The Cannabis Regulations Commission met on March 5th and presented their recommendations to the City Attorney that would establish policies for processing phase 3 applications. Phase 3 would begin with a 60-day pre-vetting process of social equity applicants to verify Tier 1 or Tier 2 qualification. Verified Tier 1 or 2 applicants will then be eligible to move forward into the first phase of the licensing process. The DCR will issue 100 licenses in this initial phase allocating 75 to qualified Tier 1 applicants. Qualified Tier 1 applicants would receive priority receiving 75% of the available licenses during this initial phase so long as all basic application requirements are met including:

• A signed lease with proof of payment or deposit, or a property deed
• Meet all sensitive use requirements, including undue concentration
• Payment of required license fees
• Ownership organizational structure
• Financial information
• Proposed staffing plan
• Indemnification
• Complete and detailed diagram
• Proposed security plan
• Radius map
• Labor peace agreement
• Current Certificate of Occupancy
• Compliance with the Equity Share Rules

Second phase 

The second phase will allocate an additional 100 licenses establishing no priority between Tier 1 or Tier 2 applicants. The second phase will establish a “first-come, first-serve” process that will allow the first 100 qualified applicants will move forward. Basic qualifications required to be met are payment of the required license fees or deferment approval; ownership organizational structure; financial information; indemnification; and, labor peace agreement. The remaining qualifications mentioned above would be required within 90 days.

The Commission also recommended the implementation of a pilot program for Type 9 Retail Non-Storefront delivery services. A total of 40 licenses would be available allocating 20 licenses to pre-vetted Tier 1 Social Equity applicants. The pilot program will also allow verified applicants who could not obtain a Type 10 retail license due to undue concentration limits will receive priority for a Type 9 delivery license. This will allow licensees to remain in their building and operate as a non-storefront retailer in lieu of having to locate and secure another compliant location. Eligible phase 2 applicants will also have an opportunity to amend their application to include delivery so long as they are compliant with the city’s zoning and regulatory requirements.

Phase 3 Licensing Estimated Timeline

Phase 3 Application Processing

60 day Pre-Vetting Period

• Basic Tier 1 or Tier 2 qualification
• Indemnification

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 Phase 3A:

14 day application window

• Qualified Tier 1 or Tier 2 applicants will be processed for 100 retail licenses (75% reserved for Tier 1 applicants). Pre-vetted applicants will receive 15 days notice of when the first phase application window is to open.
• Deficient applications will have 5 days from the start of their application to rectify insufficiencies or issues with the basic qualifications.

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 Phase 3B:

30 day application window

• Pre-vetted Tier 1 or Tier 2 applicants who meet basic qualifications (see above) on a “first-come, first-serve” basis.
• Applicants will have an additional 90 days to submit the remaining application requirements
• Deficient applications will have 5 days from the start of their application to rectify insufficiencies or issues with the basic qualifications

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 Delivery Pilot Program:

• Pre-vetted Tier 1 or Tier 2 applicants will receive 15 days notice for when Type 9 delivery licenses will become available
• Pre-vetted Tier 1 or Tier 2 applicants subjected to undue concentration limits will have priority
• Eligible phase 2 applicants will have opportunity to amend their application to include delivery
• Deficient applications will have 5 days from the start of their application to rectify insufficiencies or issues with the basic qualifications

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