DCR News Bulletin
October 2026
Greetings,
Last month, DCR began the 2027 renewal period that allows licensed cannabis businesses and applicants to renew their records. This is required in order to continue operations into 2027. I am happy to report out of the 740 records eligible to renew, 161 have submitted their renewal application through 9/25/2026. That is a 44% increase in renewal application submissions compared to this time last year. Of the renewal applications submitted, 45 have already successfully fully renewed their record into 2027! In addition, DCR has also provided more than $1.6 million in waivers to Social Equity Licensees to date during this renewal cycle alone.
Record holders have until November 2, 2026, to renew during the regular renewal period. Only one late renewal period is available through the end of November and may include late fees if renewed during the late period. For more information about the 2027 renewal period you can visit DCR’s renewal page.
There are important legislative changes both at the City and State levels, including the opening up of cultivation and delivery license applications to the general public in the City of Los Angeles. For a quick round up of this and other updates, make sure to read through DCR’s Legislative Update in this bulletin.
Also, please stay tuned for additional information on the upcoming Retail Application Lottery announced in the September edition of this News Bulletin. DCR will send communications out to Social Equity Individual Applicants and update the website soon.
Finally, in this publication you can find out what DCR has been up to in the community, and about the in-person training it held recently. There’s a lot to know about.
Wishing you all a wonderful fall season. Please take advantage of all the cultural and recreational events that this City has to offer including those honoring Latino Heritage Month. From an exhibit of an art collection of Cheech Marin, to an Eco Gardener Workshop, to the Boo at the L.A. Zoo, there is a lot to see and do. As always, please utilize DCR’s map of licensed cannabis retail stores to ensure you are buying from the legal market.
Best,
Michelle Garakian
Executive Director
Department of Cannabis Regulation
City Legislative Updates
The Los Angeles City Council has recently approved several updates impacting local business operations.
For the first time ever, the City Council approved the general public’s access to Cultivation and Delivery license applications alongside revisions to the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC). After receiving the Mayor’s signature on September 8, the ordinance was published on September 9 and will take effect on October 19, 2026. Previously, cultivation and delivery licenses were carved out for Social Equity Individual Applicants only. However, that exclusivity has expired.
On September 22, the Public Works Committee approved a motion as amended directing DCR to renew licenses for participants eligible for the City’s 2027 cannabis tax amnesty program, provided they submit complete, timely renewal applications and settle all renewal fees, regardless of outstanding tax delinquencies. The item now heads to City Council for final approval. Meanwhile, the draft ordinance containing the language for the Cannabis Business Tax Amnesty Program was submitted on September 1 and awaits scheduling in the Public Works and Budget & Finance Committees.
Lastly, another pending item is an ordinance allowing Social Equity Individual Applicants (SEIAs) to transfer ownership interests to any party under established safeguards. On August 12, DCR submitted a report containing recommendations for amendments to the LAMC to include license conversion from SEIA to general Annual Licensure, equity share transfers, and SEIA safeguards. The item is currently awaiting scheduling in the Public Works Committee.
State Updates
California Department of Cannabis Regulations Updated Regulations Now in Effect
The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) states that it has updated regulations to remove redundant and duplicative provisions; streamline operational and administrative burdens for licensees and DCC; and establish minimum sanitation standards. These updates went into effect on July 1, 2026.
Key changes to state law include:
- Clearer requirements for tracking and labeling of harvest batches
- Temporary cannabis events may now operate for up to 30 days (where allowed by local jurisdictions)
- Cultivation licensees may transfer immature plants and seeds to licensed nurseries
- Cultivation licensees may also transfer immature plants and seeds between their own licensed cultivation premises
- Removal of the requirement to submit pest management plans with new applications
- Removal of electricity-use reporting and carbon offset purchase requirements at renewal
- New minimum sanitation standards for licensees handling exposed cannabis
The updated regulations can be viewed on DCC’s webpage.
Governor Newsom Signs New Cannabis Legislation
September 30 was the last day for the Governor to veto or sign bills into law. Most notably, he signed AB-2249, a bill that defines “attractive to children” as it relates to restrictions on cannabis advertising, packaging, and labeling. The new standards take effect on January 1, 2028, and include prohibitions on the use of cartoons, images, and references to characters, celebrities, or brands associated with children’s media, fantasy characters, certain font styles, and more.
A second bill related to packaging and labeling requirements, AB-2532, was also signed by the Governor. Starting July 1, 2027, all cannabis edibles and beverage product labels must include the toll-free number for the national poison help line, and for products containing more than one serving, the packaging must include quantity markers, or the retailers must provide a measuring mechanism at the time of purchase.
Other legislation signed into law includes AB-1965 – a bill that grants the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) greater authority to order retesting of cannabis products and conduct off-the-shelf lab testing of retail goods – and AB-2250 – a bill that excludes CBN isolate from the definition of “cannabis concentrate” starting on January 1, 2028.
For more on California cannabis and how it compares to other states, read DCR’s latest blog The Divided States of Cannabis, The Fracture Continues.
California issues several voluntary safety recalls
Since August 2026, the State of California has issued several voluntary and a few mandatory recalls for cannabis products. Find out more about what products were recalled and why on the Department of Cannabis Control’s recalls portal.
SEP Training Event
On August 27, 2026, DCR’s Social Equity Program (SEP) hosted an in-person training summit in Downtown Los Angeles. The goal of the event was to provide direct technical assistance to attendees focused on businesses obtaining various permits to meet DCR deadlines. It also focused on the 2027 record renewal process that began on September 2, 2026, and continues through November 2, 2026.
On hand were licensed architects Daniel and Denise Torres, principals of Torres Architects Inc., who discussed what to look for in hiring an architect for the build out of a business, what to expect from the hired team, and answered questions from attendees. Also presenting was business coach and consultant Courtney Lang who reviewed the DCR processes for renewals and other required milestones.
For upcoming events hosted by the SEP, you can visit the program’s event page.
DCR in the Community
In case you missed it, DCR was in South Los Angeles last month as it hosted a booth at the Central Avenue Jazz festival on September 19. The goal of DCR’s presence was to talk to passersby about the importance of a regulated market; how to find local, legal stores; and how the community plays a role in supporting a robust industry. Check out photos from the event below.
Cannabis Connections
What do these words have in common? See if you can solve the puzzle and identify four groups of four in this fall renewal-themed minigame.
Important Links
Licensing & Pending Locations Map