City of West Hollywood Announces Top-Scoring Cannabis Business License Applicants
Industry: Advertising & Marketing
West Hollywood is Poised to Lead the Way in Setting New Trends as the World’s Cannabis Culture Capital; City’s Ordinance Makes West Hollywood One of the Only Cities in the Country to Authorize Business Licenses for Consumption Lounges
West Hollywood, CA (PRUnderground) December 19th, 2018
Downloadable ‘Top-Scoring Applicants’ PDF Document and Details about West Hollywood and Cannabis are Available at:
The City of West Hollywood has completed its screening application process for cannabis business licenses and the City has announced its top-scoring cannabis business license applicants. There are 36 top-scoring applicants in five unique business license categories. In addition, four licenses in the Medical Dispensary category are granted to the existing four medical dispensaries in West Hollywood. The City of West Hollywood’s Ordinance regulating cannabis business and land uses allows for a total of 40 licenses.
The approvals process makes the City of West Hollywood one of the only cities in the country to grant business licenses for consumption lounges, where cannabis can be purchased and consumed on-site. A downloadable Top-Scoring Applicants document (PDF) has been made available on the City of West Hollywood’s website at www.weho.org/cannabis; the document contains detailed profiles, photos, and descriptions of top-scoring applicants. The webpage also contains extensive background information about cannabis in the City of West Hollywood.
The City of West Hollywood is poised to become an international trend-setter setting forth a new interpretation and realization of cannabis culture. The range of visions expressed among the approved applicants reflect an entirely new era of integrated marketplaces, consumption lounges and cafes, immersive experiences, and product delivery — all of which go far beyond current models of Medical Dispensary and Adult-Use Retail sales. West Hollywood is embracing the future of cannabis as a part of the City’s vibrant culture.
The City’s cannabis business license screening application process employed a merit-based approach. Screening applications were received by the City and were reviewed and scored by an independent five-member Application Evaluation Committee based on 58 specific criteria in the general categories of innovation, connection to West Hollywood, operations, social equity, product offerings, design concept, security plan, and past experience.
The City received a total of more than 300 screening applications from more than 120 different applicants. Most applicants submitted applications in multiple categories. The eight top-scoring applicants in each category are now allowed to move forward with obtaining a business license from the City; applicants are allowed 12 months to secure a City business license. The first step for the selected applicants will be to secure a physical location for their business. Once an applicant has secured a physical location, that applicant will need to obtain the appropriate planning permits from the City’s Current and Historic Preservation Planning Division, affirming that the proposed use is permitted within the zoning for the property. After obtaining planning permits the applicant will have a hearing before the Business License. During the process, the applicant is also encouraged to apply for any necessary Building and Safety permits needed to make improvements to the property. Finally, prior to operation of the business, the applicant must secure a State of California cannabis license.
About City of West Hollywood
The City of West Hollywood was officially founded on November 29, 1984. Previously, the area had been an unincorporated section of Los Angeles County. Cityhood was proposed by an unlikely coalition of LGBT activists, seniors, and renters who came together to form a City with progressive policies and strong tenants’ rights protections. For more than 30 years, the City of West Hollywood has demonstrated that it is like no other city in the world. West Hollywood has become one of the most influential small cities in the nation. No other city of its size has had a greater impact on the national progressive public policy agenda. A strong spirit of community activism and civic pride thrives in the City and people from all over the globe visit to experience its iconic destinations such as the rainbow crosswalks and LGBT clubs on Santa Monica Boulevard (historic Route 66), trendy shopping on Melrose Avenue, and nightlife on The Sunset Strip.
