Higher Standards

Progress is in motion for cannabis businesses in certain cities in Los Angeles County, most notably with the implementation of health inspections, which will be conducted by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The health inspections will resemble routine inspections that restaurants currently undergo.

On Dec. 18, the Los Angeles County Office of Cannabis Management released a draft policy that would phase in 20 cannabis storefronts, 20 delivery-only services, 10 cultivators, 10 manufacturers, 10 distributors and 10 testing labs in unincorporated areas of the county which are in its jurisdiction.  Unincorporated Los Angeles County includes some dense urban areas such as East L.A. and West Carson. At least 15 areas in unincorporated Los Angeles County plan on allowing recreational companies.

“Such inspection activities will include general sanitation, product quality (free of contamination), proper packaging and labeling, vermin exclusion, proper temperature control, proper product handling and storage, and employee health.”

On Dec. 19, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors authorized public health officials to conduct inspections of commercial cannabis businesses in cities in Los Angeles County including Los Angeles. The move is in response to Los Angeles city officials’ request that the Department of Public Health take on health and safety inspections. Los Angeles County Code Title 8 and Title 11 were amended to delegate authority to health inspectors.

Many types of businesses, including everything from tattoo parlors to restaurants, are subject to routine health inspections. These inspections, while tedious, maintain a higher standard of safety.

Inspections will be performed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. A department representative told CULTURE that as of late December 2017, there are no cannabis businesses in Los Angeles County currently permitted by the department and undergoing routine health inspections.

But the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has a detailed plan in place to cover the new legal cannabis industry, which is bound to become a cornerstone industry in Los Angeles. Cannabis businesses will need to conduct a number of preventative practices to stay compliant.

“Similar to food manufacturing businesses and restaurants, Public Health will be conducting health inspections to ensure compliance with state regulations and local laws related to commercial cannabis businesses,” Bernard Tolliver from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Office of Communications & Public Affairs told CULTURE. “Such inspection activities will include general sanitation, product quality (free of contamination), proper packaging and labeling, vermin exclusion, proper temperature control, proper product handling and storage, and employee health.”

Businesses must undergo health inspections to protect the public from outbreaks of disease and other threats. Education is key, considering it will be the first time many cannabis businesses will be subject to routine health inspections as in other industries. “Environmental Health plans to conduct an outreach to commercial cannabis business owners to educate and prepare them for the upcoming health inspections,” added Tolliver. To get a preview, retail food, housing, swimming pool and food truck facilities get a letter grade or a numerical score on health practices, and the rating information is posted publicly on the county of Los Angeles website. Restaurants, for instance, must abide by the California Retail Food Code.

Retail cannabis shops with poor health practices won’t be able to get away with it for much longer. Countywide rules set forth by the county’s Office of Cannabis Management are expected received final approval by the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors in early 2018.

http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/119789.pdf

https://ehservices.publichealth.lacounty.gov/ezsearch