Breaking Cannabis Updates from West Hollywood, San Francisco, and Redwood City

This week we have updates from West Hollywood, San Francisco and Redwood City. Don’t forget: Culver City applications are due this week!

Check back in later this week for advice from our experts on finding real estate for your cannabis business, guidance on CBD products and the cannabis excise tax, and the final part of our Los Angeles regulations series. Now, onto the latest news from around the state:

• West Hollywood began accepting screening applications on May 2 and will do so through May 31, 2018. Any applications received after May 31 will not be accepted, so it’s important to begin right away.
• San Francisco will be launching Part 1 of their application process for Cannabis Business Permits. San Francisco has a goal of issuing at least 50% of cannabis permits to equity businesses. They would like to issue these before allowing other types of cannabis businesses to apply. They have strict rules about who can apply in this first round. The specific criteria (taken directly from San Francisco’s Office of Cannabis notice) must be true for you to apply:
  • Your business must qualify for the Equity Program.  If you have questions about this program, call (415) 554-4420.  
  • You must hold a temporary permit from the Office of Cannabis.
  • Your business must have a Medical Cannabis Dispensary with a permit, under Article 33, from the Department of Public Health OR you have applied for an Article 33 Permit from the Department of Public Health. Your permit required a referral to and approval by the Planning Commission before September 26, 2017.
  • Your business operated in compliance with the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 and was forced to stop operations as a result of federal prosecution or threat of federal prosecution.

If you would like additional information, San Francisco will be hosting office hours starting May 7. You may walk in or set up an appointment by emailing officeofcannabis@sfgov.org. The hours are Monday – Friday from 1:00pm – 5:00pm.

• Redwood City’s council will move to adopt an ordinance that will begin Phase 3 of their cannabis program. Phase 3 will permit indoor cannabis nurseries in industrial zoning districts with a Conditional Use Permit. These industrial zoning districts consist of IR, LII, IP and GI Zoning Districts. The ordinance will also permit delivery centers in the same industrial zoning districts. We will keep you updated as further dates are announced.
• REMINDER: If you are applying for a license in Culver City applications are due Wednesday, May 9.

If you’d like assistance with any of the following licenses or other cities within California, please contact us today. We have processed many business applications successfully, helping clients enter California’s cannabis market.