February 2026
From Prohibition to Participation: What Black History Month Means in a Legal Cannabis Market
Black History Month invites reflection on a cannabis industry once built on criminalization and exclusion is now navigating a path toward legal participation. While equity programs and policy reforms are moving forward, true progress is measured by who is able to sustain, scale, and succeed. Access to capital, secure real estate, and long-term operational stability remain defining challenges for many operators of color. Participation must mean more than entry, it must include ownership, voice, and durability in a maturing market. As the industry evolves, so does the responsibility to ensure that equity is not symbolic, but sustained. The future viability of a legal equitable cannabis industry depends in part on who is empowered to grow with it.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM THE SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM IN 2026?
FREE COACHING
DCR offers over 1,500 hours of free business, professional, and workforce development coaching with subject-matter experts. Complete and submit the Coaching Indemnification Form. THEN, CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE YOUR NEXT COACHING SESSION
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
The Business, Licensing & Compliance Assistance Program’s 2026 Webinar Series has begun! For the latest one on Tax Compliance click below.
FREE LEGAL SERVICES
You are eligible to apply for 10 hours of free legal assistance and 30 hours of legal assistance for $35 per hour.
The Job Board is back!
Whether you're hiring or on the hunt for your next opportunity, our updated platform is now live and ready to connect top talent with the roles they’re made for. Fresh listings, easier navigation, and new features to help you land the perfect job, check it out now!
No-Cost Expert Guidance for Social Equity Applicants
Navigate the cannabis industry with confidence! Our team of social equity subject matter experts are available to provide complimentary assistance and answer your business-related questions. We encourage all Social Equity applicants to take advantage of this valuable resource.
Complete and submit the Coaching Indemnification Form. Then, click here to schedule your next coaching session!
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.
February Upcoming Webinars
Date/Time | Host | Event Title |
February 17, 2026 | Jhavid Mohseni | How to Survive in a Down Market |
February 24, 2026 | Multiple Presenters | What Does Schedule III Mean for LA Cannabis |
Annual Licensing
To date, 344 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
California tops $1.2 billion in illegal cannabis seizures, up 18x since 2022
Pre-Rolls Are A Key Driver Of The Cannabis Retail Market's Success
Massive winter storm sees cannabis retail sales surge in four states
Does federal cannabis rescheduling only apply to medical cannabis?
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
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Department of Cannabis Regulation.
All rights reserved.
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