Marijuana (Cannabis) Regulatory Framework – Council File No. 14-0366-SS
Dear City Residents:
The City Council is in the beginning stages of an open and public conversation about how best to regulate all aspects of the marijuana, or cannabis, industry within the City of Los Angeles. It also marks another important opportunity for the Neighborhood Councils to be fully engaged in the City’s legislative process and truly have a seat at the table. As Chair of the REIRN Committee that will oversee this process and also oversees Neighborhood Councils, once again this is your time to shine and show the City and its residents the importance and value you bring to City government. These are your communities … your neighborhoods, and together we will have a robust conversation about the regulatory issues concerning the cannabis industry and a healthy debate prior to recommending anything to the full City Council.
As part of our conversation over the next few months, we are requesting that each Neighborhood Council, Alliance, and citywide committee agendize this item for discussion and action at your October or November meetings. We want you to take advantage of this opportunity to provide the City Council’s REIRN Committee with Community Impact Statements, white papers, suggestions and recommendations. We will consider all the information provided to us prior to the City Council making any major decisions.
Furthermore, we plan on holding at least three regional meetings throughout the City, partnering with the Neighborhood Council Alliances, the Neighborhood Councils in each region, and cannabis industry groups to host and participate as full partners in this conversation.
Below is a list of the currently scheduled meetings.
Monday October 24th @6pm -Van Nuys City Hall
Wednesday November 2nd @6pm-S0uth Los Angeles (TBD)
Tuesday November 29th @6pm -Los Angeles City Hall
Lastly, we also want to ensure that other residents, including homeowner groups, civic organizations, business groups, and others participate in this process, and we look forward to discussing this further with many of you. As part of this process, my office will be setting up a working group of neighborhood council leaders and cannabis industry advocates to help develop and advise my office on a balanced approach that will respect our communities, and at the same time, finally provide the proper regulatory, enforcement, and taxation framework for cannabis in the City of Los Angeles.
My staff will be reaching out to you shortly to participate in these meetings in October and November of this year, and we look forward to your partnership and engagement.
If you have any questions, please contact my Assistant Chief Deputy Andrew Westall at (213) 473-7010 or via email ([email protected]). I invite everyone to be a part of this discussion, because only together will we make each neighborhood, and our City as a whole, stronger and a better place for all of us.
Sincerely,
HERB J. WESSON, JR.
President, Los Angeles City Council
Councilmember, 10th District
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