Long Beach Marijuana License Attorney
Long Beach Marijuana License Attorney
Long Beach has, or had, 32 licenses available for operation in the city. They released them in stages, with the last 10 being released and assigned last week, on September 28th, 2017. The city had a lottery to assign the last 10, but they still have to await final approval.
Long Beach requires inspections of any proposed location from the following City agencies which will inspect proposed marijuana business locations:
- Development Services: Building and Safety Division
- Development Services: Planning Bureau
- Environmental Health
- Fire Department
Long Beach Permit requirements are here: http://www.lbds.info/
You will note that many of the requirements mention building codes, and if you are not doing construction of a new building, or remodel of an existing building that requires city construction permits, you will still need to make sure you are in compliance with all existing city codes.
City of Long Beach Marijuana Taxes
On November 8, 2016, Measure MA, “Long Beach Marijuana Taxation”, passed by the vote of the citizens of Long Beach. That new law sets the tax rates to:
- six to eight percent (6-8%) of gross receipts for medical marijuana dispensaries;
- eight to twelve (8-12%) of gross receipts for non-medical (i.e., recreational) marijuana dispensaries;
- six to eight (6-8%) of gross receipts for processing, distributing, transporting, or testing marijuana and marijuana-related products; and
- twelve to fifteen ($12-15) per square foot for marijuana cultivation.
Taxes set by Measure MA could be increased or decreased within the established ranges by the City Council, provided the maximum rates listed above are not exceeded.
Specific Dispensary Rules in the City of Long Beach
You can see all the rules here: http://www.longbeach.
Note that you are not allowed to smoke or consume marijuana inside any dispensary.
You also cannot deliver marijuana unless it’s sealed and labeled, and there are signage requirements for the business (see link above).
City of Long Beach Marijuana License Application Fees
There is a minimum tax of $1,000. Application fees are:
- Application Fees range from $200.45 for one owner, up to $925.45 for six owners.
- Zoning Review Fee $33.00
- Development Services Review Fee $22.45
- ADA State Mandated Fee $1.00
- LBPD Background Investigation Fee $145.00 for each owner and business manager
(See the application at http://www.longbeach.gov/
There are currently no delivery licenses, or dispensary licenses, available after the lottery last week. If more open up, the application instructions are at http://www.longbeach.gov/
Long Beach also has a “buffer zone”, where you must show you are more than 1,000 feet from any other dispensary, and not near public schools, beaches, or parks. A description of last week’s lottery and a map showing existing dispensaries are here: http://www.
Background check requirements, requirements of the owner of the property where the business is located (in your case landlord), and a description of the point system used by Long Beach for marijuana licensing is here: http://www.longbeach.
You will also need a general business license in Long Beach, which is required for the marijuana application. That license application form is here: http://www.longbeach.
If you wish to obtain a cultivation license, those are open. You can find more information here: http://www.longbeach.
There is no current deadline or limit for distribution facilities, although they do have to go through the licensing process as any other business would have to, and are subject to the buffer zones and must provide an operating plan and other information.
Long Beach Marijuana Cannabis Licenses Still Available
How many non-dispensary medical marijuana businesses are allowed in the City of Long Beach (cultivation, distribution, manufacturing, testing)?
Currently, there is no limit to the number of non-dispensary medical marijuana licenses that can be issued.
As of the writing of this article, there is only one distribution license application pending in Long Beach.
Does my landlord have to give permission or agree to my marijuana license?
Yes. Long Beach has their own form for landlord permission. Applicants who do not own the proposed business property must submit the Property Owner Authorization Form.
So, if you rent or lease your location, you will need your landlord to certify permission to operate. See
http://www.longbeach.gov/finance/business-info/business-licenses/marijuana-business-information/.
Contact us for any questions about obtaining a marijuana dispensary license, or other cannabis business license. As a top Long Beach Marijuana License Attorney, we can help you today.