- Written By: Attorney Narek Vardanyan
From noon, Monday, March 17, 2025, to 4:00 PM, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, people can submit requests to become SEIAs and receive the benefits of the SEP programs and resources and the chance to apply for cannabis business licenses set aside for SEIAs. The requirements to qualify as a Social Equity Individual Applicant are set forth in Los Angeles Municipal Code section 104.20, and include that applicants must be “low Income” and have a prior “Cannabis Arrest or Conviction.” Cannabis business licenses for retail, delivery, and cultivation are exclusively available to verified SEIAs until Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Verified SEIAs will also be able to participate in an upcoming retail application lottery in 2025. In addition, SEIAs can utilize exclusive online business courses, access free and no-cost legal services, and take part in exclusive networking events. Individuals that have already been verified as SEIAs in 2019 and/or 2022 are not required to be re-verified in 2025 to participate in the 2025 Phase 3 Retail Round 3 license application lottery. Three separate lotteries will be conducted: one for 2019 SEIAs, one for 2022 SEIAs, and one for 2025 SEIAs. An individual verified in multiple SEIA windows can register for only one lottery and must choose in which year’s pool to participate. The fee to request SEIA verification is $597.
