What are the licensing windows?
The City of Los Angeles has been issuing cannabis sale licenses in a tiered system with certain “windows” or “phases” of open applications. To acquire a license, interested or existing businesses must apply to the DCR for a license during the appropriate phase or window, and licenses may be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The first phase covered existing medical marijuana businesses and closed on March 4, 2018. The second phase covered supply-side (non-retail) businesses that were already in existence before 2016 and closed on September 13, 2018. The third phase covers new businesses.
The first window of applications for the third phase closed on September 17, 2019. Currently, we are waiting for the next window of the third phase to open. The City is working to amend the license application process, so it is unclear when the next window will open.