Los Angeles County and city officials revised regulations in its retail cannabis framework this week making it easier for employers to obtain permits in unincorporated areas and revising its existing “social equity” policy to expedite the process for low-income applicants. The LA County Board of Supervisors passed a motion on Feb. 15 to implement an “equitable commercial cannabis regulatory framework” that would allow the cannabis market to expand into unincorporated areas of the county. The action means the county may soon suspend its historic ban on commercial cannabis and dispensaries. Retail cannabis has been illegal in the county since 2010; but in 2017, officials expanded the policy to include restricting the cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution of recreational marijuana. Brought forth by Supervisor Hilda Solis and Chair Holly J. Mitchell, the motion says that despite statewide legalization of cannabis passed in 2016 by voters, LA County prohibits the commercial sale of cannabis retail. As a result, more than 150 illegal cannabis “pop-ups operate haphazardly” within the unincorporated county currently.
Mmp News Author, Medical Marijuana Program Connection, 02/18/2022 06:22:00