City Council clears the way for delivery-only cannabis businesses
Rule changes approved Tuesday night mean entrepreneurs no longer need a storefront to get into the retail side of the industry.
Opportunities in the cannabis industry may expand in Long Beach, now that the City Council has agreed to new rules allowing delivery-only businesses not connected to retail shops.
The council on Tuesday approved the changes, which describe standards for buildings housing delivery businesses, set hours of operation and create safety guidelines for delivery vehicles. Delivery operations would still need to locate in the commercial and industrial areas where other cannabis businesses are allowed, but a “buffer zone” rule preventing overconcentration of retail pot shops wouldn’t apply to delivery-only sellers.
One commenter at the council meeting said people hoping to provide delivery without needing a storefront license had been waiting since 2021 for the city to allow it, and Councilmember Cindy Allen agreed the changes were a long time coming.
Allen said she was "surprised that we've been so late in the cannabis delivery space,” but added that, “by allowing delivery-only dispensaries, we can stimulate job creation and increase customer access to safe cannabis products.”
The city has said cannabis license fees are expected to generate $11 million in revenue this fiscal year, but officials also have been exploring ways to ease the tax burden on retail sellers that has caused some to close up shop.
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