Changes to proposed City cannabis regulations

Motion

___________NC/CC recommends the following changes and additions to the City’s proposed cannabis regulations:

1. To conform with State law, create a stable and legitimate business environment, and avoid the kind of exploitable “grey areas” created by Prop. D, the City must implement an unambiguous licensing system for commercial cannabis activities and include those activities as enumerated uses in the City’s municipal code.
2. Complaints about specific cannabis businesses collected by City staff, LAPD, Council offices, Neighborhood and Community Councils, and the City’s MyLA311 app should be included and considered in the licensing approval and renewal process.
3. Hearing dates and non-sensitive application information should be posted upon receipt on the Cannabis Dept.’s website, and notice sent to affected NCs/CCs.
4. The standard application process should include an assessment from the Planning Dept. on land use considerations, and should not be split into a separate land use approval and appeals process.
5. Retail cannabis storefronts should be limited to operating hours of 7am to 9pm. Deliveries should extend no later than 11pm.
6. In the interest of eliminating black market sales, the City should conduct a market-sizing study by January 1, 2019 (and every five years thereafter) to assess how well the City is addressing demand and to inform regulatory adjustments.