Know Your Rights: Understanding State Hemp Regulations

LOS ANGELES CANNABIS REGULATIONS COMMISSION ANNOUNCES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PHASE 3 PROCESSING
POSTED BY MARGOLIN & LAWRENCE

MARCH 11, 2019

The Cannabis Regulations Commission met on March 5th and presented their recommendations to the City Attorney that would establish policies for processing phase 3 applications. Phase 3 would begin with a 60-day pre-vetting process of social equity applicants to verify Tier 1 or Tier 2 qualification. Verified Tier 1 or 2 applicants will then be eligible to move forward into the first phase of the licensing process. The DCR will issue 100 licenses in this initial phase allocating 75 to qualified Tier 1 applicants. Qualified Tier 1 applicants would receive priority receiving 75% of the available licenses during this initial phase so long as all basic application requirements are met including:

A signed lease with proof of payment or deposit, or a property deed
Meet all sensitive use requirements, including undue concentration
Payment of required license fees
Ownership organizational structure
Financial information
Proposed staffing plan
Indemnification
Complete and detailed diagram
Proposed security plan
Radius map
Labor peace agreement
Current Certificate of Occupancy
Compliance with the Equity Share Rules

SECOND PHASE
The second phase will allocate an additional 100 licenses establishing no priority between Tier 1 or Tier 2 applicants. The second phase will establish a “first-come, first-serve” process that will allow the first 100 qualified applicants will move forward. Basic qualifications required to be met are payment of the required license fees or deferment approval; ownership organizational structure; financial information; indemnification; and, labor peace agreement. The remaining qualifications mentioned above would be required within 90 days.

The Commission also recommended the implementation of a pilot program for Type 9 Retail Non-Storefront delivery services. A total of 40 licenses would be available allocating 20 licenses to pre-vetted Tier 1 Social Equity applicants. The pilot program will also allow verified applicants who could not obtain a Type 10 retail license due to undue concentration limits will receive priority for a Type 9 delivery license. This will allow licensees to remain in their building and operate as a non-storefront retailer in lieu of having to locate and secure another compliant location. Eligible phase 2 applicants will also have an opportunity to amend their application to include delivery so long as they are compliant with the city’s zoning and regulatory requirements.
Phase 3 Licensing Estimated Timeline

Phase 3 Application Processing
60 day Pre-Vetting Period
Basic Tier 1 or Tier 2 qualification
Indemnification
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Phase 3A:
14 day application window
Qualified Tier 1 or Tier 2 applicants will be processed for 100 retail licenses (75% reserved for Tier 1 applicants). Pre-vetted applicants will receive 15 days notice of when the first phase application window is to open.
Deficient applications will have 5 days from the start of their application to rectify insufficiencies or issues with the basic qualifications.
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Phase 3B:
30 day application window
Pre-vetted Tier 1 or Tier 2 applicants who meet basic qualifications (see above) on a “first-come, first-serve” basis.
Applicants will have an additional 90 days to submit the remaining application requirements
Deficient applications will have 5 days from the start of their application to rectify insufficiencies or issues with the basic qualifications
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Delivery Pilot Program:
Pre-vetted Tier 1 or Tier 2 applicants will receive 15 days notice for when Type 9 delivery licenses will become available
Pre-vetted Tier 1 or Tier 2 applicants subjected to undue concentration limits will have priority
Eligible phase 2 applicants will have opportunity to amend their application to include delivery
Deficient applications will have 5 days from the start of their application to rectify insufficiencies or issues with the basic qualifications

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