---
[ 420 FILE ](https://www.citywatchla.com/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://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/111 "David DeJute Campaign")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)")
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/112 "Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col")
## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays
Message
---
## Featured CityWatch Stories
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33349-l-a-county-faces-a-government-shake-up)
### [L.A. County Faces a Government Shake-Up](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33349-l-a-county-faces-a-government-shake-up)
WESTSIDE - Currently larger than 40 states in terms of population with roughly 10 million residents, Los Angeles County…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/33346-before-we-ask-god-to-judge-us-the-jewish-people-must-judge-ourselves)
### [Before We Ask God to Judge Us, the Jewish People Must Judge Ourselves](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/33346-before-we-ask-god-to-judge-us-the-jewish-people-must-judge-ourselves)
Yom Kippur demands more than personal repentance. At a defining moment for Jews everywhere, it asks whether we have tru…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/33372-the-greater-israel-delusion-may-undo-israel)
### [The Greater Israel Delusion May Undo Israel](https://www.citywatchla.com/voices/33372-the-greater-israel-delusion-may-undo-israel)
ANNEXATION - The vision of “Greater Israel” draws on maximalist readings of biblical verses, especially Genesis 15:18–2…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/world-watch/33366-israels-political-map-is-being-redrawn)
### [Israel’s Political Map Is Being Redrawn](https://www.citywatchla.com/world-watch/33366-israels-political-map-is-being-redrawn)
NETANYAHUISM - The next Israeli election may be about something larger than Benjamin Netanyahu. For the first time in a…
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33347-la-stop-the-war-on-cars-they-arent-going-away)
### [LA, Stop the War on Cars. They Aren’t Going Away](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33347-la-stop-the-war-on-cars-they-arent-going-away)
LA TRANSPO - For anyone traversing the San Fernando Valley, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Los Angeles is sp…
---
## [ 420 FILE ](https://www.citywatchla.com/spotlight/the-420-file)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/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://www.citywatchla.com/spotlight/the-420-file/33270-best-dispensaries-in-new-buffalo-in-2026-5-stores-you-should-visit)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/spotlight/the-420-file/32869-acapulco-gold-feminized-seeds-complete-growing-guide)### [Acapulco Gold Feminized Seeds: Complete Growing Guide](https://www.citywatchla.com/spotlight/the-420-file/32869-acapulco-gold-feminized-seeds-complete-growing-guide)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/spotlight/the-420-file/32813-how-legal-delivery-changed-the-way-cities-buy-cannabis)### [How Legal Delivery Changed the Way Cities Buy Cannabis](https://www.citywatchla.com/spotlight/the-420-file/32813-how-legal-delivery-changed-the-way-cities-buy-cannabis)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/spotlight/the-420-file/32560-5-simple-thc-drink-recipes-youll-love)### [5 Simple THC Drink Recipes You’ll Love](https://www.citywatchla.com/spotlight/the-420-file/32560-5-simple-thc-drink-recipes-youll-love)
[  ](https://www.citywatchla.com/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://www.citywatchla.com/spotlight/the-420-file/32552-taxing-illegality-city-halls-dangerous-surrender-on-marijuana-enforcement)