The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to move forward with the development and implementation of an “equitable” system for licensing commercial cannabis businesses in unincorporated areas, including Quartz Hill, Littlerock and Lake Los Angeles.
The board’s action means an end is potentially in sight to the county’s years-long ban on marijuana dispensaries and other cannabis-related activities. The county’s prohibition on marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated areas has been in place since 2010 and was broadened in 2017 to include the cultivation, manufacture, testing and distribution of the drug for other than personal use.
California voted to legalize cannabis in 2016 and legal recreational sales began in January 2018.
The board directed its Department of Consumer and Business Affairs to develop and implement a commercial cannabis licensing program for unincorporated areas, beginning with a limited number of licenses while prioritizing “equity” applicants. The framework authorized by the board allows for up to 25 retail, 25 delivery, 10 cultivation, 10 manufacturing, 10 distribution and 10 testing licenses. County officials said limiting the initial number of licenses will assure that the permits are being distributed equitably in the community.
“A cannabis program that is safe, regulated and equitable is necessary for unincorporated L.A. County and for addressing the injustices that have caused communities of color to be disproportionately criminalized and shut out of economic gains from the legalization of cannabis,” Board of Supervisors Chair Holly J. Mitchell, who co-authored the motion, said in a statement.
County officials noted that illegal marijuana operations have been a growing issue in many unincorporated areas, creating safety issues for affected neighborhoods and opening an illegal trade ripe for violence and organized criminal activity.
Under the board’s action, the DCBA will also offer potential licensees with referrals and access to education, job-training and technical assistance, along with possible financial assistance.
Until the department fully develops the system, all commercial cannabis activity will continue to be illegal in unincorporated areas. It was unclear how long it will take to fully develop the program.
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Crossroads says
Just because it’s legalized don’t mean it don’t make you stupid!!! Please people it’s still a drug save your brain cells and lungs
ACE says
IN MY LIFE I HAVEN’T SEEN MANY STUPID THINGS POT SMOKERS HAVE DONE…
I HAVE SEEN THEIR LIVES AND FAMILIES DESTROYED BY BEING IMPRISONED FOR SMOKING POT HOWEVER…
UNLIKE BOOZE, METH AND HEROIN WHICH DO GREAT HARM TO MANY USERS AND THEIR FAMILIES…
MOST CRIMES OF VIOLENCE ARE DONE BY PEOPLE DRINKING BOOZE…
SOME PEOPLE SHOULD BE FORBIDDEN TO BUY BOOZE LEGALLY BECAUSE THEY TURN INTO MONSTERS…
MAYBE OUR LEADERS SHOULD CONCENTRATE MORE ON THE TRULY HARMFUL DRUGS…
INSTEAD OF GOING AFTER POT ALL THE TIME WHILE IGNORING THE HARD STUFF…
AND PUNISH BAD BEHAVIOR INSTEAD OF BANNING STUFF…
ACE says
HAVE THEY GOTTEN RID OF ALL THE POT GROWING UP IN LEONA VALLEY YET..?
I HEAR IT’S REALLY AWFUL UP THERE…
ALL THAT CRIME AND PESTICIDES AND STEALING WATER AND ALL…
ITS EVERYWHERE AND ITS TAKING OVER EVERTHING AND EVERYONE…
NOW LITTLEROCK AND PEARBLOSSOM WILL BE OVER RUN TOO I SUPPOSE…
JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS..!
NO TOLERANCE FOR THOSE POT GROWS IN LEONA VALLEY TOO…
AND JUST BECAUSE LEGAL POT AT THEIR POT STORES THAT WOULD COST $100 BECOMES $138. WITH THIER TAXES…
SHOULDN’T MAKE ANYONE BUY THE LEONA VALLEY POT ON THE BLACK MARKET TO JUST SAVE SOME MONEY…
38% IS ALMOST, BUT NOT QUITE TWICE AFTER ALL…
***
OUR GOVERNMENT NEEDS MORE TAXES SO THEY CAN WISELY SPEND THEM FOR OUR OWN GOOD…
AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT SEE’S THIS..?
***
SIGH…
Tim Scott says
Just say no to caps lock.
FWB says
There’s enough regulation in that to allow no negative change to the black market.. it might even get better.