February 2024
"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." –Harriet Tubman
The Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) and the Social Equity Program (SEP) celebrate Black History Month and honor the triumphs, struggles, and contributions of African Americans across U.S. history and the diaspora. as we continue the journey towards equity and a brighter future.
Why is Black History Month celebrated in February? Black History Month was created by historian Carter G. Woodson, founder of The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and others of African descent. In 1926 this group sponsored a national Negro History Week in the second week of February , which coincided with the birthdays of both President Abraham Lincoln, and Frederick Douglass.
Every year, the president of the United States designates a theme for Black History Month. The theme for 2024 is “African Americans and the Arts,” exploring the key influence African Americans have had in the fields of "visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary and other forms of cultural expression. As you continue to support the developments and accomplishments of African American art and cultural movements, remember to #BuySafe #BuyLegal #BuyBlack at these black owned cannabis businesses in Los Angeles. Click here for a guide to Los Angeles events and cultural attractions celebrating Black History Month.
Happy Chinese New Year 2024
February 10 marks the start of Chinese Lunar New Year 4722 and Year of the Dragon 2024 celebrations . The dragon symbolizes power, nobleness, honor, luck and success in traditional Chinese culture.
According to the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Dragon comes once every 12 years. The dragon years of the last century are 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 and now 2024. People born in any of these years are dragons and gifted with courage, tenacity and intelligence.
The DCR-SEP joins Chinese Americans and the Asian community in celebrating the Year of the Dragon and honors their history, cultures and contributions.
Gung Hay Fat Choy (Wishing you great happiness and prosperity)
Preview of Upcoming Events - Save the Date
- April 11 - Live training, professional development and networking event. More to come.
- Equity Week April 13 - April 20. More to come about DCR-SEP 420 Week events and activities.
BLC Spotlight
Click to hear from Los Angeles cannabis business leader Alfred Torregano, Founder and CEO of Space Flyt, as he shares advice about staying organized, staying motivated and to continue fighting for a space in the cannabis industry.
SOCIAL EQUITY DEADLINE EXTENSION
Mayor Karen Bass signed into law a deadline extension for 100 Social Equity Applicants selected in the Phase 3 Retail Round 2 Retail Cannabis License Lottery, allowing them three additional years, until December 31, 2026, to enter the license application process. The original deadline expired on December 8, 2023. The new ordinance also allows DCR to continue accepting Temporary Approval applications from retail social equity applicants through January 1, 2031.
The move by the City Council came after the passage of the State’s SB 51, which allows the State of California’s Department of Cannabis Control to extend its provisional license program by allowing cannabis equity retail applicants or licensees to obtain or renew state provisional licenses after the prior deadline of June 30, 2023.
SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM WEBSITE UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE
The Social Equity Program website (dcrsep.org) dedicated to the Business, License, and Compliance Programs and DCR Job Board is undergoing maintenance. For information on the SEP, please click here for the DCR website.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
DCR updated its Rules and Regulations. Please take a few minutes to read through the new rules and regulations, including those to Regulation No. 5. The cannabis industry is a fast-growing and changing one. It is critical you stay up-to-date on the new rules and regulations.
Summary of the New Rules and Regulations HERE
All Social Equity Individual Applicants who have passed the Pre-Application stage are now eligible to apply for Pro Bono - Low Bono Legal Services offered by the DCR Social Equity Program in partnership with the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA).
Access to affordable legal services continues to be a major barrier for the Social Equity community. It is critical that Social Equity Individual Applicants and licensees seek and obtain legal counsel early to avoid predatory practices, pitfalls, and mistakes. Applicants can apply to receive up to 40 hours of legal services: 10 hours of free pro bono assistance and 30 hours of low bono assistance for $35 per hour.
Try the FREE Learning Management System (LMS)
As part of the BLC Assistance Program, this online Learning Management System (LMS) provides you with over 160 hours of self-paced educational content on key topics to assist with standing up your business and staying in compliance.
If you are accessing the LMS system for the first time, please log in using the email address linked to your DCR Accela Account and use “Password1”. If you are having difficulty logging into the LMS, contact us at dcr.sep@lacity.org
Get the latest cannabis news from around the country.
News
- Click for Video - Dare to Dream: Martin Luther King III Interview – Equity in the Cannabis Industry
- Multiple States Across the Country See Record-Breaking Cannabis Sales in 2023
- State Regulators Discuss Social Equity at National Academies Meeting
- California Task Force Seized Nearly 190,000 Pounds of Cannabis in 2023
- Strong Legal Cannabis Sales in Michigan Surpass $3 Billion in 2023
- One of the Longest Running Capital Events Expands Cannabis Conference to Regional Markets: Announces Los Angeles Event
- Cannabis MSOs Focusing on New Sales With Wholesale Growth in 2024
- Free Pro Bono - Low Bono ($35/hour) Legal Services
- Learning Management System (LMS)
- Support Social Equity Program (SEP) stores - Find a retailer HERE
Thank you for reading our monthly CannaDispatch newsletter, designed to provide timely and useful information about DCR-SEP news, services, programming and resources for the Los Angeles Social Equity community, SEIAs, licensees and operators.
If you have suggestions for future newsletter topics, please email us at dcr.sep@lacity.org. The DCR public counter is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at 221 N. Figueroa St, Suite 1245, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Call (213) 978-0738 to speak with a DCR representative.