---
[ 420 FILE ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/spotlight/the-420-file)
# LA’s Cannabis Cat-astrophe
October 29 2020
Written by Gary Mittin.
[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
**420 FILE**--How do you f\*ck up selling weed in Los Angeles?
Four hundred and seven days have passed since the application window closed for Phase 3/Round One “social equity” cannabis retail storefronts -- without a single solitary “social equity” license actually being issued by the LA DCR.
In addition to the *second* lawsuit, now punted to a December 4, 2020 hearing date, there’s a *third lawsuit* that’s been filed against the Department and its Executive Director, Cat Packer.
Two cannabis trade organizations say restrictions on the delivery licenses, due to an ordinance revision earlier this year, bar them from participating in the market until 2025. They want the court to reinstate what the law *initially* permitted and allow stand-alone businesses to apply in addition to “social equity” operators. The lawsuit does not seek to limit ‘social equity’ applicant (SEA) rights granted in the rewritten version.
Less than 100 SEA’s applied at the onset of last week’s application window for delivery permits, distribution, and nonvolatile manufacturing licenses. When compared to the 800 plus applicants who vied for Phase 3/Round One retail cannabis storefronts in September 2019, the lackluster showing makes it clear that SEA’s, along with their money partners, have shied away from further engagement with Packer and her protracted process.
While it's anyone's guess how these legal battles will affect the invoiced applicants, the LA Cannabis Regulation Commission has cancelled 18 meetings alone in 2020 and is not a forum to answer these questions.
After THREE YEARS-the first step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one.
The world’s largest legal cannabis market deserves better.
*(Gary Mittin is a commercial real estate broker, specializing in cannabis real estate.) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.*
[](https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1aJKR8O-8BWOb9uR7p_2UmapNTL6n154B&ll=34.08274658817956%2C-118.34514801441333&z=11) [](https://podbay.fm/podcast/716402907/e/1380917940)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/115 "Brian Goldsmith Vertical R. Col")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/114 "McKinney Campaign")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/111 "David DeJute Campaign")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/112 "Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col")
## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays
Phone
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/113 "Rhonda Haymon campaign")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/110 "Something You Should Know")
---
## Featured CityWatch Stories
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33624-prosecutor-democrat-city-attorney-mckinney-makes-his-case-to-los-angeles-voters)
### [Prosecutor, Democrat, City Attorney? McKinney Makes His Case to Los Angeles Voters](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33624-prosecutor-democrat-city-attorney-mckinney-makes-his-case-to-los-angeles-voters)
ELECTION 2026 - The race for LA City Attorney has been laced with political accusations and allegations that when close…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33544-the-la-watchdogs-2026-voters-guide-2)
### [The LA Watchdog’s 2026 Voter Guide](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33544-the-la-watchdogs-2026-voters-guide-2)
LA WATCHDOG - My recommendations are influenced by the need for truly balanced budgets, fiscal responsibility, long ter…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33626-the-fools-blame-game)
### [The Fools’ Blame Game](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33626-the-fools-blame-game)
THE VIEW FROM HERE - Angelenos do not use elections to plot a wiser course of conduct for Los Angeles, but rather they…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33619-california-film-tax-credits-arent-enough-the-guilds-need-to-change-too)
### [California Film Tax Credits Aren’t Enough. The Guilds Need to Change Too.](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33619-california-film-tax-credits-arent-enough-the-guilds-need-to-change-too)
LONNIE’S VIEW - California used to be the center of the movie and television universe. If you wanted to make movies, yo…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33648-heres-what-zionisms-got-to-do-with-it)
### [Here’s What Zionism’s Got To Do With It](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33648-heres-what-zionisms-got-to-do-with-it)
ICAN - The anonymous website “BHUSD Watch” recently published a long, detailed article about the current BHUSD board an…
---
## [ 420 FILE ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/spotlight/the-420-file)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/spotlight/the-420-file/33270-best-dispensaries-in-new-buffalo-in-2026-5-stores-you-should-visit)### [Best Dispensaries in New Buffalo in 2026 \[5 Stores You Should Visit\]](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/spotlight/the-420-file/33270-best-dispensaries-in-new-buffalo-in-2026-5-stores-you-should-visit)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/spotlight/the-420-file/32869-acapulco-gold-feminized-seeds-complete-growing-guide)### [Acapulco Gold Feminized Seeds: Complete Growing Guide](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/spotlight/the-420-file/32869-acapulco-gold-feminized-seeds-complete-growing-guide)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/spotlight/the-420-file/32813-how-legal-delivery-changed-the-way-cities-buy-cannabis)### [How Legal Delivery Changed the Way Cities Buy Cannabis](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/spotlight/the-420-file/32813-how-legal-delivery-changed-the-way-cities-buy-cannabis)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/spotlight/the-420-file/32560-5-simple-thc-drink-recipes-youll-love)### [5 Simple THC Drink Recipes You’ll Love](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/spotlight/the-420-file/32560-5-simple-thc-drink-recipes-youll-love)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/spotlight/the-420-file/32552-taxing-illegality-city-halls-dangerous-surrender-on-marijuana-enforcement)### [Taxing Illegality: City Hall’s Dangerous Surrender on Marijuana Enforcement](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/spotlight/the-420-file/32552-taxing-illegality-city-halls-dangerous-surrender-on-marijuana-enforcement)