Open Letter to DCR City of LA Cannabis Operators Don’t wait Start NOW!

A really important post to all City of Los Angeles ~ Department of Cannabis Regulations Operators – 
Including Cultivation, Manufacturing, Distribution, and Retail:

I know, you’re reading this and thinking what is she talking about this for, license renewals  haven’t even opened yet.  Unfortunately this year,  you cannot wait until you officially receive that e mail from DCR to start working on it.

The upcoming 2025-2026 License Renewal Process is going to be extremely challenging.  The reason for this is they have a timeline for us all to have our Operating Permit by 2028 which will be challenging based on all the criteria you will need to get completed.  Which is understandable, it’s just that they have to push us to do this and this is the year they decided it was time to do so.  So hold on and buckle up because it’s going to be like trying to light a preroll in a windstorm.   

Here's some background context to this. I recently listened to a Webinar hosted by DCR specifically laying out the 2025-2026 upcoming licensing renewal and if I was terrified as a cannabis compliance consultant who does this stuff all day, you definitely should be.

Have you ever been shocked into silence during a Webinar?
This happened a few weeks ago while I was on a webinar DCR put on for all licensees in the City of LA. For a little background context ~ ALL LA City licensees (cultivation, distribution, manufacturing, & retail) renew their licenses at the same time every year in September.
 
The amount of misinformation DCR was speaking on was shocking and the amount of new forms licensees will have to fill out and deal with for 2026 licensing was even more terrifying!
 
At least 2 times I sent through the chat some questions regarding some misinformation and they could not answer me, giggled, and let me know they'll get back to me (which not surprisingly they still have not).
 
So - just a little early notice that if you don't start working on some of the forms now, you are sort of going to have a lot of problems getting licensed for the upcoming year.
 
If you want to spend the next 10+ hours navigating regulations, portals, and forms just to maybe get it right, be my guest.
 
To the rest of you who know compliance is a beast — let me handle it so you can focus on what actually lights you up: growing, manufacturing, selling, building your brand.
 

Because let’s be honest…
No one got into cannabis for the compliance.
 
But lucky for you — I did.
Let me handle this years upcoming licensing renewal for you.