Our hearts remain with all those impacted by the devastating fires of Los Angeles, California. As Black History Month approaches, DCR acknowledges California’s first middle-class Black neighborhood, Altadena, and its deep history as a community that is one-of-a-kind.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM THE SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM IN 2025?
February 2025
COACHING
DCR offers over 1,500 hours of free business, professional, and workforce development coaching with subject-matter experts from a wide range of expertise. First fill out and submit the Coaching Indemnification Form.
LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS)
DCR has added all the webinars from our Summer Webinar Series.
PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES
You are eligible to apply for 10 hours of free pro bono assistance and 30 hours of low bono assistance for $35 per hour.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LMS COURSES
THE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS) LETS YOU ACCESS POPULAR TRAINING TOPICS FOR FREE
SO YOU CAN START LEARNING TODAY!
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.
Social Equity Individual Applicant Verification Webinar
The Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) will hold a webinar at noon on Thursday, January 30, 2025, to review the 2025 criteria and documents necessary for Social Equity Individual Applicant (“SEIA”) Eligibility Verification requests. DCR expects to hold a SEIA Verification window in the upcoming months. SEIA Verification is a process where an individual may request to be verified as a Social Equity Individual Applicant based on the criteria set forth in Los Angeles Municipal Code section 104.20 to participate in the Social Equity Program.
To RSVP and submit questions, click here. To attend the webinar, click here.
There will also be an SEIA Verification webinar on February 19, 2025, at 6:oo PM. For information on this and other upcoming events, please click here.
CEQA/Notice of Exemption Webinars
As part of the Annual License Application process, all licensed cannabis businesses must satisfy requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). DCR is the CEQA lead agency for the City of Los Angeles’ cannabis businesses and will host a CEQA/Notice of Exemption webinar on February 12, 2025, at 12:00 PM. The webinar will review the CEQA process for businesses that qualify for a CEQA exemption, and explains what happens if the business does not qualify for an exemption. It will also discuss how the California’s Provisional License expiration dates affect the timeline for this process.
To RSVP and submit questions, click here. To attend the webinar, click here.
Fee Renewal Deadlines
DCR is extending the deadline to pay Annual License Application fees to align with the end of the late renewal period on Friday, February 28, 2025. This extension serves as a FINAL opportunity for Applicants and Licensees to pay outstanding DCR fees on Annual License Applications and/or 2025 renewal records.. As such, all persons who have allowed their Temporary Approval(s) to expire and who continue to engage in Commercial Cannabis Activity are subject to an enforcement action and/or criminal penalties for unlicensed Commercial Cannabis Activity. You can find out more about what is needed to renew a license here.
A message was sent via Accela on January 22, 2025, containing further details regarding renewal deadlines and overdue fees.
Annual Licensing
To date, 276 retailers have received approval for Annual Licensure from the City of Los Angeles Cannabis Regulation Commission (CRC).
Community meetings are a requirement prior to scheduling a hearing in front of the Cannabis Regulation Commission, who is ultimately responsible for the approval or denial of an Annual License.
DCR continues to prioritize the review of all annual applications based on the following criteria: (1) upcoming State license expiration dates; (2) non-retail Social Equity businesses who do not have a state provisional license; (3) Social Equity retail businesses; and, (4) all other businesses.
To find out more about the Annual Licensing process, please visit our website. DCR will be releasing a guide with next steps this month for all recent recipients of an Annual License, stay tuned.
Is Your DBA On File With DCR?
Do you have a DBA (Doing Business As)? Is it registered in Accela?
If not, you will also need to submit a Modification Request with DCR (via Accela) to add your DBA.
To complete this process, please submit form LIC-4001-MOD and include the FBN filing stamped by the LA County Registrar Recorder/Clerk. Modification requests are free of charge.
Please file this ASAP as it needs to be completed before you receive a Notice of Completed Application pertaining to the annual licensing process. If you have any questions about the DBA process, reach out to your assigned DCR licensing staff member.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR DCR UPDATES
IN THE NEWS
- Grassroots Activism Local Efforts Shape The Future of Cannabis In Los Angeles
- Mature Cannabis Markets Have Room For New Cannabis Brands
- The Two Largest Cannabis Industry Groups In The United States Combine To Create A Singular Industry Voice
- Sports Leagues Took Steps To Update Their Cannabis Policies As The Legalization Movement Grew in 2024
- New California cannabis trade group aims to derail impending tax increase
- L.A. City Council Debates Cannabis Equity: What Does This Mean for Local Entrepreneurs?
- From stoner chic to runway ready, cannabis couture is smokin’ hot
- Scientists Explore How Cannabis Affects Enjoyment Of Music Through New Study At Cannabis Lounge
CLICK HERE FOR MORE DCR NEWS.
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.
221 N. FIGUEROA ST.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
