […]
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Makes an Example of Lowell: A Look Ahead at Enforcement in 2020
With the opening of Lowell Cafe (which has been recently redubbed the “Original Cannabis Cafe”), the first nationally-recognized cannabis consumption restaurant that opened in October 2019 in West Hollywood, Lowell’s position as one of the state’s biggest cannabis players seemed untouchable. However, similar to many of the bigger names in the industry, Lowell has recently […]
Looking Through the Crystal Ball – 2020’s Cannabis Law Predictions
In California, 2019 was an interesting year and 2020 will continue to challenge cannabis business operators almost to a breaking point, but the hardships suffered this year will pave the way for major regulatory reform and tax reform. Those that survive this year’s struggles will reap the benefits. For over twenty years, cannabis business owners […]
New Year, New Regulator? Newsom Proposes Big Changes for California
Governor Newsom and his Administration are starting out the new decade strong with a proposed budget that benefits from a generous surplus. The $222.2 billion budget plan includes new funding for many programs and restructuring of others, including the regulatory framework for the cannabis industry. The proposals don’t include many specifics yet, but they will […]
Coming Soon: Compassionate Care Program Implementation
As people prepare for 2020, it’s important to remember that new cannabis laws will go into effect beginning January 1. A couple of notable ones are Jojo’s law (SB 223, authorizes local education authorities to adopt policies that allow a student’s parent or guardian to administer certain types of medical cannabis on school grounds) and […]
Looking Ahead: California in Need of Creative Solutions for Regulatory Burdens
Black Friday may be right around the corner, but the state isn’t making it easy for cannabis business owners to see their accounting books transition into the black this year. Business owners striving to be compliant are still facing what seem to be insurmountable challenges in order to succeed between burdensome regulations, fierce, unfair competition […]
LA Cannabis Business Licensing – BOO! The Phase 1, 2 and 3 Shenanigans
Since our last LA Update, the application submission process for Phase 3, Round 1 has come and gone and there have been numerous announcements and new proposed rulemakings for all cannabis-related businesses in Los Angeles. Phase 1 EMMDs will finally start having their annual applications reviewed, Phase 2 Authorized Non-Retailers have numerous upcoming deadlines and […]
California Flexes on Illicit Cannabis Activities, Will it Make an Impact?
As California struggles with the woes of the illicit cannabis market – we’ve all come to realize – with regulation – comes great responsibility! To address the ongoing threat to the legitimacy of the regulated cannabis market, both the public and private sectors are on the attack. California Targets Unlicensed Operators and Weedmaps It has […]
LA Update: T-minus 2 Weeks Until Phase 3 Retail – Application Details & Expansion of the Social Equity Program
A lot is moving forward in the LA Cannabis world for all verticals and Phase 3 is dangerously close and it looks like it’s going to be quite the competition. Phase 3 Procedures and Application Guidelines In preparation for the highly anticipated Phase 3, the Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) is hosting technical […]