Supervisors to Reconsider Current Ban on Commercial Cannabis in Unincorporated LA County

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LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors July 13, voted to support a proposal by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn to reconsider the current ban on commercial cannabis production and distribution in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.

Shortly after the passage of Proposition 64, the “Adult Use of Marijuana Act,” the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors enacted a ban on the commercial production and distribution of cannabis in unincorporated areas of the county. The ban was intended to be temporary until the County could develop and establish proper regulations. The board established the Office of Cannabis Management which convened a working group on cannabis regulation to develop recommendations for the board to consider. After conducting community outreach and eight public convenings, the working group presented a report to the Board of Supervisors with 64 recommendations.

However, in June 2018, the Board of Supervisors chose to accept the report but not take any action to remove the cannabis ban. At the time, Supervisor Hahn said the intention was not to rush the issue and felt there were too many unanswered questions and uncertainties.

In the three years since then, much has changed and evolved in the area of cannabis legalization. Multiple additional states have legalized recreational cannabis and the county’s two largest cities, Los Angeles and Long Beach, are now allowing commercial cannabis.

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to support a motion authored by Supervisor Hahn and coauthored by Supervisor Hilda Solis that directs the Office of Cannabis Management and other relevant county departments to revisit the regulation recommendations report and report back to the board with updated recommendations for cannabis retail, manufacturing, distribution, growth, testing, regulation, and enforcement in Los Angeles County in 120 days.

Details: www.file.lacounty.gov/motion-on-commercial cannabis