Recreational Cannabis Store Draft Rules OK’d by LA Officials

The Los Angeles Planning Commission unanimously approved a proposal on September 14 that outlines where and how recreational cannabis stores in Los Angeles would be permitted to operate. Recreational cannabis sales are scheduled to begin in California on January 1, 2018, and there’s no market in the state that is currently larger than the Los Angeles market, as it has the highest number of active cannabis businesses, according to the California Board of Equalization.

The proposed Commercial Cannabis Location Restriction Ordinance establishes where and how cannabis businesses would be able to operate in Los Angeles city limits. The draft regulations call for 800-foot buffers around sensitive sites, including schools, daycare centers, libraries, parks and rehabilitation centers. Cannabis retail outlets would also need 800-foot buffers in between other retail outlets. Under the proposed rules, cannabis companies will be required to receive both state and city approval to operate.

The changes would amend current city code. “The Commercial Cannabis Location Restriction Ordinance is a proposed Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) amendment that would establish location and distancing requirements for commercial cannabis activity within the City,” the Planning Commission summarized. “The Department of City Planning drafted the ordinance in response to the passage of Proposition M . . . ” Last March, voters approved Measure M, which sets up a tax and regulatory scheme in Los Angeles to accommodate Proposition 64.

Some cannabis advocates at Thursday’s meeting objected to the 800-foot buffers, saying that it will end up with clogged lines at approved retail locations.

Planning Commissioner Renee Dake Wilson, however, said the idea is to legally cover all the bases to prevent future hold-ups. “I want to start out with a more conservative measure and go up rather than start less conservatively and get more strict,” Wilson said. “I think that’s going to be a lot more difficult.” Others in attendance were happy to move forward in the legislative process.

Now the proposal is ready for consideration from the Los Angeles City Council.