Greetings.
Happy New Year to you and your loved ones! With the recent Executive Order signed by the White House, this new year might bring some change to the cannabis industry. However, it’s unclear how quickly the reclassification of cannabis from Schedule I to a Schedule III will be made and what sort of changes will come with the move. While DCR will track the movement and communicate what we learn, I want to make clear that this Executive Order does NOT legalize cannabis federally. Please stay tuned for more information as it comes.
2026 is the year that all licensees must obtain the Public Health Permit for the 2027 renewal. You will not be able to renew for calendar year 2027 if you have not obtained a Public Health Permit. The renewal period will begin in September 2026. While this date might seem far away, in terms of getting this necessary permit, it is not. The Public Health Permit can take several months to obtain. For more information, click here and here.
Finally, I want to remind folks that DCR has introduced Office Hours so that stakeholders can meet one-on-one with staff from the licensing, compliance, or social equity teams. This service replaces DCR’s Public Counter Hours with expanded access to DCR staff. More information on booking appointments and how DCR Office Hours work can be found in this publication.
Please read on to learn more about DCR’s launch of its “On the Record” podcast and a legislative update.
Best,
Michelle Garakaian
Executive Director
Great news! The Department of Cannabis Regulation now offers public Office Hours for individuals to meet with staff from the Licensing and Compliance divisions, as well as the Social Equity Program, beginning on January 5, 2026. This means that as an applicant, licensee, or interested party, you can book a 20-minute appointment with the appropriate DCR team based on your questions. Here’s what you need to know about scheduling an Office Hours appointment.
Office Hours
Teams are available in person and online as follows:
Licensing Team:
Analysts in Licensing are best suited to answer questions related to DCR's licensing application processes.
In-person appointments - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, from 1 PM to 3 PM, and Thursday, 9 AM to 11 AM
Virtual appointments - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, from 9 AM to 11 AM, and Thursday 1 PM to 3 PM
Compliance & Enforcement Team (CED):
Analysts in CED are best suited to answer questions related to DCR's compliance program, including requirements for the Annual Compliance Inspection.
In-person appointments - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 9 AM to 11 AM,
Virtual appointments - Tuesday from 1 PM to 3 PM, and Thursday from 9 AM to 11 AM
Social Equity Program Team:
Analysts in SEP are best suited to answer questions related to the services and resources available to Social Equity Applicants.
In-person appointments - Thursday from 1 PM to 3 PM
Virtual appointments - Monday and Wednesday from 1 PM to 3 PM
DCR Office Hours will replace the walk in front counter. Office Hours offer more direct access to DCR staff and information.
Here are some notes on what Office Hours are not:
- A forum to provide legal advice*
- Or to provide recommendations on individual business decisions**
- Or provide final determinations on applications or other modification requests
For questions about a specific application record, applicants must reach out directly to their assigned analyst. DCR asks that individuals book no more than two appointments during a week. These appointments are free and you should not be charged for DCR Office Hours appointments.
Click here to book appointment.
*Social Equity Individual Applicants might benefit from utilizing the Free & Reduced Cost Legal Services Program
**Social Equity Individual Applicants might also benefit from the One-on-One Business Coaching program.
On October 2, 2025, Governor Newsom signed AB 8 (Aguiar-Curry) into law, a piece of legislation that integrates hemp-derived products containing intoxicating cannabinoids into the licensed cannabis market and sets restrictions on the incorporation of industrial hemp raw extract into products. The majority of this bill takes effect January 1, 2028, in order to give the industry and the State time to prepare for the new changes. However, there are key provisions that started January 1, 2026.
Beginning January 1, 2026, unless industrial hemp raw extract has a purity level greater than 99% and does not contain THC or synthetic cannabinoids, it cannot be incorporated into food, food additives, beverages, or dietary supplements – meaning retailers should not keep any of these products on their shelves. However, businesses should have already taken steps to comply with this rule, as the Governor’s previous emergency hemp regulations banned the sale of consumable hemp-derived products containing any detectable amount of THC or intoxicating cannabinoids.
For more information on upcoming restrictions, click here.
DCR is launching a podcast called “On the Record,” an informative segment designed to provide DCR news, overview of DCR processes, trends, and other updates on legislative matters in a conversational setting.
Co-hosted by DCR’s Jen Marroquin, Public Information Director, and Ryan Solis, Licensing Division Manager, the podcast will feature Executive Director Michelle Garakian as its first guest.
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Ryan Solis | Jen Marroquin | Michelle Garakian |
Watch the first episode next month on DCR’s YouTube channel. Link will be in next month’s DCR News Bulletin. Future “On the Record” segments will include questions submitted by listeners. If you would like your question considered, please submit it here.
In December 2025, an Orange County judge ruled that the California Department of Cannabis Control’s (DCC) current cannabis tracking system does not comply with current law that requires it to flag irregularities that signal possible diversion of legal product to the illicit market. The lawsuit was filed by a large California cannabis retailer alleging that the DCC failed to adequately implement the track and trace system that should have alerted regulators to the diversion of cannabis goods.
This recent ruling could indicate that changes to the State’s Metrc system may be made in the future. As of today, no changes should be made to the way licensees use the Metric system.
September 2026 is nine months away. Do you know what is due?
All commercial cannabis businesses must obtain a valid health permit from the LA County Department of Public Health (LADPH), regardless of their license type or activity, to complete their 2027 Renewal that begins in September and ends November 30, 2026. Therefore, in order to operate in 2027, you must have a Public Health Permit. Additionally, Storefront Retailers must display a current Emblem Placard issued by LACDPH. Businesses must also complete the DCR Attestation: Public Health, Building & Operating Permits (LIC-4025-FORM) to certify compliance.
The LADPH Public Health Permits requires planning and time to complete. Don’t delay.
For more information, click here and here.
If you have any questions please contact dcrcompliance@lacity.org.
SEP Jobs Board
Check the Jobs Board for job postings in the cannabis space, or to list that you are hiring..
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