Frequently Asked Questions

• When will the City begin accepting adult-use applications?

  The City will post the application materials online and begin accepting applications on Monday, August 13, 2018.

• What will the adult-use application look like?

  The adult-use application materials will be similar to the medical cannabis application materials. Adult-use applications must be submitted in person to the Business License Division.

• If I am an existing medical business or applicant, can I convert to adult-use?

  Yes. An existing medical cannabis business licensee or applicant may apply to convert their existing license or application to adult-use until February 9, 2019, if the medical cannabis business license application was submitted on or before June 18, 2018 and all required fees have been paid. Dispensaries are not eligible to convert to adult-use, but may co-locate. A separate adult-use cannabis business license application is required to convert to adult-use.

• If I am an existing medical business or applicant, can I add adult-use to my current application?

  Existing cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and laboratory testing medical cannabis business licensees or applicants may apply to co-locate medicinal and adult-use cannabis operations at their proposed or existing location until February 9, 2019, if a medical cannabis business license application was submitted on or before June 18, 2018 and all required fees have been paid.

  If a cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and laboratory testing medical cannabis business license application was submitted after June 18, 2018, a medical cannabis business licensee or applicant may apply to co-locate adult-use cannabis operations if their proposed or existing location complies with all adult-use cannabis locational requirements in LBMC § 5.92.420.

  All thirty-two (32) medical cannabis dispensaries may apply to co-locate medicinal and adult-use cannabis operations from their proposed or existing location.

  A separate adult-use application is required to co-locate.

• Are the locational requirements different for adult-use cannabis businesses and medical cannabis businesses?

  Yes. While the buffer requirements for adult-use cannabis businesses are the same as the buffer requirements for medical cannabis businesses, adult-use cannabis businesses must also comply with zoning districts in Title 21 (Zoning Ordinance) of the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC), Specific Plans, and Planned Developments in the City. Adult-use cannabis business license applicants should refer to LBMC § 5.92.420 and Title 21 of the LBMC for more information.

• Who is subject to the commercial adult-use cannabis locational requirements in Section 5.92.420?

  All adult-use cannabis businesses are subject to the locational requirements specified in LBMC § 5.92.420. 

   

  If a medical cannabis business license application was submitted on or before June 18, 2018 and all required fees have been paid, an existing cultivation, distribution, manufacturing, or laboratory testing medical cannabis licensee or applicant in good standing may apply to co-locate or convert to adult-use from their proposed or existing location, without regards to the locational requirements specified in LBMC § 5.92.420 until February 9, 2019,if all other requirements under LBMC § 5.92.230 are met.

   

  All thirty-two (32) medical cannabis dispensaries may apply to co-locate medicinal and adult-use cannabis operations from their proposed or existing location without regard for the new adult-use cannabis location requirements.  To view the list of the current thirty-two (32) medical cannabis dispensaries eligible to co-locate, please read the list here.

• What planning process will be required for different adult-use cannabis businesses?

  The following table explains the planning process requirements for new adult-use cannabis businesses.  NOTE: If a cannabis use is taking over a location that already has a use classified in that SIC Code, it does not need to follow the process identified in the table below. For example, a cannabis distribution business that is replacing a candy distribution business in an Industrial zone would not need a Conditional Use Permit.

  

• What businesses are subject to the new building design requirements in Section 5.92.765?

  All business applying for an adult-use cannabis business license are subject to the building design requirements in LBMC § 5.92.765. However, existing medical cannabis licensees and applicants, that are eligible to co-locate or convert to adult-use under LBMC § 5.92.230 or LBMC § 5.92.235, may be exempted from the building design requirements in LBMC § 5.92.765 if a complete Development Services Permit application has been submitted in accordance with Building Bureau BU-051 and City submittal requirements, and all required fees have been paid, by the effective date of the ordinance (August 13,2018).

• What businesses are subject to security barrier requirements in Section 5.92.750?

  All business applying for an adult-use cannabis business license are subject to the security barrier requirements in LBMC § 5.92.750. However, existing medical cannabis licensees and applicants, that are eligible to co-locate or convert to adult-use under LBMC § 5.92.230 or LBMC § 5.92.235, may be exempted from the security barrier requirements in LBMC § 5.92.750 ifa complete Development Services Permit application has been submitted in accordance with Building Bureau BU-051 and City submittal requirements, and all required fees have been paid, by the effective date of the ordinance (August 13,2018).

• Are there parking regulations for adult-use cannabis businesses?

  Yes. Parking regulations for adult-use cannabis businesses and medical cannabis businesses are the same for each cannabis license type and for the underlying land use.

• If I am a medical cannabis licensee, what are the consequences of engaging in adult-use without an adult-use cannabis license from the City?

  Medical cannabis businesses found engaging in adult-use cannabis activities without a license issued by the City may be subject to enforcement actions.

  Engaging in adult-use cannabis activities without a license from the City is grounds for suspension or revocation of a medical cannabis business license pursuant to Chapter 5.90, penalties, and any other enforcement action available to the City against illegal cannabis operations.

  To ensure compliance, cannabis businesses will be subject to annual audits, random inspections, and periodic examination of Track & Trace system records.

• My cannabis business cultivates and/or manufactures cannabis for sale to a licensed distributor. I do not know whether the cannabis is distributed to a medical or adult-use retail facility. Does it matter whether I have an adult-use or medical cannabis license?

  Yes. Medical cannabis licensees may only cultivate and/or manufacture cannabis for sale to qualified patients and their designated primary caregivers. Adult-Use cannabis licensees may only cultivate and/or manufacture cannabis for sale to adults twenty-one (21) years of age or older who do not possess a physician’s recommendation.

  Cannabis businesses that hold both a medical cannabis license and an adult-use cannabis license may engage in both adult-use and medical cannabis activity.

• The State of California allows non-retail licensees to conduct business with other cannabis licensees regardless of their adult-use (A) or medical (M) designation. Does this apply to cannabis businesses licensed by the City of Long Beach?

  No. Cannabis businesses licensed under Chapter 5.90 are strictly limited to medical cannabis activity only. Cannabis businesses licensed under Chapter 5.92 of the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) are strictly limited to adult-use cannabis activity only. Cannabis businesses licensed under both Chapter 5.90 and Chapter 5.92 at the same premises may engage in both adult-use and medical cannabis activity.

• Why can’t the City allow medical cannabis businesses licensed under Chapter 5.90 to engage in adult-use cannabis activities?

  Measure MM, enacted as Chapter 5.90, was approved by Long Beach voters with the expressed purpose of “allowing medical marijuana businesses to operate in the City of Long Beach.”  Long Beach voters did not authorize local medical cannabis businesses to engage in adult-use cannabis activity by passing Measure MM.

  The City is required by law to strictly interpret and apply the language of Chapter 5.90 to ensure the voter’s intent is implemented. Chapter 5.90 cannot be interpreted to allow adult-use cannabis activities because the plain language of Chapter 5.90 only allows for medical marijuana businesses to operate in the City.

• Which cannabis business license do I need from the City if I want to engage in both the adult-use and medical cannabis markets?

  Businesses wishing to take part in both the adult-use cannabis market and the medical marijuana market must obtain bothan adult-use cannabis license and a medical cannabis license from the City.